We all base what we believe on our own life experiences and the outside influences that we encounter. When I look back at my childhood and remember the kids who took formal music lessons and then ask myself "how many of these people are still playing", then I could have died before I was 25 and had the answer to that question. Not a single one them played a note after high school and they couldn't even tell you how to build a major chord. (Hint; It's 1-3-5 of the major scale).

The only musicians who I knew who played instruments as a child and continued to play as an adult were the ones who never had a single music lesson. Many of them still play and perform today. They still couldn't tell you where the G note is on a Treble Clef.

Many of you may think I can't read music at all because of my stance on the issue but that wouldn't be true. I learned to read the treble clef by buying Mel Bay books before there was TAB. Years later after I enrolled my son in piano lessons I decided to learn basic piano so I could help him with his piano lessons. That meant I had to learn to read music in order to do that. I did and I played piano for about a year. Then I realized he didn't need my help and I stopped playing piano. He essentially ignores the piano now but he still plays guitar and a little mandolin and banjo. He HATES reading music and says he never learned a damn thing about playing music from taking years of music lessons. He said he learned about music by playing with me years after the lessons were over. I taught him basic music theory and how to play guitar. He still plays today.

I could go on about how many "musicians" I met who were formally trained who were no more musicians than I was a rocket scientist but I won't. Incompetent is the simplest way to put it.

Many instruments such as piano and wind instruments require that you learn to sight read. Stringed fretted instruments simply require you to pick up the damn thing and learn some chords and songs and develop your ear and then you can be as good as your commitment to practicing allows. Music theory is also easy to learn without reading a friggin' note. It's all about intervals and basic math.

It really pisses me off when numbskulls discourage would be musicians by telling them they have to learn an archaic system of music notation that doesn't even pertain to their instrument. Once again standard notations SUCKS when it comes to stringed fretted instruments. It's a total waste of time and that time could be better spent by simply learning how to PLAY.

Develop your ear. Listen to varied types of music. Learn songs by ear. Find a pickin' buddy.

It ain't rocket science. If it was then none of us would be able to play.

Bob
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http://soundcloud.com/bobcflatpicke/music-in-the-mountains