Being a musician is much more than just playing notes on one instrument. Learning to choose the right instrument for you and starting to make music can be a life-changing experience for many. It's more than a hobby, skill, or talent. If you want to be a musician, you can learn to build the skills needed to become the player you want to be and make the kind of music you want to make, with practice.
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Part 1 of 3: Choosing a Musical Instrument
Step 1. Choose a musical instrument that suits your interests
If your goal is to become a stage rocker in a punk band, it's true that you can learn a lot about music by playing oboe, but that may not be the best way to form the band you want to form. If you want to play classical music and become a virutuoso, unfortunately there is little room for synthesizers. Choose the category of musical instrument that fits your ambition to become a musician.
- If you just want to learn to play something, start with the piano, violin, or guitar. These musical instruments generally have many teachers in their field, so it is easy to find lessons and learn the basics of the instrument.
- If you end up wanting to play classical music, art, or jazz, it's important to choose an instrument in the classical strings, wind, brass, or percussion categories. Players of this instrument generally dedicate a lot of time and scholarships to learning their instrument
- If you want to write your own songs and play pop music, it's usually best to choose guitar, bass guitar, piano, or learn to play the drums. While it's great to keep up with lessons, many pop and folk musicians are self-taught, using DIY books, YouTube videos, and old-school ways of trying and making mistakes.
Step 2. Consider starting with the piano
Even if you don't imagine yourself as a concert pianist playing recitals in a tuxedo, one of the best ways to build a good foundation as a musician is to learn the piano. Since all the notes are spread out in front of you, the piano is a great first instrument, popular with young children and beginners. The piano is also one of the most versatile musical instruments, played in classical, pop, and many other musical styles.
Actual pianos or concert pianos can be expensive, but electric keyboards come in a variety of prices, from affordable to very professional and expensive. What's great about the piano is that you can learn fingering and the fundamentals regardless of the quality of the piano you play
Step 3. Learn about classical musical instruments
Used in musical performances, jazz, pep bands, swing bands, and other types of music played by instrumentalists, classical musical instruments refers to the many different types of musical instruments played by organized professional bands that play something other than pop music. If you like history and complex, artistic, and sophisticated music, learning one of these instruments might be for you.
- Although no longer made of brass, brass instruments are made of a winding metal tube that you blow to create notes.
- Wind instruments are made of mixed materials and are played by vibrating the reeds in the mouth. Produces a distinctive warm, woodsy sound, wind instruments are used in classical music and jazz, and the saxophone is often used in pop music.
- Choose a classical string instrument. Used in orchestras, string quartets, and other types of professional ensembles, the violin, viola, double-bass, and cello form the foundation of classical strings. The guitar can also be considered a classical string, depending on the style of music.
Step 4. Consider a pop or rock instrument
While all of these instruments can be used to play a variety of styles and sounds, when we think of playing pop music or forming our own band, we usually think of guitars, bass guitars, drums, and keyboards or pianos. If you're less interested in being the kind of musician who plays in a tuxedo in a concert hall and more interested in being part of a garage band touring around in a van, this might be the instrument for you.
- Guitar
- bass guitar
- Drum
Step 5. Consider playing percussion
Percussion is so much more than just a backdrop. Good percussionists push music forward in every type of music, from folk to classical, from jazz to rock and roll. Nothing is more versatile and important to a group of musicians than a talented percussionist who keeps the tempo.
One of the most important things about percussion is that you can start building your skills with no musical instrument at all. If you have a sense of tempo internally and the ability to keep a steady beat with your hands, consider learning percussion
Step 6. Play an electronic musical instrument
From digital DJs to synth wizards, the traditional definition of what it means to be a "musician" is much bigger than it used to be. Like how complex and artistic music can be made by pressing a button on a laptop is the same as being operated with a valve on a trumpet and just as valid.
Part 2 of 3: Evolving as a Player
Step 1. Practice continuously
Even if you have a natural talent for certain instruments, there is a difference between "playing an instrument" and "being a musician." The difference involves practice. Musicians are dedicated to improving their skills and learning new techniques and more complex music on the instruments they have chosen. The only way to do that is serious and regular practice.
- Develop good exercise habits and routines for yourself. Always practice using good posture, warm up first, and try to practice for at least 20-40 minutes every day. Practice a mix of techniques, skills and fun activities. For each scale you learn, take time to play around with learning Star Wars theme music or other fun songs.
- Just like training the body, consistency is very important. Try and practice every day, so you can maintain the good habits you build and develop them.
Step 2. Find a good teacher
It is very difficult to learn music from books alone. While written tutorials can help, there is no substitute for the face-to-face and personal instruction that comes from studying with a good teacher. A teacher can help improve your technique and build the foundations needed to become a great player, whatever instrument you play.
- If you want to be a musician, it is very important that you can be taught. Stubborn people who can't take criticism don't have much of a future as musicians. Listen carefully to what the great players have to say, follow the directions, and learn all you can. Set goals to be better.
- If you don't have the time or money to have a formal teacher-student relationship, find better musicians than you to play with. Evening curfew sessions on the patio with a pair of guitars can be a great way to improve your skills. Watch and learn.
Step 3. Consider learning to read music
While you can learn by ear, it would be great if you could learn how to read sheet music, and which is especially important for certain musical instruments and styles. If you want to play classical music, it's almost impossible to learn by ear and memorize.
Also, study music history and some theory if you hope to write your own music someday. Learning why several notes sound great when combined, how to make chords, and how music is composed are great ways to get better as an instrumentalist and composer, no matter what instrument you play
Step 4. Listen to everything
Developing your own taste in music is very important for musicians. Just as a novelist has to read many kinds of novels and learn about the history of literature in order to write something worth reading, a musician needs to listen to different kinds of music and learn to appreciate different styles of music, if later you want to write something worth listening to, or play music worth listening to..
- Listen to classical music, starting with court music collections and working your way up to romantic composers like Mozart and Beethoven. Listen to avant-garde composers of the 20th century like Penderecki and Cage to challenge your conception of what music is.
- Listen to rock music, all tones, even if it's not what you like. Check out early punk, rockabilly, and psychedelic nuggets. Listen to what's popular and what's not. Try to find something worth listening to and ignore the rest.
- When you find something you like, see what influences it. If you like Katy Perry, you may find that Cher and Madonna were huge influences on her style and voice. When you listen to Cher, you may trace back to Etta James, and finally to Bessie Smith, one of the greatest blues singers of all time. Find the roots of your favorite artists.
Step 5. Start writing your own composition
To grow as a musician and take your skills to the next level, it's a good idea to try composition. Whether you play classical or play pop music, writing your own songs can help you see the difference between playing notes and making music much faster than almost anything else. Take responsibility for writing the notes you play.
Step 6. Find your own voice on a musical instrument
Miles Davis would never conquer the vibrato technique while learning to play his wind instrument, so he's built his entire career around single, clean, melodious notes that never falter. When asked why his band was playing so explosively, Johnny Cash replied, "We'd play faster if we could." Recast your weaknesses as habits and strengths and use them as individual players.
Part 3 of 3: Taking the Next Step
Step 1. Consider joining an already established band
Playing with other instrumentalists and musicians can give you the skills you need to improve, learn their specific tricks for exchange, and also give you the opportunity to respond by playing as a unit, making music as a group.
- If you want to play classical music or an organized music concert, it's important to join a community band, school band, or some organized music group.
- Playing with other people is also a great way to keep your ego in check. David Hoot, part of the Muscle Shoals recording studio and one of the greatest bass players of all time, was once asked how he earned such a reputation as a top performer and he said, "My gear is always working and I'm always on time." Humility serves musicians well.
Step 2. Play in front of people when you are ready
If you've been practicing your instrument on a regular basis and want to take it to the next level, this may be the time to take your performances to the public. Start by playing your best material in front of some close, well-informed friends, or your parents, and start playing for others. If you want to be a player, you need an audience.
- The coffee shop's outdoor stage is a great way to find a receptive and warm audience. Most open-air stages are full of hobbyists eager to get started and most of the audience is friendly and relaxed. This is a great way to try.
- Or, just play for yourself. There's no mention that you have to play in front of other people. Learn to play and enjoy the sound you make for yourself.
Step 3. Try forming your own group
Having trouble finding an established group or band to play with? Form your own group. Don't wait for other musicians to come at you, go out and find them. Place an ad on Craigslist with your biggest influencers and your desire to play with a group that plays a certain type of music and check for other players to contact. Hang out at the local music store and place ads for performers. Go to an open stage and make contact with other local musicians who can play.
Step 4. Record your music
Getting a recording of yourself playing is one of the most rewarding and exciting things for a young musician. Can you actually hear yourself playing on a loudspeaker? There's nothing cooler. And now, it's easier than ever to quickly and easily record yourself at home, and make it sound great.
- Buy some cheap microphones to get started and record yourself directly on your computer using GarageBand or Audacity. Set the levels the way you like and duplicate CDs for your friends, or put them in an iPod.
- If you're feeling really ambitious, you can share your recordings with the world. Record your best material and create a Bandcamp page or Soundcloud account to provide quick links to your songs.
Step 5. Commit to the long term
Even if you're talented, even if you work hard, even if you're the best banjo player in your city, it's very likely that you'll struggle to be heard. Being a musician can be hard work for most people, and it can take a long time before you reap the rewards of your hard work, both in terms of skill building and getting recognized for anything, especially money. The more dedicated you are, the better chance you have of giving yourself success.
Consider going to a music school if you want to make contact and receive individual practice with your instrument. Even if you don't want to play classical, learning music production and history can give you an edge in the music business
Tips
- Never give up playing music just because some idiot called you a geek for playing five instruments. Music is one of the best art forms and you should never give up.
- It's okay if you get frustrated, it's all part of learning.
- Think with music. This is probably one of the hardest things about being a musician. Always know every note you play. Sometimes people remember 10 pages of music and play them without error (by ear) while they have no idea what they are playing. Practice and you'll get there!
- Practice, practice and practice!
- Don't worry when you see how expensive musical instruments are. You can rent, or hear a good offer from a friend. You also don't have to buy a grand piano before learning! We recommend trying the keyboard.
- Find a local teacher to teach lessons. This is not always as easy as it sounds. bandFIND has put together a list of musicians willing to teach in your area.
- Get involved in the school's music program, organize a band, be part of the music community. Enjoy your music!
- In addition to hiring a teacher, buy some songbooks and learn to play on your own.
- Musical instruments can almost always be found in pawn shops. If you have a friend who has a decent knowledge of the instrument you play, ask him to go with you so he can help see a good deal. Craigslist has over 12 million visitors a month with a huge number of instruments always available.
- Make sure you learn from someone who already knows how to play your instrument. It might save you money if you don't take lessons, but in the long run it will help you.
Warning
- Try not to be a "hater" of other types of music. Appreciate all forms of music.
- Try not to fall into bad habits. It may seem unimportant now, but later it becomes a different story and will be difficult to get rid of.
