It would be the most optimal by far for any musician to receive music lessons from an early age, routinely and progressively. It goes without saying that the quality of instruction is of paramount importance, according to a previous article. A good instructor infuses the musician with a solid foundation of fundamental truth and cultivates the flourishing of virtuosity, all in a systematic way that is not forced or rushed, but follows a line of organic development. To give the cheese-making analogy, if the talented student is the rennet, the instructor is the milk.

Having good instruction is so integral that it is customary for even world-class classical artists to publicly acknowledge the main teachers who raised them, such as in biographies, concert programs, line notes, etc. Usually it is a hallmark of prestige for the artist to validate the instructors of him in that way. It’s a feather in his own cap. A good instructor who is foremost in educating the musician is worth his weight in gold.

But what about those talents who are completely self-taught? Look, we understand that life produces various circumstances and that people come from all walks of life, some privileged, others disadvantaged. For example, a child may possess an innate talent and passion for music, but may come from such a disadvantaged background that her parents or guardians cannot even afford lessons, let alone an instrument. Many go to great lengths to realize their dream in some way and do the best they can within their ability. This is usually the factor behind self-education.

While there are some definite great talents that have manifested in this way, the truth of the matter is that their spectrum of ability and potential could have blossomed tenfold, had they been given the benefit of nurturing instruction. Think of the resourceful old man who lived in the Mississippi Delta in the early 20th century, who had nothing but a guitar, a plectrum and his own voice. And he sees what moving art he created on his account. Now, think if that same person had the benefit of a quality instructor who taught him music and nurtured his talents to maximize his potential. His soulful expression of his art is inherent. That wouldn’t change. But the breadth and power of him to express that would put them on an even higher plateau, perhaps another Mozart.

There is another factor why some musicians feel that they do not need instruction, that it will only impede their creativity and undermine their artistic integrity. This is almost exclusively due to poor instruction. As covered in one of my previous articles, poor instruction does more harm than good. No instruction is almost better than bad instruction, as bad instruction can ruin music appreciation. Good instruction does the exact opposite of what some fear, as it empowers and brings out maximum creativity and ability to express one’s artistic integrity.

Interestingly, those who most commonly avoid instruction are those musicians whose proclivity or gift is in composing or writing songs, rather than those who are virtuosos with an instrument or voice. There is a human tendency to be impatient when it comes to creativity. Obviously, this is more evident in creative minds. This is because life force can instantly “create” something. Close your eyes and imagine something, no matter how fantastic, elaborate or surreal. You figured it out in seconds, right? This is how the basic essence of you works. Those whose passion is to create something aesthetically, as a composer or songwriter, for example, operate their minds at lightning speed. To then learn things as basic as notes, etc., seems tedious to them.

The truth of the matter, however, is that music, although spiritual in nature, requires components of the material world to manifest, such as sound waves, timing, etc. As quick as it is to imagine a creative concept, it’s a very different thing to transfer it to real music that others listen to and not just inside the composer’s head. The good instructor will know exactly how to cultivate this in the talented mind and bring it out with his full energy and strength.

The accomplished musician who has been fortunate enough to have a head instructor who has almost mentor status, will hold that person up like a trophy, because they are not only giving them credit, but also displaying their own proud identity as a musician. If one fails to do this, it is an indicator that they are not really as accomplished as they claim to be.