I told you I would give you my own opinion so here it is. I took piano lessons for years and I am glad I did. It is very nice to be able to sit at the piano and pound out a song every now and then. I can use my skimpy piano skills to learn difficult vocal pieces also. I do not have a problem with learning to play an instrument.
After taking lessons for quite a long time I discovered an intense longing to learn how to sing properly. When I was 16 or so I was taking piano and voice at the same time from the same teacher. While I was thus occupied a thought crossed my mind. Why am I spending time, energy, and funds on piano when I will never be able to use my skill in a Mennonite service? I decided to drop the piano lessons and focus on vocal training. I realize now that I could have gotten a teaching certificate if I would have stuck with it long enough.
In conclusion I don't have a problem with learning to play an instrument. I do have a problem with the philosophy that says it is okay to have a professional fiddler teach you the fiddle but it is wrong to have a professional singer teach you to sing.
2 comments:
Here are my few tidbits:
I took piano lessons for 11 years. I've played piano since I was six. Have they done me any good? Yes, they have. I have an ear for music that would have been hard to develop any other way. I can sight read music without any problem.
A musician sees (hears whatever) music with another dimension that goes beyond just the sound. Music would not mean the same thing to me now, if I had not had all the piano lessons that I had.
"But," you ask, "Couldn't voice lessons done that?" Perhaps and perhaps not. The piano has provided an outlet for the normal tulmultuous teen years and I have yet to regret the thousands of dollars and thousands of hours spent in lessons and practicing.
My conclusion? I guess I have no hard and fast one. But that's OK. Right?
Very Ok....
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