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Why Don't More People Into Music Reproduction At Home Play Around With Musical Instruments

 In the pursuit of music reproduction in the home it is my firm belief that you must listen to live music every now & again so that you know & understand how real music,with real instruments,in real physical spaces sounds...
 With that as a foundation I used in judging equipment's "voice" I also believe that playing around with a musical instrument is an excellent way to gain first hand experience with musical sound...EVERY person that reads this can learn a few musical notes,on ANY musical instrument on the planet..For instance I play around with electric guitar.NO I can NOT play,but I can play the notes EFG,on first string & BCD on the second string...Now  I know those few notes & easily recognize them in any song..I am just this coming week going to start playing around with an electric keyboard....So I wonder,why don't more audiophiles simply play around with real instruments as part of their pursuit of honest reproduction in the home?Surely the education in reality is worth the $100.00 it takes to get an entry level guitar,keyboard,horn etc...
freediver
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 
     Interesting idea that seems to have some merit.  I happen to be a savage beast and a music lover.  Due to a stroke, however, my left side extremities are paralyzed and I only have complete control over my right side extremities. 
      As a result, I'm a bit concerned that the limited chords and sounds I'd manage to produce, regardless of the musical instrument played, may drive all with good hearing from the room, including myself.
     Maybe a didgeridoo, a harmonica or, I got it!.... a cow bell?

Tim
flatblackround's avatar
flatblackround
279 posts
 
I have “played around with guitars” since I was quite young.  My parents even purchased lessons.  My teacher suddenly died of a heart attack and I felt responsible because I could not improve.  Result was a deep respect for how talented real musicians are.  My Son graduated from Temple Summa Cum Laude. He quit academics and went to luthier school.  He has gifted me several guitars and vintage amps that are set up and at the ready.   I don’t play them.  I look at them in frustration.   I love music, but have absolutely no talent.  I even have trouble tuning the damn things.  So my favorite instrument became the high fidelity stereo, and I can’t master that either.  
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,653 posts
 
Why do you presume that audiophiles do not play musical instruments??
rodman99999
6,125 posts
 
I completely agree with your first paragraph’s premise, though it should be recognized; many aren’t thusly concerned.        Also: same query as yogiboy’s (where you get your stats).
saintsaens_op61's avatar
saintsaens_op61
59 posts
 
I agree with your premise that there is a lot to be gained by playing musical instruments. I think that the two reasons why more people don’t play instruments are the time and money needed. “Playing around” with an instrument is completely different than playing an instrument. Honestly, guitars and keyboards are probably the only instruments that can sound good when being “played around” with. They are also probably the only instruments that sound good when bought for <$100. If you bring a $100 violin to a violin teacher, they will ask you where you got your VSO (violin shaped object). 

All that isn’t to say that people shouldn’t learn how to play instruments. It’s just that most people don’t fully understand how much of a investment of time and money it is. Once you realize that, it certainly is well worth it!
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