I'm probably asking this in terms of 'melodic' instruments, as I am assuming that playing something like the drums has very little overlap with the former; at least from the point of my post.
I'm curious to what extent skills transfer from one to another having gone down a YT rabbit hole watching street performers jumping between guitar and keyboards. There are clearly distinct technical aspects to each, but being fluent in the theory / language must help. I'm impressed when I watch people listen to a tune, lay down some keyboard / rhythm guitar backing tracks then immediately dive into lead solos.
Perhaps my real question is (and one I may have asked years ago) for those truly fluent in written music, does the proficiency come from recognition of music as just another learned language (such that playing sheet music on an instrument would be like reading text out loud) or is it more through recognition of the key and being able to hit chords / melody through muscle memory?
I really enjoy watching talented individuals perform. Though I've taught myself to play some nice piano tunes (to the untrained ear) I am so far from the ability to improvise at will.
I'm curious to what extent skills transfer from one to another having gone down a YT rabbit hole watching street performers jumping between guitar and keyboards. There are clearly distinct technical aspects to each, but being fluent in the theory / language must help. I'm impressed when I watch people listen to a tune, lay down some keyboard / rhythm guitar backing tracks then immediately dive into lead solos.
Perhaps my real question is (and one I may have asked years ago) for those truly fluent in written music, does the proficiency come from recognition of music as just another learned language (such that playing sheet music on an instrument would be like reading text out loud) or is it more through recognition of the key and being able to hit chords / melody through muscle memory?
I really enjoy watching talented individuals perform. Though I've taught myself to play some nice piano tunes (to the untrained ear) I am so far from the ability to improvise at will.