Self-taught vs formally trained

People who know me personally are frequently asking do I regret not having a formal musical education. The answer depends on what they’re getting at. Do I think I would be a better musician if I were formally trained? In that case, my answer is no. Do I think my life would be easier if I had gone that way? Probably.

Being a self-taught artist is the most honest and sincere way of developing your talent, but it also brings a life full of pain and misunderstanding, even by people who are closest to you. I’ve started rather young (at the age of six), but unlike the mega-euphoria you often see in parents when their child shows a tiny bit of inclination toward something creative, my family was not so thrilled back then. This doesn’t mean they weren’t supportive and proud in their way. Far from it. But they’ve also been quite down to earth and thought that I should have a solid foundation of sorts along with my music, which is the very reason behind my somewhat colorful education history. But deep inside, everyone knew that music would always prevail in the end.

Although the musicians and composers whom I admire the most are also self-taught, you can’t deny some benefits of having a formal education. First of all, it gives you certain constraints and discipline, which are often lacking in my world. I’m not saying that this is a primary concept by which I wanted to live, but it can surely help you achieve certain goals more quickly and effectively. Also, formal education can surround you with people who could be beneficial to be acquainted with. After all, music, like all human activities, is sadly overwhelmed by snobbery and elitism. In the end, it is frequently more important who you know than what you know and who you are.

There is a saying: “You can’t make it all by yourself”. However, being surrounded by the right people in the right places at the right time is often a matter of luck and circumstances. I wasn’t born in a family of musicians, wasn’t classically trained in music, and didn’t have many opportunities to mingle with the people from the circles that could help me out. At least, not in my neighborhood. And those I had the chance of working with were often non-supportive and petty thinking. Of course, there is always the Internet, which may seem like a Holy Grail for those doing creative work, but it is also full of its dangers and pitfalls. The only comforting thought is that you don’t have much choice there these days anyway...

Nowadays, after ten years of making ends meet only by using my music skills and more than thirty years being engulfed by music, one cannot avoid the question of success. What is success? If you’re talking about making a lot of money, being popular and noticed, getting attention and formal awards in professional circles, then I’ve failed big time. So far, at least. But if being successful means struggling to live by your standards and developing your talent further despite all the odds, I believe that I’ve succeeded, even if this brings nothing but a bittersweet taste.

After all, freedom has its costs.