What makes someone a good musician?

There are many ways of tackling this question. We will approach from the angle of someone looking to learn the instrument.

One of the most important concepts is timing. You may have heard people saying things like, “This player has a great feeling” or “I like this beat.” Even though these sentences only capture a subjective experience, they refer to a more technical notion, which is the idea of timing in music. Timing does not only refer to the synchronicity with an existing pulse or beat but also to the possibility of creating patterns. This is what rhyme ultimately means. Many students use these terms indistinguishably in the first stages of their learning process. It is essential to have the correct theoretical framework to work on timing. For a lot of people, this is almost second nature. They have possibly internalised a strong sense of “time” since they were very young due to exposure to music or growing up in a musical family. This is what ultimately predicts the ease with which some students seem to learn (along with some degree of natural predisposition). In any case, it is very important to understand that the concept of timing is possibly the most vital factor when learning an instrument. This is something often overlooked, as in the imagination of the students, playing means making sounds or notes, so the duration of the notes or anything relating to the timing in this context is overlooked.

Internalizing the language of a particular style is the backbone of any great musician. Legendary players have also pushed forward the boundaries of the genres they play, contributing to furthering the means of communication in music. From the point of view of a student, it is crucial to visualise the aspects that have to be incorporated into their practice. Many want to learn styles of music that they have always loved but with which they have not fully imbued themselves. In other words, it is necessary to listen to and assimilate the music one is trying to learn. It is not something that requires an instrument necessarily. A student should know what a blues sound is like before starting to improvise. Otherwise, the playing will always lack the codes that bring life to the genre. These codes are expressed in music through harmony, rhythm, and phrasing. We can say that great players were also phenomenal listeners.

There is also the psychological dimension of the player, which can help to shape and define anyone’s journey.

Mastering an instrument also takes years of practice. Only those with a significant sense of discipline and hours of daily practice will be able to accomplish high levels of performance. Some people are more predisposed to enduring certain sacrifices. Others simply have made their lives revolve around music and also had the opportunity to practice intensively. In any case, we believe that anyone willing to put in some effort will be able to become a fantastic player who will immensely benefit from music. Becoming great at your instrument is not something reserved for an exclusive few. Everyone’s journey will be different, and we are confident that with the right help, your path will be fulfilling.