If you want to play a rock musical instrument for a living, your easiest path to success is playing in a band. Wrong! First of all, there is not easy path to success. Second, while you may believe that playing rock music is learning 3 chords and playing loud, that's just not the case.
Playing a rock musical instrument in a band is not as easy as some people would like you to think. It takes years of learning, practicing, and working hard at your instrument to make it into a rock band. It takes all that and a little luck to be successful.
Ever wondered what it would be like to play a musical instrument in a rock band? I know I have. The one thing I don't always think about when daydreaming about being the next rocker sensation is all the time, effort, and energy that goes into learning to play a musical instrument to the degree it would require in order to make the band. It's not all rock concerts and parties. And we can't forget the importance of truly loving the musical instrument you play.
Society often looks on the guys in the band as kids who never grew up and got a "real job", often overlooking the years of dedication and study these guys have put in with the musical instrument of their choice. Think about, doctors spend how many years in school and medical school before they are allowed to pick up the instrument of their craft. Musicians must know and love their musical instruments in order to play with the passion and precision required to play in a rock band.
Of course I'm talking about on a truly professional level. Sure you can play your musical instrument in a local garage band. And you'll certainly be entertaining yourself and a few of your friends. And there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I would encourage it. But if you want to make it big it will take more than gathering a couple of weekends a month with some of your buddies.
Something that I find amazing is that people considered rock and roll obscene when it came about. Accepting the idea that musical instruments could be used for anything other than what they had been used for in the past was a rather revolutionary idea - much like the music that Mozart created in his day was. The rebels, it seems, make history and rock music is full of rebels. These rebels however voice their dissention with musical instruments rather than bombs and guns.
Today there are rock bands all over the place and competition is fierce between the bands, no one makes it into a rock band without having great skill with the musical instrument they are playing. And though many consider this a glamorous lifestyle, life on the road isn't all it's cracked up to be.
If you want to stay in a rock band you have to spend long hours, weeks, and sometimes months away from your friends and family. While the members of your band may be as close as family, it isn't the same. Living in such close quarters for extended periods of time will also strain your friendship with other members of the band. Have you ever noticed how quickly band members can turn over? Then, there's learning to adjust to the possible fame and potential failure that plague all musicians, yet you must continue to play your musical instrument and never miss a beat. No sacrifice is too great right.
Playing a musical instrument in a rock band isn't nearly as glamorous as you would think it is. It requires hours of work each and every day, long tours away from friends and family in addition to a serious lack of respect among other musicians and musical scholars.
But if it's what you really want, the rewards are certainly worth it. If you love music, you'll be playing your musical instrument constantly. And there's certainly money to be made as well. But just like the medical doctor it will take years of practice before you can reap the rewards.
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