Intro
Thanks to our current era of technology, we’re able to see thousands of videos of incredible musicians, both professional and amateur, at the tap of a search bar. It can be easy to compare your current skill set to a YouTube prodigy halfway around the world, or even in the same city as you. Inevitably, for most beginners that are studying music, the question that eventually arises is: “How long until I’m as good as that person?”
Ultimately, learning music as a hobby usually comes down to having fun and learning something new and challenging, yet rewarding. Being “good” at something can be completely subjective, depending on what your definition of good is. For some people, it’s learning a handful of songs and knowing how to improvise. For others, it’s knowing how music is theoretically constructed and being able to understand advanced harmonic and melodic techniques. I’ll share some insight on what I’ve learned and experienced over the years that will hopefully hold value for you and your experience in learning your instrument.
Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 Hour Rule
Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule has gained a lot of attention since he cited it in his 2008 book, “Outliers”. Essentially, the rule states that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of practice at any specific skill to “master” it, applying to a broad range of areas of study. While the 10,000 hour rule has been criticized by some as an over-simplification of the ability to master something, the underlying idea of consistent practice holds true.
It can also be stressed that most of us don’t necessarily pick up hobbies to be experts in the field. You don’t need to pour 10,000 hours into your instrument or a different hobby if you don’t want to. If you’re more concerned with proficiency than being the absolute best, practicing for several hundred hours (or more) over time will absolutely provide you with a sense of accomplishment.
Idea vs Practice
Learning an instrument is a subjective experience. I have taught several students over the years who were overjoyed to finally begin learning to play, often citing it as something they’ve wanted to do their whole lives. For some people, this level of excitement generally lasts for 2-4 lessons (about the time it takes to realize that being proficient on the instrument takes consistent practice, time and focus.) The gap between building up the idea of something and beginning the process of learning can feel disheartening. Others, however, find themselves surprised at how much they take to the instrument, and thoroughly enjoy the learning process and consistent practice.
Some days, even for me, practicing seems like work, whereas other days, I can’t seem to put my guitar down because of how much fun I’m having. It’s adopting and maintaining a consistent practice routine that will ultimately pay off.
Keeping it Simple
It is completely normal and justified for some students to want to learn some basic chords, simple strum patterns and familiar songs. Not everyone wants to be a music major and teach jazz or classical music at a University. In all honesty, I think that the case for most people is that music is a fun hobby that allows them to learn a new skill and play a cool song around a campfire. Some of my guitar students take lessons to learn how to read guitar tabs, chord diagrams, learn some basic strum techniques, and they’re good! Everyone has a personal motivation that inspires them to pick up the instrument. It’s up to you with how far down the rabbit hole you want to go.
Your Definition of Good will Evolve
The more you study music, the more you realize there’s a lot more to it than just playing Stairway to Heaven with ease or serenading your significant other. Don’t get me wrong, those are great things to do, but are not typically regarded as the defining moment in a guitarists evolutionary experience. A non-musician may regard someone that can play Stairway to Heaven as being great, but if you ask that same question to a Guitar Center employee, they’ll probably say otherwise. This isn’t to say what makes someone good or not good. Rather, it is a reminder that your definition of good is personal, subjective, and may change over the years with enough studying and experience on your instrument.
One Path Leads to Another
Learning an instrument can be a never ending journey. I began learning guitar years ago because I was inspired by singer/songwriters, and spent my teenage years focusing almost exclusively on that genre. By the time I was accepted into the University of Utah’s jazz program in my early 20’s, I became completely captivated by jazz, music theory and all of the sub-genres within. After graduating from college, I became interested in several other genres, ranging from classical, bluegrass, reggae, electronic, film music and so forth. Studying a specific technique or genre may eventually open the door to other areas of study; when starting your practice, keep your mind open, and you may find interests you never knew you had!
Conclusion
It’s understandable to wonder how much time you’ll need to achieve greatness on an instrument. Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule does provide a specific number to obtain mastery, if that’s what you’re looking for. However, aside from the criticism of over-simplification, remember that it’s completely valid for average proficiency to be your goal. The best advice I could give to anyone starting out is to practice consistently, with whatever amount of time you can dedicate every day.
Aristotle once said, “The more you know, the more you don’t know.” If, through music, you find yourself continuing to find new and valuable information, you are never really done studying; you simply find new ideas and techniques to begin learning. And even though your definition of becoming “good” at your instrument may change over time, if you find enjoyment in the process of learning, that’s what matters most.
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