"repetative and boring! "

Probably. But a lot is anyway.

On the other hand:
RUSH (the band) were mostly self taught. That theory doesn't exist. It's unique.

Sun, there's a case for theory. But there's a case for other methods too.

"people don't learn how to read from books.
"
Haaaaah. What I MEANT was "people don't learn how to SPEAK from books.

Skill is the whole thing about playing music. Some people are very skilled because of their knowledge, others "stumble" on new ways to play music. Everything can be linked to theory just like Math to Algebra and Calculus. Donald Trump isn't a mathematician, but he counts money very well! Intellignece about music isn't always a measure of ability. I know major, minor scales and a few sus's, 3rds, 5ths and 7th's. Yet I can't play the guitar for crap. I'm also not that good of a live musician with the keyboard. Personally I use the keyboard for composing and expressing my work. If I didn't at least know something about music, I wouldn't be able to tell a bass or guitar player how to play or let the drummer know what rhythm to play. I'm new at the "band" thing, but I've sat in several times with bands as a "replacement" singer. I've also been around enough musicians to know that trying to explain what I would like to be played in a certain section of music just doesn't suffice to say, "Can you play do, do, do, do, do, da, dut, da, da!" They kind of look at me and ask me what key is that! I think the more knowledge you have about anything you're interested in or work at can be nothing beneficial. My instrument is my voice, yet I can't read as I sing. Yeah, I know some theory, but I leave the playing of instruments to "real" musicians! I've known classically trained musicians with degrees from Berklee, and I've played with hicks in the backwoods that grew up on Skynyrd and 38 Special and played strictly by ear. Dude, it's music, it's meant to be different and approached in different ways. If we strictly relied on theory, then we'd all have the 8th notes, snares and bass drums nice and pretty on a piece of paper. On the other hand when we need to find that elusive chord for that bridge in the middle of our latest musical masterpiece, it's good to know some theory...
The Generik No Nayme Banned,
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