Thoughts on Learning Music the “Right” Way

I have been playing instruments since I was 12 years old and nearly every instrument I have learned has been self-taught.

Usually at the beginning of each instrument it sounds horrific whenever I play it and then gradually as time goes on, it starts to sound less and less like a cat is being murdered by said instrument. Teaching myself instruments has made me realise that there is no “right” way to play music.

This statement is clearly inaccurate as there is obviously is a right way to play music however I mean something completely different. When I was 12 years old I received lessons through my school for the cello – an orchestral instrument with a very unique sound. The summer of my first year of school, my friend handed me her guitar and said “Give it a shot.” She taught me the basic chords and from there, I carried on with the instrument.

Now, we play together most weekends and it’s difficult to imagine a day where I don’t play my guitar. From then until now, I have also learned how to play the keyboard, ukulele, banjo, very basic drums and very basic harmonica as well as dabbling in the egg-shaker. Learning all of these instruments by myself has taught me that it doesn’t really matter if you can play a chord in the “correct” way as long as it sounds how you want it to sound. As cliché as it sounds, these instruments have given me my own sound.

I feel like my neighbours may call this sound “Shut Up Teenager, We Are Trying To Sleep” however I see it as whatever I want. Learning various gives you a path into your very own musical world, even if you are covering other artist’s songs. Your favourite song may be played solely on a guitar but due to the internet it is common to find it transposed and suited for another instrument. This is one of the many reasons my love of music and the internet go hand in hand.

I see this as the reason many bands and artists are more inclined to change their sound over time as they may see the various instruments as an opportunity to create something new with a new album or song and monitor its audience response due to society having a love/hate relationship with change in music. I’m not a professional musician yet sometimes I will hear a song and create an arrangement in my mind of other instruments that would create a new atmosphere or feeling associated with the song.

I feel being self-taught in various instruments has made me realise that one of the best ways to enjoy playing an instrument is to mess about with it. Covering songs with friends, creating your own arrangements and learning more and more as time goes on is the “right” and best way to play music.