Read that article and this particularly resonates with me

"Traditionally, a child learns to play music by being taught how an instrument works, and learning to play easy pieces that they practice over and over. They might also play music with other beginners. All the rules come first -- notes, chords, notation -- before they play.

But with language, young children never know that they're beginners, Wooten said. No one makes them feel bad when they say a word incorrectly, and they're not told to practice that word dozens of times. Why should it be different with music?

"If you think about trying to teach a toddler how to read, and the alphabet, and all that stuff, before they can speak, we'd realize how silly that really is," Wooten said. "Kids most of the time quit, because they didn't come there to learn that. They came to learn to play.""

so true and so glad my teacher thought it was stupid too so we just jammed and later we did theory.

haaa..I just finished the article myself and that same section and the concept that music is a language really resonated with me as well...Victor is brilliant...such a simple concept.

"later we did theory"...which means there is a place for more strict learning simply that the mind is more receptive if it is enjoyed rather than a pain.

Victor, who I like very much, is credited too many times for techniques he and Reggie learned from older players...never famous. Yet his observation about allowing "free exploration" of the instrument early and learning it in the same way we learn to converse with others is spot on. He also is a proponent of structured practice yet always reminds you to "practice musically" in other words don't just run a scale play the scale, fool around with it, make it musical, imagine freely.

I am no laboratory experiment but my grandmother (and most of my family) were all accomplished pianists and I was allowed, as soon as I could pull myself up on the bench, to beat on it anyway I wished. My grandmother would occasionally applaud when I would accidentally play something musical.

I was playing and reading music by 6 (simple yes, not Bach, but reading and playing).

Never had a lesson (well one but I skipped it and spent the money on comics) other than guidance from Grandma (particularly what those funny dots on the paper always sitting above the keyboard meant). It never ever seemed like learning. Only play of a different sort than kicking a ball or yelling "tag your it".

If I am any sort of example...Victory is spot on.

My grandmother was the first person in my life to encourage musical expression and answer any question I asked on the subject.

It continues to amaze me how many twin brothers I have in the world.

There is a snobbery, at least in my town, that the learned symphony and jazz musicians have regarding musicians that don't read music. But when those learned musicians have played enough gigs in the real world (bars) they are amazed at the skillset of seasoned entertainers who can't tell you the name of the chord they are playing.

The unschooled are impressed by the schooled and the schooled are impressed by the un. The listener is only impressed if they are entertained.

The article talks about how powerful music is in the brain. Reminds me of a piece I heard on public radio (I think) that talked about a social worker that helps his nursing home Alzheimer's patients by creating a mix tape specific to the patient. One minute the patient is an unresponsive lump in a wheelchair, the next minute, after having the headphones placed and the play button pressed, he's singing all the words and telling stories of his childhood.

Somebody make me a mix tape. I'm ready.

Writing music is therapeutic for me,creative energy needs a positive outlet.

Daniel, yes i will be able to see what you did there. i truly preferred that half, but hehe i'm really not that harsh like my dad with these stuffs. He all the time informs me loopy stories back in the day and calls me a loser. I assume it is time I move out from my ma and father' basement LOL. Anyways, what about you? what does your dad presume xD" online accounting degree do follow do follow links list of dofollow social bookmarking sites selling gold Melbourne