0:00:15.489,0:00:17.190 (Guitar music throughout) 0:00:19.906,0:00:21.704 Music is a language. 0:00:22.893,0:00:26.577 Both music and verbal languages[br]serve the same purpose. 0:00:26.601,0:00:28.666 They are both forms of expression. 0:00:29.857,0:00:32.761 They can be used as a way[br]to communicate with others. 0:00:33.615,0:00:35.482 They can be read and written. 0:00:36.819,0:00:38.643 They can make you laugh or cry, 0:00:38.667,0:00:39.899 think or question, 0:00:39.923,0:00:42.030 and can speak to one or many. 0:00:43.586,0:00:46.304 And both can definitely make you move. 0:00:50.241,0:00:53.548 In some instances, music works[br]better than the spoken word, 0:00:53.572,0:00:56.887 because it doesn't have[br]to be understood to be effective. 0:00:59.386,0:01:02.425 Although many musicians agree[br]that music is a language, 0:01:02.449,0:01:04.534 it is rarely treated as such. 0:01:05.524,0:01:07.125 Many of us treat it as something 0:01:07.149,0:01:10.125 that can only be learned[br]by following a strict regimen, 0:01:10.149,0:01:12.255 under the tutelage of a skilled teacher. 0:01:13.455,0:01:16.078 This approach has been followed[br]for hundreds of years 0:01:16.102,0:01:20.194 with proven success,[br]but it takes a long time. 0:01:21.070,0:01:22.249 Too long. 0:01:30.657,0:01:34.232 Think about the first language[br]you learn as a child. 0:01:34.256,0:01:37.011 More importantly,[br]think about how you learned it. 0:01:39.038,0:01:41.277 You were a baby[br]when you first started speaking, 0:01:41.301,0:01:43.694 and even though you spoke[br]the language incorrectly 0:01:43.718,0:01:45.400 you were allowed to make mistakes. 0:01:45.424,0:01:47.654 And the more mistakes you made, 0:01:47.678,0:01:49.840 the more your parents smiled. 0:01:54.676,0:01:57.772 Learning to speak was not something[br]you were sent somewhere to do 0:01:57.796,0:01:59.626 only a few times a week. 0:01:59.650,0:02:01.698 And the majority[br]of the people you spoke to 0:02:01.722,0:02:03.050 were not beginners. 0:02:03.074,0:02:05.513 They were already proficient speakers. 0:02:07.473,0:02:10.598 Imagine your parents forcing you[br]to only speak to other babies 0:02:10.622,0:02:12.865 until you were good enough[br]to speak to them. 0:02:14.966,0:02:19.450 You would probably be an adult before[br]you could carry on a proper conversation. 0:02:21.955,0:02:23.377 To use a musical term, 0:02:23.401,0:02:27.908 as a baby, you were allowed[br]to jam with professionals. 0:02:36.366,0:02:39.196 If we approach music[br]in the same natural way 0:02:39.220,0:02:41.097 we approached our first language, 0:02:41.121,0:02:43.407 we will learn to speak it[br]in the same short time 0:02:43.431,0:02:45.551 it took to speak our first language. 0:02:45.575,0:02:48.087 Proof of this could be[br]seen in almost any family 0:02:48.111,0:02:51.524 where a child grows up[br]with other musicians in the family. 0:03:26.200,0:03:29.439 Here are a few keys to follow[br]in learning or teaching music. 0:03:31.550,0:03:35.069 In the beginning, embrace mistakes,[br]instead of correcting them. 0:03:36.245,0:03:40.314 Like a child playing air guitar,[br]there are no wrong notes. 0:03:42.172,0:03:44.021 Allow young musicians to play 0:03:44.045,0:03:46.072 and perform with accomplished musicians 0:03:46.096,0:03:47.182 on a daily basis. 0:03:48.533,0:03:52.624 Encourage young musicians to play[br]more than they practice. 0:03:52.648,0:03:56.291 The more they play the more[br]they will practice on their own. 0:03:56.315,0:03:59.229 Music comes from the musician,[br]not the instrument. 0:04:01.752,0:04:03.417 And most importantly, 0:04:03.441,0:04:06.410 remember that a language works best 0:04:06.434,0:04:08.761 when we have something interesting to say. 0:04:09.759,0:04:12.985 Many music teachers never find out[br]what their students have to say. 0:04:13.009,0:04:16.240 We only tell them[br]what they are supposed to say. 0:04:21.088,0:04:25.307 A child speaks a language for years[br]before they even learn the alphabet. 0:04:26.229,0:04:29.547 Too many rules at the onset,[br]will actually slow them down. 0:04:31.158,0:04:35.038 In my eyes, the approach to music[br]should be the same. 0:04:36.194,0:04:39.118 After all, music is a language too.