by Sammy Stein

Created on: March 17, 2009

Everyone should learn an instrument at least once in their life. Whether you teach yourself or get a professional, do it.

The reasons are many fold and the level you will attain will vary but I dare you not to enjoy at least part of it. Music enables us to express ourselves -even if it is simply frustration at not being able to play. Just making a noise is a great thing to do and to be able to do it legitimately under the guise of learning a new instrument is a joy of joys.

If you ever want to annoy someone - take up an instrument. They can't complain - you must practice.

If you are going to play something, play it loud and proud. Never hide away and pretend you are not learning - go for it big time, make those noises, make the beat and allow the instrument to take your rhythm - create your own mo-jo, know what I mean?!

I am a poor example of someone who sticks at an instrument. Following a close older sister who is a gifted pianist I gave up the piano once I learned I was not going to be a child prodigy like her after five lessons. I gave up the clarinet at grade 3 once I learned you actually had to practice changing octaves and I gave up the oboe at grade 5 once I learned that to go any further I needed to really practice. Oh, and I gave up singing at grade 6 because the next grade meant theory too!

Yet, for all that, I am glad I learned an instrument or rather started to learn several. I can at least play a tune on most of them and I can sing and this has led to great enjoyment (more for me than those listening). It has also meant I have been able to take my instrument anywhere and I raised a fair amount for charity along the way.

Alas I am no opera star but I can at least sing 'Reviewing the Situation' from Oliver with a modicum of realism and I can certainly be-dum along to jazz- getting my mo-jo working all right! I have sung in bands, played in orchestras and sung solos - all on the basis of a few low grades in music and a small degree (very small) of talent.

So learn an instrument just for the heck of it - who knows you might be good. You might do as I did and switch, willy nilly from one to another but learning any instrument allows you to do that! If you never try how do you know if you could ever be any good? The drums would be my next choice I think - it used to be the saxaphone but then I realised this was onlybecause I was in lust with Davey Payne- a great player in the 70s and 80s. Drums I could really go for - if only I can find a set somewhere around here.....

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