Being a 'real' musician is not something that can be taught because it is genetically instinctual. What I mean is that a 'real' musician will 'instinctively' know what sounds to play when, and in what order to sound right. It doesn't mean he/she will be able to play those correct notes when needed (because they may not have mastered the acoustic/digital sound reproducing machine....yet!), but over time, they will because they have the ability too. They are built with it from the factory.
A 'real' musician is just that....'REAL'. They are built from the factory with an authentic, musical sound card which gives them the ability and 'potential' to become a very good musician. People with this natural musical ability cannot just sit down and play an instrument perfectly. They do however have the ability (and usually inner desire) to "get it" much faster and with much greater ease than others who do not posses this naturally given musical potential.
(Emphasis is on 'potential') Think of it like this. A very smart 1st grader hasn't learned anything yet but because he is naturally intelligent, the ability and potential to learn new things will come relatively easy to this person since they are bright to begin with. On the other hand, a child who is not as naturally bright will face more difficulty learning the same tasks. It will take them longer to learn it and won't come as easily.
Now it doesn't mean that the child (or musician) won't be able to learn the task (or a musical piece) as they probably will. It will just take longer because it is not something that comes 'naturally' to them.
Also, a 'real' musician (in my opinion) is someone who surrounds themselves with music at every chance because it is just such a huge part of who they are. For example, a musically inclined person may wake up in the morning and within a few minutes, the kitchen radio is on along with a pot of coffee.
During the morning shower either a radio is on (in the shower), or if not, it wouldn't be unusual for this person to already be singing/humming in the shower.
On the drive to work, the radio is on. Many times singing along with the tunes being played.
At work a radio is on softly in the background and you still find yourself humming along at times.
On the weekends doing yard work outside you find yourself bringing along a portable radio to make the work more enjoyable.
When doing work inside the garage (because it is raining outside and your banished to the garage), yup you guessed it, the radio is on in the garage.
I know these things because I AM genetically musically inclined
! My mom sings and hums all day long. Just because there are no instruments around doesn't mean the music has to stop because it doesn't.
Just because it's time to go to bed and get some sleep (meaning it's time to turn off the clock radio on the nightstand) it STILL doesn't mean the music stops but rather it just continues to play in your head!
This inner musicality is something that cannot be taught, (just like you cannot 'teach' someone to like liver!). Sure, you can show someone how to eat liver just like you can show someone how to play piano but that does not guarantee they will like it or be good at it.
Lets not overcomplicate this. If you are a 'real' or 'natural' or 'authentic'....whatever you want to call it musician, you already know it and you didn't just figure it out. You more than likely have been this way your entire life and music has always been a huge part of your life (in various forms) as it is part of your chemical makeup and who you are. You couldn't get rid of it if you wanted to!
