Member Article

Make time to strum and chime : Sound tips to help you learn to play an instrument

It can be easy to get stuck in the monotony of everyday life. We can end up so set in our routines that we find venturing outside of our comfort zones too much, never taking the leap to start that hobby, or learn that skill we’d always fantasized about. As the saying goes, ‘Life starts at the end of your comfort zone’, and once you make the decision to add playing a musical instrument into your schedule, you’ll look back and wonder why music wasn’t a bigger part of your life before.

Keep your time with technology valuable How do you fill your downtime in the evenings? After a long day of staring at a computer screen, instead of mindlessly scrolling through your newsfeeds, how about working on perfecting the chords of your favourite song? Although modern technology continues to amaze us, helping us easily carry out daily tasks and keeping us connected with long distance friends, 49% of web users admitted to spending longer online than intended. So, put down your device and pick up a guitar or another instrument. Use technology when it’s actually adding something valuable to your day, like getting yourself closer to ‘virtuoso’ status.

Schedule practice into your weekly routine Make sure to set aside a certain time each week that’s solely dedicated to practicing music. Instead of having to tell a white lie to get out of a dinner on a Monday night (for example), make that evening ‘music practice’ time. In this way, your conscience be clear, and you’ll be using that time to develop a valuable skill. 8pm on Mondays* are now about you and your music (*other dates and times work too - just make sure you stick to it!).

Set yourself realistic goals As with any other new skill that takes hard work to master, it’s important to break down the challenge into smaller, more manageable chunks. Learning an instrument alongside your work and social life will take some juggling, and taking on a tricky tune can be daunting. So, task yourself with nailing a verse one week, then the chorus, and finally the bridge. As they say, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’.

Create the right environment to work in In the same way that you put yourself in the right environment to write an essay or proposal, do the same for practicing music. Creating the right space for you, free of distractions, will make for more productive practice and ultimately quicker progress. If you’re lucky enough to dedicate a whole room as your ‘studio’, even better! If not, shut yourself away in your study or bedroom and warn your kids, partners and roommates alike to give you some space. Then you can relax, focus and enjoy your music time.

Don’t go it alone Just as gym buddies keep you motivated, how about taking on the challenge of learning an instrument with a friend? If you’re in it together, you’ll not only make sure the other doesn’t fall behind, but create some healthy competition too. You can practice together, help each other out, and create your very own musical duo.

https://online.mi.edu/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rachel Yoon .