PIck up a new one!

[I've forgotten how good it feels to write again. Because writing is one of the things I'm best at, and I feel like the words let so much flow. So much better than a picture thing like flickr or tumblr, but hey, haters gonna hate. I'm just not a picture person! Anyway, this is an article I wrote for the school's alternative student magazine, Hank. This is only the raw draft, so the editors might still cut it and stuff, but this is my blog, so stuff that. Here, we get raw, unrefined language, savants! It's basically for the music section, about picking up a new instrument. It's short, I know, our deadlines are tight. Hope you like it!]

Do you find yourself bored with life? The epitome of a roid-pumped super-jock stereotype? Lamentingly lacking in lovely ladies? Too much time spent playing Call of Duty? Then I have the perfect solution for you… pick up a new musical instrument, and that goes for both the already-talented and the musically-illiterate out there.

I did it while I’m here, and music was already my first language. At Ridley, we have most amazing of underground music departments (yes, it indeed exists beneath the floors of 2CB) which lets you simply sign out instruments to take home with you, be it a trumpet or a clarinet or French horn or whatever. And you don’t need to learn a classical instrument either, you can pick up, as I did, a guitar or a bass or even stuff around on the drum kit!

The problem with music these days is that people think the only way to do it is the classical way with private lessons and an hour’s practice a day. That’s the way I do it in part, and it certainly helps if you’re looking at a career or by-career or potential university major in music as I am. You get a solid foundation in theory, discipline, technical drilling and stuff like that. And I’ve gotta tell you, that’s a good way of doing it, but it’s hard, and you don’t need all of those things when you’re just looking for something new.

So, don’t suffer from forceful parents syndrome like I did, instead, play for fun, like I did and do now. Because that’s what music should be about, actually, fun, and all the structure and rigour and classical-ness take away from that sometimes. Look at me, I’m an epically solid pianist, but I play bass and guitar for pure fun, and a little bit of cross-training too actually.

You don’t need private lessons, you don’t even need to be taught by anyone, you can do it yourself. Even if you are super-tone-deaf, believe you me! And if you’re having trouble with something, ask a friend, because I guarantee you that us music students are very amiable and more than willing to help. Oh yeah, there are also lots of technical benefits to music and stuff like psychological effects, but that’s not important here…

What you actually want to do is jam all those popular songs at awesome times around campfires and when chilling with friends. It’s all you need to do just that, so go out there, and pick up a new instrument. Who knows, it might be something you learn to love more than you originally thought!