I’ve been taking half-hour lessons once a week through my college and, while it’s been helpful to keep me motivated to improve a little from week to week, most of my intense learning is done on my own by just playing around. I think that lessons can be a big help to some, but they’re definitely not essential if you’re a fairly self-disciplined (or obsessed) person willing to devote a few hours a week to practicing.

I’m so glad I’ve finally buckled down and committed to learning a new instrument! All throughout high school I attached this weird sort of mystery to being able to play the guitar; people that could actually do it seemed blessed with some rare gift. The reality is, if you work hard enough, you can learn. It’s just a matter of getting over the initial intimidation.