Instrument & Starting a Band:
If you start learning guitar, bass, keyboards, or drums in middle school, you can practice get some guys or girls together and start a band when you are in high school.
You kinda learn as you go. If you learn your instrument and hone your craft you should have some success or at least a fun time.
You got to think of your influences. Learn some songs first and once you can play a bunch of covers and have a grasp of your instrument then try writing some songs. All you need to do is get a book and study melody as well as song structure. It makes sense in this time with the pandemic to record first and put your album on cdbaby.com instead of touring. Study and learn your favorite songs to get ideas for song structure. Are the drums playing all the time or are there breaks? Now that covid is kinda done if you have a decent college band you can go on the Festival circuit overseas or south by southwest festival in Austin, Tx. A Mecca to discover new talent. Also to start you can get a gig locally to play. Gigs include outdoor fair, open mike, or if you are in school a talent show.
I have been in three bands. One in high school, one in college, and one just for one gig at a bar open mike where I sang.
Find some guys or talented girls you can stand and practice. If you stick with it and get excellent with your instrument maybe your band will be the net big thing.
If you want to pursue music in college the Berklee school of music in Boston is the best. That is where John Mayer went. Loads of talent have gone there.
Once you get good you can work on cool factor.
This is done by gear and taking to the top in live performance and then doing life-fun.
If you play drums you should throw in unexpected fills if feel are being followed. This helps with song dynamics and keeps the song fresh and exciting for the audience. With writing music you also don’t want to be predictable and should have turns.
If you have recorded some music and are streaming Apple Music try buying Rockstar drinks at different big stores.