Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Evan Andrews [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Evan Andrews [Click to enlarge]

Most modern music deserves a parental advisory warning, cautioning parents that the rock 'n' roll advertised on the cover will only resemble classic rock in the instruments used. Though 100 years from now, our great-grandchildren will still have listened to The Beatles and The Who, few bands of our generation will withstand the test of time. The problem is that musicians place too much emphasis on their meager talents, emulating the few artists able to make quality music without a lifelong dedication to the art. Without mixing the lessons of classical musicians and the sounds of recent artists, new music is laced with limitations. The fix is a return to the fundamentals.

Unlike bands of the past, modern musicians take the easy way out when it comes to learning instruments. The elite artists learn another instrument in addition to the guitar and start with a more traditional education in music. John Lennon started his music career by learning the accordion and Flea Claypool spent grade school practicing the trumpet before switching to bass.

This provides the artist with a basic understanding of music, drawing inspiration from giants like Mozart, Beethoven and contemporary greats through different styles of music. For the artists of the 1960s, when rock 'n' roll was still a fledgling movement, the traditional way was the only way to learn. This forced them to open their minds to the forms of music other than the genre they wanted to compose in, ultimately improving their music by their exposure.

Contrast this slow and methodical study of music with "American Idol." Millions audition in the hope of immediately gaining the fame of a pop idol. Unfortunately, the album produced by the winner reflects the limitations of only raw talent. Although pop music has always existed, America's annual talent show is the easiest way for any aspiring amateur to make the jump to pop sensation with the least amount of effort. The years Bo Bice should have spent improving his music until it was good enough for someone to take notice were replaced with a
30 second audition and the chance to butcher another artist's songs on his way to his own album.

Similarly, the simplicity of artists like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols have told anyone with a guitar that lessons and diligence are no longer necessary to make rock. Too many starting artists are restricted to three chords not by desire, but through lack of musical understanding. Even those who properly learn are limited by only understanding music through the scope of one or two instruments. Unfortunately, many of these artists end up making it to the top.

Of course, there will always be exceptions to the rule. Great musicians who benefit marginally by the instructions of others. But for most artists without the natural skill of Mozart, the benefit of learning music traditionally can be heard simply by comparing the music of the 1960s and 1970s to the music of today.

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