| Last night, whilst lounging on my sofa with a | | | | get it wrong. The same applies for any |
| friend watching the television, I flicked | | | | profession or hobby; this includes people in |
| through the channels to stumble across a | | | | sporting events or even in the entertainment |
| woman playing the piano as if it was as easy | | | | industry. To truly master playing a musical |
| as a simple stroll in the park. The sound | | | | instrument, one will need to make more than |
| that came out of her carefree fast-motioned | | | | just a few visits to the music or guitar shop |
| fingers, made me wonder how it is possible to | | | | buying books and accessories. |
| have both of your hands work on two different | | | | |
| chords at different ends of the piano. This | | | | A lot of this should be mirrored by the |
| then made me realise that it is exactly what | | | | dedication to practising and actually playing |
| I do when I play my bass guitar. | | | | the instrument. The first time I had begun |
| | | | playing my bass was not that long ago, but I |
| When watching this woman play, I found myself | | | | remember picking it up all excited and eager |
| in a deep discussion with my friend about | | | | to play only to find that I had no idea what |
| whether it is a natural talent towards | | | | I was doing. The first thing I wanted to do |
| playing music or whether it truly is a long | | | | was learn a few bass tunes to some popular |
| time of practising to make perfection. I | | | | rock music. Whilst doing this I decided to |
| refuse to believe that every time I walk into | | | | learn a few impressive tricks and techniques |
| a guitar shop that every single person in | | | | that would help me to play better. |
| there looking at guitars are 'naturally' | | | | |
| gifted in music or have a 'natural' talent to | | | | Those wanting to learn to play an instrument |
| music. Similar to the woman playing the | | | | will need to begin finding their feet in |
| piano, it would have taken many years of | | | | learning to play and try to play a song that |
| practise to be as good as that. | | | | interests them. This will mean plenty of time |
| | | | alone going over the same tune again and |
| On my last visit to my local guitar shop, to | | | | again. It will be frustrating, painful and |
| pick up a tabs book, I found myself talking | | | | even laborious at time, but you will very |
| to someone else about how they had never | | | | quickly adjust to this and once you see the |
| played a piece of music by 'The Doors'. It | | | | improvements in your playing you will never |
| just so happened this said shop supplied a | | | | want to stop. Often, you will find when |
| tabs book for that and this person blew me | | | | playing the guitar, you may improvise and |
| away. He simple perched the book against the | | | | create your own tunes, this is a good sign of |
| wall, sat down with his guitar and started to | | | | progress and it is worth recording these if |
| play like true professional no problems, just | | | | you can. |
| from reading the tablatures. | | | | |
| | | | When playing in front of people, your nerves |
| Amazing I thought, but then when I think | | | | will be playing topsy-turvy in the pit of |
| about this more logically, this man has had | | | | your stomach, even if the audience is your |
| twenty years more experience in playing the | | | | family members! To people who do not know how |
| guitar than I had playing my bass. Therefore, | | | | to play a musical instrument, you will appear |
| after years of experience he was able to play | | | | a musical genius with a 'natural' flair for |
| anything for the first almost perfectly. It | | | | music. |
| would appear that this man could play any | | | | |
| piece of music set down upon him; therefore, | | | | Whether it is something that you are born |
| his dedication to playing the guitar was made | | | | with or have a keen interest in, nothing can |
| prominent through his performance in the | | | | rule out that practise is the key. It is true |
| guitar shop. | | | | that some people are gifted in being able to |
| | | | learn faster than others are able to, but |
| Musicians, artists, writers, performers, | | | | whatever the rate of learning power you have |
| dancers and people within the creative | | | | with practise comes familiarity, clarity and |
| industry will know all too well that to | | | | perfection. Therefore, the key to becoming a |
| become good at something you have to practise | | | | good musician is to practise, practise and |
| to perfection, or practise until you never | | | | practise some more. |