Why do we make music?
Where does it come from?
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When I was taking guitar lessons in 1976, I was a 13-year-old kid who just wanted to play music. I didn't really have any way of comparing that simple, idealistic goal to a professional musician making a living from teaching, performing, writing or recording music. I didn't really think of the music industry as a business, because quite simply put, I didn't have a clue how any of it worked. All I knew was that I could turn on my portable radio, tune into a nearby station and wait to hear some music that I would enjoy. I had no concept of the ruthless business practices being implemented where artists and bands got screwed all the time by the music industry labels. I just wanted to play songs on my guitar. Here is my story.
So, where does that desire to become a practicing instrumentalist actually come from? Why do some people have the insatiable need or desire to make music while others simply choose to listen?
It comes from art and creativity. Music just so happens to be one of many ways humans create art. Some write, some photograph, some paint and some perform as actors. The human condition has a deeply impeded built-in desire to create.
For me, music gave me a voice. As I grew older and I got better on my guitar, I got the most satisfaction from playing for an audience. This started in high school. The band got paid for doing a handful of those gigs, but I never saw a dime of any of it. I really didn't care. I was much more interested in just playing in a band and being a part of the experience. I was learning how to perform and be a real musician. To me, this was an invaluable experience.
A few years later, I decided that maybe I could get paid for sharing my gift of music. To me, this was nothing more than a bonus. That was because I already had a steady job.
Professional musicians were becoming millionaires for their music through album sales, concerts, merchandising, radio airplay and promotional appearances, along with many other income resources including residuals from continued sales of the music. The music industry back then, was nothing but business.
When I was in my teens, I wanted to be in a famous rock band and live the rock star lifestyle. I dreamed of having lots of groupie girls wanting to come backstage after the concert. I dreamed of having enough money to buy a mansion or a huge yacht. I dreamed of having enough money to buy fast sports cars and motorcycles. I dreamed of flying all over the world and playing in front of thousands of adoring fans. But, all of that was a pipe dream that I knew would be almost impossible for anyone with my limited experience to ever achieve or maintain. But, I dreamed anyway. I was motivated to always practice and always strive to be a better musician. I wanted to play with better musicians. I wanted to always be good on the guitar. It was my own personal goal.
I got to do a lot of those things, but on a much smaller scale. I played gigs for large audiences. I recorded two albums in the studio with my band, and we sold hundreds of the CD's. We traveled to different places and played for people who had never even heard of us, but they liked us anyway. We even won a “battle of the bands” thing in Miami, by beating out over 200+ other artists and bands.
I never became a famous rock star, but I did have my 15 minutes of fame, a few times. I did meet a few groupie girls. Some even stuck around for a while. I never got my mansion or my yacht. I did get a sports car and a few motorcycles, but they didn't get paid for by any music residuals.
I had my fair shots many times over, to chase fame and fortune, but it was never meant to happen for me. Instead, I became a teacher. I found a way to make a very meager living by teaching my students how to play their guitar. My gift of music was meant to not only be shared in performing and recording, but to be shared through teaching. My rewards are when my students experience that "ah-ha" moment, and they have learned something that has changed their life.
Now, I get to write about it. You read my words and hopefully enjoy what I write. At nearly 100 subscribers in just over one year of writing here on Substack, I think I have finally found my next path in my music teaching career. I love writing and I love teaching guitar lessons. Now, I get to combine both efforts to hopefully one day, make a real living as my numbers grow.
Being a musician means that I get to take my music with me everywhere I go. I am a walking jukebox; and lots of people like to hear me play my guitar. I know these super powers very well, because I have possessed them my entire life.