5 Responses

1. bcooper_au

   August 21st, 2010 at 9:50 am

   1

   Do professional athletes go to the Olympics without a coach? Let alone physios, medics, nutritionists? I think not Same for music. There are hundreds of musicians in the business WITH multiple degrees from top schools and a whole lot of experience to back that up. Why would a music director choose you over them?

2. Mikey, just Mikey

   August 21st, 2010 at 9:50 am

   2

   No – you will need lessons.

3. guitar*rules

   August 21st, 2010 at 9:50 am

   3

   Unlike the other response. i believe it is. what do you want to do? jazz? if you get the right knowledge, like learn the different scale modes, and get songs with play alongs, like jamey aebersold series, and eventually start finding gigs (maybe get a personal advisor as you get better), you could do it. maybe dont expect to be world famous, but i bet if your dedicated enough you could.

4. mamianka

   August 21st, 2010 at 9:50 am

   4

   WHY do you think that people – even at an advanced level of playing themselves – continue to study with great teachers???? Are you so arrogant as to think that you can teach yourself a great skill and art, and that the knowledge to do so will somehow just *come* to you, like Pentecost? Since I have spent the last 40 years of my life playing professionally, I and ALL my colleagues will tell you that we continue to seek to improve our skills – or we will find ourselves replaced in very short order. There are workshops and intensive sessions – beyond continued private study and coaching – that we participate in. NO – we are not going to tell casual amateurs and younger students where these are – they are for continued growth for the most serious of us. This includes those who play popular music – not just classical artists. As a sidelight – I have to laugh when HS kids ask about getting a job playing for Broadway pits. Almost ALL of those players have multiple undergrad and graduate degrees from top conservatories, and are conversant in MANY musical styles – and have a lifetime of *contacts*. You do not just buy a horn, lock yourself in your room for a few years, and emerge Broadway-ready.

   If you want to play for your own amusement – and the torture of others – then by all means, buy a sax and make AFLACK noises all you want. But if you think that you will ever be a serious professional competitor – then you are sadly deluded.

   Reality-check time, bud.

5. Striker of Major Pwnage

   August 21st, 2010 at 9:50 am

   5

   lol. I agree with that top contributor. I know a very good jazz sax player that still takes lessons. And he’s 50. If you don’t take lessons, you won’t have anyone to say, "you’re doing this all wrong." Without proper training in your instrument, you won’t know how to form a proper embrochure (spelling?), you won’t be able to have a good tone, let alone a decent one, and you won’t know how to make your sound sound the way you want.

   Lessons.