To become a musician it is not enough to know how to play the right notes on an instrument. Choosing the right instrument for you and starting making music can be a life-changing experience for many people. It is more than a hobby, a skill or a talent. If you want to become a musician, you can learn, with practice, the skills needed to become the player and songwriter you've always dreamed of being.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing a Tool
Step 1. Choose a tool that meets your interest
If your goal is to become the leader of a punk band, it is true that you can learn a lot about music by playing the oboe, but this is probably not the most suitable instrument to make your dream come true. If you want to play classical music and become a virtuoso, learning to play the synthesizer won't help you much. Choose a category of instruments that will help you realize your ambitions as a musician.
- If you just want to learn to play something, start with the piano, violin or guitar. Finding a teacher for these tools will be easy and you can quickly learn the basics.
- If your dream is to play classical, art or jazz music, it is important to choose an instrument that is part of the classical strings, a wind, a brass or a percussion. These musicians generally spend a lot of time and study learning their instrument.
- If you want to become a pop songwriter, it's usually best to choose guitar, bass, piano, or drums. While taking lessons will be very useful to you, many pop and folk musicians are self-taught and have learned how to play their instrument through books, videos and with hours and hours of practice.
Step 2. Consider starting with the piano
Even if you don't imagine yourself as a classical concert pianist playing tails, one of the best ways to build a solid foundation as a musician is to learn how to play the piano. Because it puts all the notes at your fingertips, the piano is a great first instrument and is very popular with children and beginners. It is also one of the most versatile instruments, part of classical, pop and many other genres.
The best pianos are very expensive, but you can find electric keyboards in many price ranges, from budget to professional. The best thing about the piano is that you will be able to learn the fingering and basics of the instrument whatever the quality of the piano you are playing
Step 3. Learn about classical instruments
Used in classical music, jazz, marching bands and other types of sheet music played by instrumentalists, classical instruments are the great variety of instruments played in professional bands that do not play pop music. If you love complex, artistic and sophisticated music, learning to play one of these instruments is the right choice for you.
- Although no longer made of brass, brass is made up of curved metal tubes that you blow through to create a note.
- The woodwinds are made of composite materials and are played by vibrating a reed found in the mouthpiece of the instrument. Woodwinds, which produce a characteristic warm and woody sound, are used in classical and jazz music. Saxophones, in particular, have also been used frequently in pop music.
- Choose a classic bow. Used in orchestras, string quartets and other types of professional ensembles, violins, violas, double basses and cellos are the basis of classical strings. Guitars can also be considered a classic bow, according to the style of music.
Step 4. Consider pop or rock instruments
While all of these instruments can be used to play many genres, when we think of pop music and forming our own musical group, we usually think of guitar, bass, drums and keyboards or piano. If you are not interested in being the kind of musician who wears a tailcoat in a concert hall and your dream is to be part of a band that rehearses in a garage and drives around the premises in a van, these may be the right tools. for you.
- Guitar
- Bass
- Battery
Step 5.
Percussion is not just a background instrument. Good percussionists know how to give the right boost to music in every musical genre, from folk to classical music, from jazz to rock & roll. For a group of musicians, there is nothing more important than a talented percussionist who keeps time.
One of the best things about percussion is that you can start learning to play without using any instruments. If you have a good sense of timing and can keep a steady rhythm with your hands, consider learning to play percussion
Step 6. Play an electronic instrument
From DJs to synthesizer wizards, the traditional definition of a musician is much broader than it was previously. It is possible to produce complex and artistic music by pressing buttons on a laptop just as it is possible to do it by pressing the valves of a trumpet, and neither method is more valuable than the other.
Part 2 of 3: Progress as a Player
Step 1. Practice constantly
Even if you have a natural talent for an instrument, there is a noticeable difference between "playing an instrument" and "being a musician". This difference takes practice. Musicians are dedicated to improving their skills and learning new techniques and more complex styles of the instrument they have chosen. The only way to do this is through regular and serious exercise.
- Develop good exercise habits and routines. Always practice in the right posture, warming up first and for at least 20-40 minutes a day. Try a combination of fun techniques, skills and activities. For each scale you learn, take a few minutes to the Star Wars theme or some other fun song.
- As in physical training, consistency is important. Try to exercise every day so that you can maintain the good habits you are developing.
Step 2. Find a good teacher
It is very difficult to learn music just by reading a book. While written guides can be helpful, there is no substitute for in-person tutoring that can offer you a lesson with a good instructor. A teacher will help you correct your technique and learn the fundamentals needed to become a good player, whatever your instrument.
- If you want to learn to play an instrument, it is very important to be open to your teacher's advice. Stubborn people who can't accept criticism rarely have a future as musicians. Listen carefully to what good players say, follow the directions and learn everything you can. Make it a goal to improve.
- If you don't have the time or money to get formal instructor education, find better musicians than you to play with. Evening jam sessions in your garage with a couple of guitarists can go a long way in improving your skills. Look and learn.
Step 3. Consider learning to read music
While you can play by ear, it can be a good idea to learn to read sheet music, and it is absolutely essential to know how to do this for some instruments and styles. If you want to play classical music, it is almost impossible to learn by ear and memorize the notes.
Also learn the history of music and some notions of music theory if you hope to compose your own music someday. Learning why certain notes sound good together, how to make a chord and how music works is the best way to become a better instrumentalist and composer, whatever your instrument
Step 4. Listen to everything
It is very important for a musician to develop his own taste. Just as a novelist must read a wide variety of novels and learn the history of literature to write something worth reading, a musician must listen to a wide variety of music and learn to appreciate different styles of music if he hopes to write something worth reading. worth listening to.
- Listen to classical music, starting with old court music and working your way up to romantic composers like Mozart and Beethoven. Try listening to twentieth-century avant-garde composers like Penderecki and Cage to test your conception of music.
- Listen to all kinds of rock music, even if you don't like it. Experience early punk, rockabilly and psychedelic music. Listen to popular and lesser known music. Try to find something worth listening to and ignore the rest.
- When you find something you like, study its influences. If you like Katy Perry you may find that Cher and Madonna are big influences on her style and sound. When you listen to Cher, you may rediscover Etta James, and eventually trace back to Bessie Smith, one of the greatest blues singers of all time. Find the roots of your favorite artist.
Step 5. Start writing your compositions
To grow as a musician and take your skills to the next level, it's a great idea to try composing. Whether you decide to play classical or pop music, writing your own songs can help you notice the difference between playing notes and making music before any other teaching. Take responsibility for writing the notes you play.
Step 6. Find your voice with the tool
Miles Davis couldn't learn the vibrato technique in the horn, so he built his entire career on a single, sonorous, clean tone that never shook. When asked why his band played so limping, like a freight train, Johnny Cash replied "We'll play faster if we can". Look at your hypothetical weaknesses from a different perspective and use them to become a better player.
Part 3 of 3: The Next Step
Step 1. Consider joining a band
Playing with other instrumentalists and musicians can help you improve, learn the specific techniques of the trade and give you the opportunity to play as part of a unit, and create ensemble music.
- If you want to play classical or concert music, you will need to join an orchestra or band.
- Playing with other people will also help keep you from being dominated by the ego. David Hood, who is part of the Muscle Shoals recording studio and is one of the greatest studio bass players of all time, responded to those who asked him how he had built his flawless reputation, "My equipment always worked and I was always on time." Being humble is important for a musician.
Step 2. Play in front of other people when you are ready
If you've practiced your instrument regularly and want to take it to the next level, it might be time to perform in public. Start by playing your best material in front of close friends who won't judge you, or in front of your parents, then continue playing for other people. If you want to perform, you need an audience.
- Open mic nights in pubs are an excellent opportunity to find a not too pretentious audience that will be warm and helpful. On these evenings, those who take the stage are almost always a novice amateur, and those who listen to them are friendly and not rude. This is a great way to break the ice.
- Alternatively, play just for you. Nobody says you should ever play in front of another person. Learn to play and enjoy your music on your own.
Step 3. Try to create your own musical group
Can't find a band to play in? Create one yourself. Don't wait for other musicians to look for you, get involved and find them yourself. Post an ad on Craigslist citing your main influences and a desire to play in a group that produces a particular type of music, and rate the musicians who show up for auditions. Visit local instrument shops and hand out flyers. Go to open mic nights and talk to other musicians you respect.
Step 4. Record your music
Recording yourself playing can be one of the most rewarding and fun things for a young musician. Being able to hear yourself playing from the speakers? There is nothing better. And today, it's easier than ever to register at home, without compromising on quality too much.
- Invest in some inexpensive microphones to get started and record using your computer directly, with programs like GarageBand or Audacity. Set your preferred master levels and write CDs for your friends, or download the songs to your MP3 player.
- If you are feeling really ambitious, you could share your recordings with the world. Register your best material and open a page on Bandcamp or an account on Soundcloud to give people easy access links to your music.
Step 5. Make a long-term commitment
Even if you are talented, you are a hard worker, even if you are the best banjo player in town, you may have a hard time finding an audience that you appreciate. Being a musician can be a burden for many people, and it can take a long time before you can reap the rewards of your work, both in terms of skill improvement and exposure, not to mention the money. But the more you try, the better your chances of success will be.
Consider enrolling in the conservatory if you want to connect with people who work in the industry and receive private instruction on your instrument. Even if you don't want to play classical music, learning music production skills and music history can give you an edge in the industry
Advice
- Frustration is part of the learning process.
- Don't be put off by the cost of the tools. You can rent them while you are looking for a good deal by having friends help you. You don't need to buy a grand piano to learn, just try a keyboard! -
- Don't be discouraged, play five instruments and forget about those who criticize you. Music is one of the most beautiful arts, and it doesn't deserve to be abandoned.
- Exercise, exercise, and more exercise!
- Think in musical terms. This is one of the most difficult skills for a musician to learn. Always be aware of the notes you are playing. There are those who memorize ten pages of music and reproduce them flawlessly by ear without knowing what is playing. With exercise you will succeed!
- Participate in the music programs offered by the school; organize a musical group; you are part of the artistic community. Enjoy the music!
- Try to learn from someone who already has mastered the instrument of your choice. At first you may think you can save money by studying self-taught, but in the long run you will realize that taking lessons is an irreplaceable help.
- Find a local teacher who can give you lessons. It won't always be as easy as it sounds. Try internet searches or ask in musical instrument stores.
- In addition to taking lessons, buy books with sheet music and learn to play on your own.
- You can almost always find a used model of the instrument you have chosen. If you have a friend who knows quite well the instrument you want to play, ask him to go with you so he can help you find the best deals. Craigslist gets more than 12 million visitors a month, and the range of musical instruments is always quite diverse.
Warnings
- Try not to become a musical "snob" - appreciate it in all its forms.
- Don't get into bad habits. They may seem irrelevant at first, but over time it will become increasingly difficult to correct them.
