Most people think becoming a great musician needs to take eons of years.
Sure, investing the time to develop a relationship with your instrument is important.
But practicing a lot isn’t enough. Taking lessons isn’t enough. Getting a degree isn’t enough.
It takes something else to become a better musician. That’s what we’re going to dive into today. Included in this episode is another interview with professional drummer, Steve Goold.
Click to Listen
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
What You’ll Learn in this Episode
- The often neglected goal of music education
- Why lessons and practice isn’t enough
- Why getting a degree might not be your best option
- The strength and weakness of classical music education
- What you can do on your own to develop as a musician
- How to develop your ear and hearing pitch
- How to trick yourself into playing what’s difficult
- Pushing yourself to experiment with new sounds and instruments
- What to do when your music teacher terminates your lessons for you
- The chasm between student loans and a musician’s salary
Resources From this Episode
- Podcast: Drummers Are Musicians Too: An Interview With Steve Goold
- Website: Steve Goold
- Software: Propellerhead Reason
- Keyboard: M Audio Keystation
- Book: The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander
Subscription Links
Your Feedback
If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see, a special guest you’d like to hear from, or a question for an upcoming episode, please email me.
If you enjoyed the show, I would be so appreciative if you would rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That helps me so much! Thanks.
Question: What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? Any thoughts on your development as a musician? What has helped you this most? Let’s talk about it in the comments. It’s always better that way.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
Man is music school expensive!!!! didn’t get the chance to finish… haven’t lost hope just taking me a lil bit longer than most…its an interesting thing the in-between world of the classically trained and contemporary musician… listen, practice, review over and over again…
I do have a question for you guys??? As a worship Leader (vocal lead) what are some key terms (jargon) we can use to communicate to drummers… I’m always challenged with that….
Nena – you’re right about how expensive it is! 🙂 As for communicating to drummers, I use the terms “four on the floor”, “groove”, “kick drum on one”, “16th note hi hats”, “cymbal swell” and “build” a lot.
David, good post, good interview. I would like to say more.
But, my computer crashed and typing on my tablet or droid
phone is just to laborious. You may recall that I teach guitar.
Individual personality and learning styles lead people to choose
their instruments. Guitar players are very often tactile learners,
often satisfied with tactile stimulation and pointless movements
with closed ears. In short, spinning their wheels. As you basically
said, music starts in your mind. I challenge my students to experiment
and explore. Physical playing is very limited. Some eventually get
it. Some never do. The curiosity you mentioned is so important.
and explore.
Don, I’m glad you chimed in here as I wanted to hear your opinion. In a lesson environment, what do you do if you limit playing and challenge students to experiment and explore? What does that look like?
First, they have to have enough background. We work from method books and workbooks. I challenge them to think about things and expand their vocabulary. We work on intervals, scales, chord progressions, music theory, and fingering concepts. If they play an idea well, I have them play it in a different octave or position on different strings. We talk about spelling chords, the difference between major and minor, then later add diminished and augmented. I am not the first to call it this, but I refer to it as Guitar Logic. It is simply music theory applied to a specific instrument. Do it, do it again, change it this way or that. tell me what you did, describe the sound. We talk about style and articulation. We listen to other players. What did you like, or not like? About 9 months ago I started using backing tracks in some lessons to simulate playing with a band. By the way, the two best drummers I ever worked with had Masters Degrees in music. If you can afford it, a degree in jazz studies on your instrument is probably the most relevant music degree to cover all styles except classical. A Jr. college can get you a long way a lot cheaper if you are not interested in a degree. Find a good one, quality varies quite a bit in Jr. Colleges. Find a good private teacher that has a degree. Remember, performing is both physical AND mental. Scenario: three years at thirty minute lessons per week, then three years at hour lessons per week will cost about (inflation not included)$11,700.00.( About one year in college). It is not free, or without commitment. It is most definitely rewarding. Also remember that I am long winded.
Great stuff and so relevant today! I have a Masters degree in music but I still feel like some of the most formative experiences of my musicianship were what I learned from being in a rock band with my friends in highschool. When I am working through I rehearsal with my worship team and I’m fixing this issue, or that issue… “why don’t you try playing this…”Let’s go for more of THIS feel” etc…. That’s not stuff I learned in the classroom. I learned about how a band functions from just playing in band! But yet I’m still buried under students loans… Now, I did get some extremely valuable and formative learning from my degrees but I can boil it all down to – basic theory, my private lessons, and all the tons of opportunities to play. Could I have gotten all that without a degree… Yes! Would I be the same musician I am today? No, but I still could have gotten that knowledge in a much cheaper more quickly applicable way.
And I really like the idea of “curiosity” being the most important aspect in musical development! I’m always telling people that “focus” and “awareness of the big picture” is the most important trait of a good musician. Those are essential but curiosity is what leads you to pay attention to the big picture and leads you to focus so deeply on what you’re playing/singing. This pod cast was a big “ah ha!” moment for me. Thanks so much for posting!!!
We’re a bunch of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your site offered us with valuable info to work on. You have done a formidable
process and our whole nneighborhood will likely be grateful
to you.
Their compose sized fit give them an elegant search &
most of them come along with customdesigned, vibrant
tricky situations that offer equally security and design. Lady Gaga glasses really are
a smart way to have a sign in one of the very prominent
manner symbols of our period.
Etuisuuksia kasino Mystery Shopping vaihtelee nointyyppi
miehitys määritetty jayrityksen olet tekemässä
työtä .