Want To Learn How To Play A New Instrument? Here’s Where To Start

July 9, 2021

Many people want to learn an instrument that they love.

But not only that, you want to learn it and be able to play it well! Playing and learning, however, is not a simple matter. The key to a successful learning process is planning. To play an instrument well, you must be aware of its capabilities. You must be able to play the music, be able to play the chords, and be able to create your own music. So what are the benefits of learning a new instrument, and how can you begin?

Ask Yourself A Few Questions Before You Begin

Before setting foot in a class, you should know what you want to play. You can ask yourself the following questions if you are unsure where to begin:

Are There Teachers Nearby?

You should ask yourself this question initially before moving on to the others because it is essential. You must consider if it is straightforward to travel to class or if the closest one is too far away to be worthwhile. Nevertheless, there are other options. For example, if the piano is your preferred instrument, the folks at PianoLessonsOnline.com have a range of video lessons for students of all levels. You can choose from beginner lessons and then move onto your preferred music style and continue to learn until you are proficient enough to continue unaided. Speaking of music preference…

What Music Do You Enjoy Listening To?

It is no use attempting to learn the oboe if you enjoy listening to Judas Priest. Conversely, if you appreciate the works of Handel, then studying to play the theremin could also be a mistake (although actually maybe not, but you get the idea!).

What is your budget?

Unfortunately, your budget will have a significant impact on what you can learn. In an ideal world, it shouldn’t, but it does because if you learn to play a classical piano in a classroom but cannot afford one at home, you will be unable to practice.

How Large Is Your Living Space?

Expanding on the previous point, if you cannot fit a classical piano in your home, you will also be unable to practice, even if you could afford one.

How Much Time Can You Commit?

It is essential to ask yourself this question. Do you work full time with three kids and another baby on the way? If so, you might have to make the difficult decision to put off learning until you can dedicate enough time to the art.

Learning The Basics

Once you have answered those basic questions, you can move onto the next step, which is to learn the basics. Getting started can be intimidating, so you must go slowly and learn the essentials before moving onto the more advanced songs.

Make Sure You Have The Passion For It

Passion is everything when it comes to learning a musical instrument. You can have an innate ability to pick things up rapidly, but your music won’t be sublime without passion. Conversely, you can be a slow learner, but as long as you have the passion within you, you have the potential to become great.

Patience And Practice

Patience and practice. Practice and patience. It is the only way that you will progress from beginner to heavy metal, guitar-shredding extraordinaire. They say that you need around 10,000 hours of playing to become proficient, and seeing as that is over a year, you can see why dedication is required.

Benefits Of Learning To Play

You can gain numerous benefits from learning an instrument, including personal growth, improved cognitive function, and an increased sense of self. Research has also shown that learning an instrument can be a great way to make new friends, practice problem solving, and develop social skills. Some of the main benefits include:

You become smarter: New research by UCLA psychologists confirms that learning to play an instrument such as the piano and guitar increases one’s intelligence. The scientists say that a study of almost 1,000 people shows musical training is strongly linked with improvements in verbal intelligence.
You will have a better social life: You will often have to join classes or groups when learning specific instruments, and this will inevitably make you more social. Furthermore, you will become instantly more popular at a party when you start playing boogie-woogie on the piano and get everyone jiving!

Stress-relieving: Learning to play an instrument has been proven to help improve general mental health and reduce stress. It has a biological basis in the nervous system, the brain, and the body. The way it works is similar to meditation in that you will be forming a repetitive routine that allows you to remain focused and not let your mind wander.
A sense of accomplishment: If you are the type of person who is always putting yourself down, learning to play something can be a real boost in self-esteem.
You become more confident: Similarly to boosting self-esteem, learning something like the piano or the guitar, etc., can give you an outlet to express yourself in a way that you may not otherwise know how to do.
Enhances patience: Learning takes time, and you have to be patient to get the most from it. Those who are impatient must learn patience alongside learning the actual instrument.
Your memory will improve: There are many aspects to think about and remember when playing, from the chords to learning to read and remember an entirely new language of musical notation.
Time management and discipline are improved: Once you have learned patience, you will improve your time management abilities. This stems from the fact that you will need to keep in time with the music you play. Furthermore, if you play as part of a group, you will learn the discipline to stay in sync with the other musicians.
Enhances your creativity: Once you have gone past the beginner stage, you will discover a new outlet to express yourself.
It’s fun: Lastly, it’s just a fun activity to do. On those days that you feel down or have nothing to do, whipping out the guitar for a jam can blow away the boredom blues.

The experience of learning an instrument is gratifying and satisfying. You will become more intelligent, more friendly, and be able to express yourself creatively in a way that you had never imagined. Nonetheless, it takes hard work and perseverance to succeed.