Difficult one to answer. Besides brain and inborn talent (and in no particular order).

Education, from school—to private lessons—to music education books—to other musicians willing to share tips and tricks—to self discovery—to experience performing for live audiences to make a living for decades. This includes theory, performance, arranging and learning how to sing and play sax, wind synth, flute, bass, guitar, drums, and keyboard synth.

The physical instruments themselves. When I learned to play more than one, I found that each instrument tells you how it wants to be played. They all have different ways of expressing themselves. In other words, I don't play the instruments, I let the instruments play me.

Even different instruments of the same genre. I don't play the tenor sax like the alto, soprano, or baritone, nor do I play the acoustic guitar like I do the electric.

Software: MIDI sequencer/DAW, Band-in-a-Box, Notation apps. And I must mention the ever-improving hardware that makes these apps work so well.

Learning how to listen to music. I credit my father and my first band director for getting me started with this. My ears are my most important musical instrument.

Listening and playing a variety of genres. Like musical instruments, each genre has its way of expressing itself. I started with Classical and added rock (from Elvis to Metallica), pop, blues, jazz, country, Latin American types, Caribbean types, and many others. It takes listening and practicing being authentic in each genre. But each experience teaches me something new about music, and makes me play the other genres better.

I think one of the most interesting things about music, is that no matter how much you know, there is always something new to learn around the next corner.

I'm sure I missed something else. Later in the day it'll probably just pop into my head laugh

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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