Learning is one of life's greatest pleasures. Whether it be purely academic or for fun, a day spent learning is a day that doesn’t go to waste.
However, this doesn't mean that it doesn't come with its own frustrations. One common culprit for this is the process of learning a new instrument. An article published on Consordini details that while there are some instruments that are easy to play, being proficient in other instruments can be much harder. This is why tools such as the pBugle were created, as they are a huge help when it comes to teaching young people to learn how to play brass instruments, which are notoriously difficult to learn.
There are also other things you can do to smoothen out the entire process and make learning a new instrument easier and more fun. If you want to learn more about this, read on for some tips on how to learn new instruments faster.
Learn music from the experts
Let's start with the most straightforward tip: get help. Now, this isn't limited to taking music lessons. While going to these sessions (both online and in-person) will undoubtedly help you get better, the internet is full of resources that can help you learn how to play a specific instrument.
YouTube and other video streaming platforms are great options for the basics when playing an instrument, especially for those who are better suited to visual learning.
In fact, an article published on Wired lists their picks for the best YouTube channels that can help you learn an instrument. Channels like JustinGuitar and GuitarLessons are the most popular picks for beginner guitarists. There are also Drumeo, Scott's Bass Lessons, and Mangold Project (beginner piano lessons) which are all great resources for both novices and experts.
Whether you want to learn how to play the trombone or the guitar, you'll have a lot of choices when it comes to getting outside help.
Record Yourself
Now, this next tip might sound a little odd, but trust us when we say it can be rather helpful (especially for beginners). Recording yourself while playing can help you figure out where you're going wrong. You'll be able to catch tiny mistakes if you listen to recordings of yourself playing that you wouldn't spot otherwise.
For this tip, you'll need to make use of a reliable microphone. While using your phone or laptop's built-in camera is an option, the recording quality could be a little dubious depending on the model. Try to get a reliable semi-professional microphone that's a good fit for you. The AT2020 mic is ideal for beginners and those with little recording experience. It's also on par with many studio-grade microphones, which gives you the option of uploading your recordings on the internet to share with the world once you're happy with your playing. This way you can get feedback from more people to further fine-tune your playing.
Be Consistent
The cliché 'practice makes perfect' is a cliché for a reason. You'll need to put in a significant amount of practice to start getting better with your chosen musical instrument. However, the number of hours you put in isn't the only important thing. Being consistent with practice is a great way to improve faster.
To make this easier, you'll want to turn practice into a daily habit. An article published by the BBC details that one can learn to play JS Bach’s The Prelude no 1 in C major from Book One of The Well-Tempered Clavier by practising 45 minutes a day for six weeks. Consistency is key when it comes to learning how to play an instrument. Remembering to stay consistent will guarantee improvements in no time.
Maximise technology
Technology goes hand in hand with learning. This is even more true now than it ever has been, as people continue to improve how we learn things through various innovations. Learning instruments is no different, as there are now quite a few tools to help beginners improve their skills.
Apps like Yousician use videos and animations to help you learn new instruments. It's also built in a way that structures the lessons as if the person learning knows nothing about the instrument they're trying to learn. This natural progression is a huge help, as beginners won't be discouraged because the lessons won't be too daunting.
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