Just a reminder to anyone thinking about picking up a new instrument to do it!
Randomly deciding to start taking flute lessons during the pandemic was such an immensely rewarding decision (even though I still don’t know what possessed me).
I’m starting on the advanced program later this year. Beyond just learning a specific instrument, it has taught me so much about music. I’ve learned to read music, learned to play in loads of different time signatures and keys, developed my rhythm and understanding of harmony, and learned to play with other musicians. I’ve gotten to study and play works by some of my favorite composers, like Vince Guaraldi, Yusef Lateef, Antonio Carlos Jobim. Up next is some tunes from the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, and then maybe a deep dive into the tunes off of Kind of Blue.
I’m not going to be leading my own jazz group any time soon, but I think it’s finally cured me of the imposter syndrome I think a lot of us electronic musicians face, and has opened me up to a much deeper connection with music than I thought possible. I’ve struggled with the guitar since I was a kid, and thought I’m just am not that talented a musician, but it turns out that a woodwind instrument came so much easier to me, and these studies are feeding back into my guitar playing.
Anyway, I just wanted to share as while taking up a new instrument as an adult can be very daunting, it’s actually a very achievable and rewarding experience. The key I think is just finding a good teacher/school, and being consistent. You can accomplish a LOT in just a few years.
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