Miguel Tapia Escalera writes from Mexico with some advice:

Dear musicians of the world:
I've just a year learning to play guitar and I started out because my ex-girlfriend (great singer, great guitarist) told me that I couldn't learn or play guitar, nor sing, because I didn't have a good ear. Indeed, I did not have a good ear, but I had something even better than that: my willinness to learn!

It was a real challenge... my ex-girl was pretty sure that I couldn't learn! She said that a good ear was a gift that the life gives to the future stars when they are born. She said it was no use for me to waste my time.

Now I sing in a band and I am very well paid for doing it, in a great pub that is in my city, Tabasco.

Hope you ALL understand the lesson:
"YOU ARE NOT BORN WITH A GOOD EAR, YOU DEVELOP IT WITHIN THE DURATION OF YOUR LIFE".

Of course, some people may have some advantage over others. I'ts logical to think that a real begginer has a disadvantage in front of a professional or a experienced player, but that begginer can do miracles with his effort and willingness.

As for me, Music is not only a challenge anymore, it's much mure than that.... it's a kind of living, of being happy, a kind of success once every goal is completed, a kind of feeling happy because - thanks to the ex-girlfriend that somehow challenged me - now I know one of the greatest gift of life: Music.

Now, I'm trying to go back and continue my relationship with my ex-girl because the real reason I was trying to learn for was to have a better relationship with my music-loving-girl. But I guess you can't have it all. Never mind, I'll just play music and sing until I die!

If you ever read this, thanks Denisse, I still love you.

(Sorry about my English, I'm a mexican guy)