by Luke St Leger

Created on: May 14, 2010   Last Updated: May 15, 2010

The most popular guy at the party is usually the one who is playing an old Beatles tune on the guitar of bashing out some boogie woogie rhythm on the piano. It’s this guy who has all the people crowding round and singing along and it’s this guy who will probably have the best time out of anyone there. These people are reaping the rewards for years of hard work of passion and determination and I guess I’m one of these people. One of the thing that I value in my life over anything else is my ability to pick up one of the instruments that I have learned and start playin’ a tune.

Like many others, starting out was a pain. In fact I hated it more than anything else! I was about 8 years old and my mother enrolled me in some piano lessons with a local teacher. I suppose that I’m one of the lucky ones in that I took to it quite quickly and because of this, encouragement from my tutor and my mom grew and grew! It all changed when I learned my first tune. Unfortunately I can’t remember what it was but I can remember I liked it.

From this moment on, it was music all the way and it has been every since. As I grew up, many things changed in my life but music has stayed with me. I took guitar lessons and studied many other instruments and I now thank my mother for forcing me onto the keys!

Anyway, enough about me.

I am by no means the only one who loves to play music and I’m by no means the only one who has gotten a lot out of learning to play. People from all walks of life and any talent can learn to play a musical instrument and get the same fulfilment as me. That’s the beauty of it. It’s a wonderful way to be creative and express your self and it’s for everyone.

Although I am not a professional tutor, I teach various friends and members of my family to play the guitar and I do so on a regular basis. I have recently started to teach my boss at work and one of my close friends some chords and a few basic songs. Now, I wouldn’t describe either of them as ‘talented’ musicians but this hasn’t stood in their way. Every time I see them, they can’t help but tell me all the new songs they have learned and ditties that they have written.  Every time I see them play, they are a little better and a little wiser.

So… Why should you learn to play a musical instrument? Because it is a social, fulfilling, satisfying, gratifying and FUN thing to do. You don’t have to learn in any other way than the way you want to learn and you don’t have to be anyone you don’t want to be. If you need it, it can give real direction in you life, boost your self esteem and become a passion that you can’t live without. If not, at least you’ll be the life and soul of the party.

Learn more about this author, Luke St Leger.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.