Recently, there has been some discussion of "learning differences" and the impact they have on whether people learn, say, theory, or reading, or other such things. Some of it amuses me, some annoys me, but a lot of it reflects a misundertanding both music and learning of music, So, since have been teaching and playing music for close to forty years now, I figure that I am in a position to pass a few things on to you all, whether you want to hear them or not.

The first thing is, more than anything else, music is a discipline. Talent plays a part, but it is not as important as being determined to find a way to overcome obstacles, and then persisting til you've reached your goal.

The second thing is, there are a variety of skills involved in playing music, some people are good at some things, some are good at others--but everyone has trouble with some things as well--success doesn't depend on what you're good as as much as how you approach the things you are not good at, because that is ultimately what keeps you from moving forward-

The third thing is that, to a great extent, how well you learn(especially at first) depends on how knowledgable your teacher is--since you can't learn something from someone who doesn't understand it. And you have be able to trust their judgments, above your own, as to what is important, and when it is important to study it.

The fourth thing is, with the proper preparation, no matter how difficult something seems, you can master it through continued and repeated efforts--if you haven't learned it, it is because you haven't kept at it.

Music is actually relatively simple--it works with fixed structures, and it follows rules that allow it to be learned and recreated by almost anyone who cares to put the time in--the trick is that it is only simple if you put the time in.

Computer programs and the internet can help you to access information more easily, and help you to organize it more easily, but they cannot help your comprehension of the concepts involved, and they don't help much with the skills, which are based on your personal discipline--

Everyone who learns music has a "learning deficit" in a least one of the areas that make up the whole picture--some may have trouble with tempo, others have trouble with aural harmony, others struggle to read, while others still are challenged by memorization--each has to be overcome on a personal level--