Dan Spencer, Music Coach and author, The 14 Unshakable Laws of Learning Music
In this episode of "Unlocking Your World of Creativity," host Mark Stinson discusses the power of music, learning, and creativity with guest Dan Spencer, author of "The 14 Unshakable Laws of Learning Music: How to Master Any Instrument and Singing in Five Minutes a Day."
Dan Spencer on the main factors for improvement:
Dan emphasizes the importance of consistent practice and dedication in any creative endeavor, comparing it to improving at video games, running, or playing a musical instrument. He introduces the idea of the "14 Unshakable Laws" as guidelines to overcome common challenges and pitfalls faced during the learning process.
"If you follow the 14 laws of learning music, and these are unshakable laws that apply to everyone, it does not matter if you are literally the least talented person in the world. If you have negative talent, if you're walking around with negative talent, if you follow the 14 unshakable laws, you'll be able to get better at music."*
Dan Spencer discusses the impact of age on learning:
Dan shares insights on the impact of age on learning, emphasizing that it's never too late to start learning music. He discusses a study showing that cognitive abilities can be restored to the level of 30-year-olds with focused learning, even in later stages of life.
"It really is never too late. For most people who want to get better at playing instruments and singing, the goal sounds something like, 'I want to sing my favorite songs and play guitar. I want to write my own songs.' Goals like this don't require decades of study."*
Dan Spencer on the process of writing his book:
Dan explains how he began organizing the "14 Unshakable Laws" by surveying 300 self-taught musicians and analyzing the common issues they faced. He shares that his motivation to write the book came from wanting to address the challenges people encounter when trying to teach themselves music.
"I wanted to create something that was going to directly address every single problem that you might face when you're trying to teach yourself, and how we can solve every single one of those problems."*
Dan's perspective on the universal nature of creativity:
Mark and Dan discuss the motivations behind creative pursuits, and Dan reflects on how creativity is deeply ingrained in human nature. He emphasizes that everyone is a creative being and that the act of creating and sharing is an integral part of our lives.
"Everyone creates everything. Communication is you being creative with someone. So everyone's creating all the time."*
Dan's hope for readers of his book:
Dan expresses his desire for readers to take away the message that anyone can create and learn music. He encourages everyone to discover the joy and fulfillment in expressing their creativity and developing their musical skills.
Dan Spencer's book "The 14 Unshakable Laws of Learning Music" is available on Amazon, and you can find him on social media under the handle @musicmentordan.
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