I know that everyone has different interests and hobbies, but I want to encourage everyone out there to give music a try at some point in your life. Make sure your children are exposed to it and have an opportunity and the necessary tools to learn an instrument and be able to feel the joy that comes from not just listening to music, but playing it yourself.

I play guitar and I cannot imagine not being a guitar player. I play every day despite the fact that I do not earn a living by doing it. It is a release; playing the guitar genuinely makes me feel better and helps me get through stressful days. And while playing songs on the guitar is fun and enlightening, there is no better feeling than the creation of music.

In a generation of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, I think it's important for parents to encourage their children to still pick up real instruments and not just the "play" ones. I've seen some children and adults play these games at the highest difficulty levels so well, and I've thought about how they almost could have learned the real thing as quick as they learned to do that. It's fun and it's still enjoying music; however, don't let it become a substitute for the real thing. Let's have more real guitars under the tree this year than fake ones.

I know everyone out there isn't predisposed to play an instrument or create music. There are plenty of people who just enjoy listening to good music and appreciating the creations of others. I'm just saying that no one out there should miss out because they did not have an opportunity, or no one encouraged them to give it a try.

Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!

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