Music is a part of human civilization and has existed in some form or another for countless millennia. From banging rocks on one another to the electronic synthesizers we have today, people have always found ways to make music to entertain. For the most part almost anyone can pick up a random instrument and start playing it and by experimenting teach themselves how to play the instrument with enough time. Some instruments, however, require a little more expertise to learn to play and, let us look at the facts, having someone teach you how to play an instrument is much more effective than fooling around yourself. Take
flute instruction as a random example.
The flute is an umbrella term for a whole lot of different instruments that all work on the same basic principle. Air blown into or across the flute creates vibrations that make a pleasant sound. Put together correctly and you have an often-haunting melody. When most people think of flute instruction they probably think of the large silver transverse flute that is so common in western orchestras or the recorder that is seen in many a fairytale or children's tale. While most people look to these instruments, there are many different types of flute that can be learned and that require lesser or greater amounts of instruction to master.
Take the Native American flute, for example. For the most part flute instruction is not entirely necessary. This is simply because the instrument is, unlike its cousins, quite easy to play and anyone can get a good and clear sound from it the first time they blow into it. The other reason is that the Native American flute does not, as it were, really have sheet music as the more classical adherents regard it. Thus there is no required tutelage of music reading involved. It is not that it will not be useful at some point, but there is no real reason to worry about it just yet. In contrast to some of the other flutes, the Native American flute is a very easy instrument to learn and is a good place for many people to start who want to learn to play an instrument.
But even though you could possibly teach yourself how to play the instrument and after enough practice you might even be considered to have mastered the instrument - there are advantages to flute instruction that need to be mentioned. For starters there is the continuous motivation to keep on practicing. When teaching yourself you are often demoralized by a lack of progress. A teacher can help you to be motivated again. A teacher can also quickly identify mistakes and help you to correct them before they become a habit.
While flute instruction might not always be necessary for all flutes, like the Native American flute, it can be useful. As regards other instruments it all depends on the learner. A teacher can help a person to progress faster and motivate them to greater heights. In the same breath some people would say that a teacher also limits a person learning an instrument by forcing them to do it in the traditional way. Just remember that in the end, no matter how learn it, it has to be fun.
