By Mitchell Field for Curtains Up
(Mitchell performs regularly as a solo artist, drummer and lead singer for Montreal’s best British Invasion band the Hi-Fins.)
Have you ever wondered how does one go about becoming a musician? Do you have to study music? Practice ten hours a day till you have blisters on your blisters? Are you “born with it”? Can you learn it? The answer to all the above is yes and no. Many of the greatest musicians of the last fifty years were self taught with little or no formal training (B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney). But, not so for George Gershwin or Burt Bacharach (who studied music theory at McGill).
For me it was a case of destiny. The date was December 24th, 1964. I was eight years old. Born in London, England and raised in an orphanage. I was one of the fortunate few picked to attend the Beatles’ Christmas show at the Odeon Hammersmith theatre. Beatlemania was spreading all over the U.K.. By the mid 1960’s they had already recorded a string of number one hits including “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You” (the best selling single of the decade). These songs would become interwoven into the tapestry of my life. From the moment the Beatles hit the stage I was forever changed. I could feel the excitement they generated. Their youthful exuberance and sense of fun captured my imagination. A voice inside me awakened and called to me saying: you can do this! A simple set of rule began forming in my mind. 1) Buy a cheap guitar or build one like George Harrison or Brian May. 2) Learn five or six basic chords (Elvis new three). 3) Practice them until they are burned into your muscle memory. 4) Listen to the radio or to your favourite songs over and over to train your ear to identify harmonies and phrasing. 5) Try to recognize and learn the building blocks of song writing (there are standard formulas). 6) Memorize anything you think you can use. This is especially helpful for singers. Remember good artists copy great artists steal. 7) Start or join a garage band. No one will see or hear you. It is a great place to make mistakes and learn your craft. 8) You can’t do it unless you are doing it. 9) Be persistent. 10) There are no rules.
Once that spark was ignited in me it quickly grew to a burning flame that consumed all my time and thoughts. My sole focus became music. One big problem existed in 1964. BBC radio refused to play rock’ n roll music deeming it “in poor taste”. Bands like the Who and the Kinks were not getting air play instead safe British pop a la Cliff Richard was dominating the air waves. That all changed with the arrival of pirate radio stations broadcasting from abandoned oil rigs just off the British coast; therefore, unregulated and uncensored. These stations became the vanguard of what was to become known as the “British Invasion”. The flood gates were opened and rock’ n roll burst through. I would end each day with a radio at my ear listening to great music that filled my head and heart eventually finding sleep with a smile on my face dreaming of being on a stage. I let the notes and melodies sink deep into my subconscious depositing all the music theory I would later need without even knowing it at the time. Like a sponge I absorbed the harmonies, rhythms, and forms of composition. By the age of twelve I had taught myself to play the drums, guitar, and piano and was already writing my own songs. I was on my way, but to where and how? Next chapter….my first big break with a blues legend.
I was in tears reading this Mitch! You express everything it is to be a musician. This hits home with me as my own son 14 years old now and a budding musician himself still cannot read notes but bangs out the drums anyways and uses his ear mostly to get those notes. It was the Beatles, Elvis and Johnny Cash at 5 years old that kicked started it for him. May I add you also have inspired him because after seeing your show he says to me ” I love the way Mitch plays Mom…. simple and clean the way music is supposed to be”. Thanks Mitch!