Then there is the price range. Unless you just won the jackpot in a minimum deposit casino online or got dealt a winning hand at the poker table, you want to make sure you have some money left when leaving the shop.
It’s always a good idea to bring a friend or somebody who knows how to play the instrument you prefer. That person has been playing the instrument and should know what to look out for and how it should feel. You could always talk to the staff of the music store. They should be able to assist you and answer all the questions regarding the instrument.
And don’t spend all your well-saved money all at once either. There are always extra hidden costs involved in an instrument (strings for a guitar, drum cymbals, etc.), so go out and look for a second-hand one first to see if the instrument suits you.
Source: Steinway Baby Grand pianos in the UK
Getting started
Congratulations! You have just purchased your first instrument. Now what? Now it’s time for the disciplinary part of your journey to success; learning how to play.
There are a few ways to learn how to master your instrument:
Look for a teacher
You could go to a school or have a home teacher if you prefer that. After all, these teachers are experts in what they do and have the additional social skills to make the lessons as clear as possible for you. A teacher will correct you instantly when needed and will give you some homework to practice with.
Look around when choosing a music teacher. There are as many different teachers as there are musicians. So, make up your mind about what you would like to focus on most before you pick your master. Do you want to study sheet music (scales and notes) or rock out with a few power chords?
Self-study
Many talented musicians solely rely on their studies. Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis never had a real tutor, and look how that turned out. You can easily find hundreds of books on the subject. Some come with assignments and audio material too. And then there is always the internet, of course.
Nowadays, you can find anything on YouTube and Google to make your life a lot easier.
By learning how to play by yourself, you can choose your own convenient time and place when practicing your instrument.
Setting goals
Whatever you practice, it’s always good to set a goal for yourself. Like: “by next week, I am going to play the whole song,” or “I will have two songs ready to play by the end of the month.” This helps your motivation to complete your mission to become a talented musician.
Practice
Sure, it seems logical to practice until you are good at something. But any musician can’t stress this enough. Practice, practice, practice! Let your fingers work by muscle memory, so you don’t have to occupy your focus on hand, finger, or mouth displacement. Learn to know where the next note will come from without eyeballing the neck of your string instrument. Feel where the next key is leading you without watching your fingers on the piano.
You will find that playing your instrument becomes more fun when you notice that you are improving. Reward yourself after practicing by showing your new skills to your friends or family, and be proud of what you have accomplished. And the most important advice of all: have fun in what you do. You are creating music via an instrument. That’s magical!
