Do You Need a Teacher to Learn an Instrument?
Many people would like to learn an instrument, so the question becomes is it necessary to have an instructor when learning an instrument. Almost everything you could ever want to learn you can find online. The problem with learning music without a teacher is that you are slightly more susceptible to a few pitfalls. Firstly, there is the risk of selecting pieces that are too difficult for you at your current skill level. That’s not to say a challenge is terrible, just that instruments have many fundamentals and you should be reasonably prepared to take on the challenge if you have the necessary skill sets to overcome said challenge. For most people not being able to live up to their expectations can cause a blow to their self-esteem. A music instructor can help select pieces that a person can reasonably perform and practice.
Another potential pitfall in teaching yourself music is that it is much more challenging to catch mistakes. A teacher can also help you develop other skill sets, such as a sense of sound. Music is so much more than just hitting the right notes at the right times. There is a subtly to music. The force you use on your instrument can be felt and heard by your listeners (particularly musically inclined ones, or those with ear training).
In truth, you can learn music without an instructor, but you may need to be more mindful of some things, mainly when learning the fundamentals. There is value to learning yourself, and just experimenting with your instrument will teach you things. Additionally, there are plenty of resources to supplement your practice such as apps and other online tools. Ultimately how far you go will be determined by consistency and the strength of your will, and there is no instructor to teach that.