MeatHammer
New member
The facts: I'm 34. I've been playing guitar off and on since I was 13. I am unable to read music notation. I have always wanted to play the piano as well or even the violin (which I also own but merely look at). I like to play hard rock and heavy metal but also like blues--sometimes.
So here I have this great ambition to play music but when I pick up the guitar, I just futz around and can't play anything of my own. I can play 1001 snippets from all kinds of songs but can't put together my own song. It is very frustrating. I am really thinking about going to school for music but am unsure if I should just jump into a music degree. I don't necessarily need a music degree but I do want a structured program of study.
I wonder if I should take lessons from local Joe Schmoe but then I'm fearful I won't really be learning what I need to learn. I don't know if a local guy will be worth it in the long run financially or educationally.
My thought is to ease into it. Learn the basics of music notation and theory and then go into an advanced course like a college program. I haven't talked to any college counselors or anyone like that just yet. If I did enroll in a college level program, should I try to encorporate piano and/or violin into it for any reasons aside from my wanting to be able to play them at some point? I've heard that learning piano would be beneficial in learning any instrument.
I guess I'm looking for the most bang for the buck. Its not like I'm rich or anything either. My end goal is to understand what I have loved for so long but which has confused me since day one. After that, its purely fun and satisfaction.
Thanks for any input offered!
So here I have this great ambition to play music but when I pick up the guitar, I just futz around and can't play anything of my own. I can play 1001 snippets from all kinds of songs but can't put together my own song. It is very frustrating. I am really thinking about going to school for music but am unsure if I should just jump into a music degree. I don't necessarily need a music degree but I do want a structured program of study.
I wonder if I should take lessons from local Joe Schmoe but then I'm fearful I won't really be learning what I need to learn. I don't know if a local guy will be worth it in the long run financially or educationally.
My thought is to ease into it. Learn the basics of music notation and theory and then go into an advanced course like a college program. I haven't talked to any college counselors or anyone like that just yet. If I did enroll in a college level program, should I try to encorporate piano and/or violin into it for any reasons aside from my wanting to be able to play them at some point? I've heard that learning piano would be beneficial in learning any instrument.
I guess I'm looking for the most bang for the buck. Its not like I'm rich or anything either. My end goal is to understand what I have loved for so long but which has confused me since day one. After that, its purely fun and satisfaction.
Thanks for any input offered!