Programming and Music - Chapter 2 – Creativity
The questions “Why should I learn programming?” and the counterpart “Why should I learn to play a musical instrument?” have a surprising number of common valid answers.Let's evaluate all of them in a series of articles.
Article 2 – Creativity
Hello world
That’s right. That’s the iconic phrase commonly used to display the output for the first computer program you will run. It’s a sort of life manifesto. You created something that literally “came to life” from your own hands and intellectual work. That’s your baby. You did it your own way. Is it good? Does it work for something? Does it fit for anyone’s needs? It does not matter! Who cares?! You just did it because you could, and because you’re able to … and because it was fun.
And with music this is going to be pretty much the same.
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No matter what instrument you choose, sooner or later you will produce notes, or chords and then you will feel the need to put those in sequences as notes progressions or chords progression. That’s your own musical “Hello world”. Again … Does it sound good to your or anyone else’s ears?
That does not matter! You did it. You created something from nothing with a language you’ve chosen to use to say something. That’s all. You’re expressing your creativity for fun, for satisfying your need to communicate or just because you feel good in doing that.
Ok, let's be honest ... with music you've got some good extra benefit. Let's say you always loved to listen to your favorite music and artists and at some point you realize that you CAN reproduce that music with your own hands and skill. And not only ... You can alter, rearrange and re-interpret the music you like to make it sound even better for your needs. And, man, that's something that you cannot buy. That's priceless ....
Again, learning a programming language and/or learning a musical instrument is good not just because you need to be the next game-changing developer or to be a professional musician for orchestras. It’s because you, as anybody else, need to keep your creative side alive, to be a better person and a better professional no matter what your job is.
Both music and programming imply creativity to produce new things and if you try to learn one of those, you will soon see countless positive effect on your overall career and more in general in your life.