thoughts?

[todays_emotions]

"The student who practices his instrument assiduously does so not only because he wants to learn how to play the instrument but also because he wants to acquire some skill with which to please his friends, to gain acceptance by a group, or to impress his parents, reall or imaginary adversaries, or members of the opposite sex."

--Charles Seeger

Comments

[smouldering_ash]

It depends. If you are in elementary or middle school, learning an instrument for the very first time, I think that you are learning it so you can play an instrument (or be able to play in band, etc).
In our case, this is what we do. We play music. Of course it is going to overflow into the other aspects of our life. I practice the flute so I can learn an instrument, but I also practice so I can have something to be proud of.

[mysteriousdrc]

Yeah, it sort of depends. I didn't start on the trombone because I thought it would attract girls, but that's probably the opposite reason that most people start on guitar. I think that most people learning an instrument do it to impress other people first, and for themselves second. Hopefully as they gain experience the inverse become true.

[todays_emotions]

See I kind of disagree. I think the quote is pretty true. I mean, you didn't necessarily get into band because you wanted to a relationship, but you prolly thought it looked cool and fun and you wanted to be a part of it. That or your parents forced you into it. I mean, you weren't born saying OMGIMUSTPLAYPIANO it was prolly just something that happened to you. I agree that later it becomes a part of your identity and it's more for yourself, but you can't deny that you've never had a daydream of yourself on a big stage in front of a crowd of people playing an impressive piece.

[mysteriousdrc]

No, no I didn't mean that at all, though I guess it did kinda read like that. In fact, I only got into music because other people did.

[todays_emotions]

oic, yes. omg. 1:32 a.m. and i'm on page 3...chug chug chug!!

[the_hoobit]

Dag, yo. Yes. I first joined band because it looked like fun, and probably more subconsciously, because i thought i'd gain recogniton from my parents and peers by being in said band. I didn't expect the same from simply learning the clarinet. However, i think the opposite of wht Ash said is true: the farther along you go with your instrument, the more it becomes a matter of learning and perfecting the art of your instrument, even though the factors of recognition and fame remain.