I think I'd have to be something like a drummer, bass player, or guitar player that's simply told what to do. After having learned some things after a 3 decades of playing music, I realized that I'm a total musical idiot. I was not capable of noticing or figuring anything out on my own. I think I would've developed into an awesome drummer, though, but drums are too much noise and too inconvenient.
As a semi-pro musician, I wish more musicians thought like you. Too many are delusional, and think they are SO much better than they are.
I went like 15 years without even knowing about note centers. I didn't really understand what it meant to be in the key of C as opposed to A minor. I knew both of them had the same notes, but I didn't know how to tell which was which.
I've been playin in bands for 30 years. If the root of the chorus is A, I say 'it's in the key of A', although it may or may not be true.
(post is archived)