Keyboard/Synth players

So I've had had my Keyboard/Synth for almost a year now. I got a Roland Juno D last year as a graduation present. I took lessons all through the summer up to December, and then I stopped because I got bored of them. Lessons seem to involve mostly reading sheet music and playing other songs. Instead I just play my keyboard when I get the time.

What do you think? Do you need lessons to make good music?

I want to actually write music and songs though. I wonder if dabbling can actually get you somewhere. 

Most formal lessons are oriented at reading music- they won't teach you how to compose, only how to write down what you compose.

Edited by cobb2 - May 05 2010 at 21:43

cobb2 wrote: Most formal lessons are oriented at reading music- they won't teach you how to compose, only how to write down what you compose. To learn how to compose you need higher learning such as bachelor of music, then you will only be taught how to compose in the formal structures anyway. Most song writing is created by dabbling with an instrument, not by sitting down and writing on paper.  Your keyboard probably has a midi interface. With the right software you can get whatever you play to appear on a staff anyway. My advice- if you want to be able to easily play other peoples work take the lessons - if you want to write for your own benefit just keep playing and experimenting with structures.

Not just for myself I want people to listen to my music and enjoy it, because I will enjoy making good music. I want to write good music.

I would very strongly encourage you to TAKE LESSONS, while keeping in mind that what you learn is mainly the "technique" part of the instrument. (taking classical or jazz lessons for example will help you learn the technique way quicker than when you practice alone).
Still, it is very important to keep "dabbling" and trying out your own ways of playing, not taking the lessons as a "must-do".
This way, you will have a good technique (which is very well taught in any fair music school) and you can still make up your own style of playing if you keep experimenting in parallel.
If you only "dabble", you will get to a point where your hands just can't follow what you really want to do on the instrument. Taking lessons help you make this unpleasantness occur much less...

The piano (or any classic keys instrument) is from what I've seen much longer to get into than for example guitars or drums. After 2 years of taking drum/guitar courses, you can play pretty much any pop/rock song there is (just for the reference). After 2 years of taking piano lessons, you can't do much...

Good luck with your endeavor!

PS: I've had a Juno-D for 6 years, and it is maybe the most practical keyboard to start with.
Light (5kg!!) cheap (got it for 480euros at the time) and has some great organ sounds and a few nice synths. Piano is OK (I like the bass part in the Juno-D piano).

mono wrote: I would very strongly encourage you to TAKE LESSONS, while keeping in mind that what you learn is mainly the "technique" part of the instrument. (taking classical or jazz lessons for example will help you learn the technique way quicker than when you practice alone). Still, it is very important to keep "dabbling" and trying out your own ways of playing, not taking the lessons as a "must-do". This way, you will have a good technique (which is very well taught in any fair music school) and you can still make up your own style of playing if you keep experimenting in parallel. If you only "dabble", you will get to a point where your hands just can't follow what you really want to do on the instrument. Taking lessons help you make this unpleasantness occur much less... The piano (or any classic keys instrument) is from what I've seen much longer to get into than for example guitars or drums. After 2 years of taking drum/guitar courses, you can play pretty much any pop/rock song there is (just for the reference). After 2 years of taking piano lessons, you can't do much... Good luck with your endeavor! PS: I've had a Juno-D for 6 years, and it is maybe the most practical keyboard to start with. Light (5kg!!) cheap (got it for 480euros at the time) and has some great organ sounds and a few nice synths. Piano is OK (I like the bass part in the Juno-D piano).

I don't really care about Piano itself. I'm mostly interested in keyboard for synthesizers, and keys in heavy metal, which is mostly used for ambiance. I don't care to be a technical player like Rick Wakeman. I would like to be a prog musician though..or maybe get into electronic.