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

Wonderful replies from both sides of the coin..For those who CAN really play I know & understand full well how much dedication it takes to be good at anything.
I am U.S.Army Master Diver-Engineer(00B-50)Retired,as well as former NAUI Tech Dive Instructor..I have,since the age of 3 when I fell into the deep end of an unattended back yard pool & self rescued,logged almost 40,000 hours in the underwater world.Despite all my vast experience,a novice sport SCUBA Diver can see 90% of the wonders of the undersea world that I have seen,and gain a much better understanding of the water world than someone who simply watches Jacques Cousteau or Into the Blue over & over....
The book recommendation,fascinating,thanks..
For those who,as someone replied,punishes themselves playing around I remember Bruce Lee"Don’t fear the man who practices 1000 techniques,fear the man who practices 1 technique 1000 times"...

My voice is my instrument. I have an hour of study a week with my vocal coach and put in another 2 or so hours a week singing. Working on a Radiohead song at the moment. 

“I love flamingo...

LOL then I bet you’d love flamenco music. 
Cheers 

In my teens I used to play the violin in the school orchestra. I scraped through grade 8  (see what I did there!). It must have shaped my listening preferences as I very much prefer sitting in the middle of the music, and my Bryston sp3 splits the music up round the room very well.
I also look for authentic sounds like piano decay and for example listening to Bix Biedebecker picking out a cornet instead of a trumpet.
Why, does it make a difference? The players obviously consider the subtle difference important too.
The genuineness of the sound is important to me and synthetic music just grates. Pressing a keyboard and different sounds coming out at  a press of a button does not appeal.
The mix of guitars in Rod Stewart's Mandolin Wind always gets me querying how many guitars are playing in the instrumental sections.
On that note (see, I did it again) a big question to you audiophiles ........ How many guitars (or of that genre) are playing on Mandolin Wind? I say 3 but a guitar playing friend said 4. It has been bugging me for 40 years or so! Please put me out of my misery!
Again I suppose, most music listeners don't care but to some of us such things are dear to our hearts.

Great topic. I agree wholeheartedly and happy to see so many comments supportive of your premise.

“Now I know those few notes & easily recognize them in any song.”

Then you have more talent (ears) than you give yourself credit for. Get yourself a good teacher!


**** I mastered the trumpet in 1967-1971 and was in the jazz band in high school ****

No offense, but I kinda doubt it (the “mastering” part).

**** “I love flamingo...“ ****

I love flamingo too 😊:

https://youtu.be/lt0GojgWrA8

Btw, a new professional quality saxophone can be had for about $4,000 (and up, of course; much less for used).