It is a fact that learning music can be fun and also improve memory and coordination. It’s never too late to begin learning music, even if you missed out on the opportunity to do so as a kid. This article will give you 10 tips on how to start learning music as an adult.
Tip #1: Select Music You Enjoy
Choose an instrument or music you like when you decide to learn how to play music. You will be more motivated to practice if you pick something that you enjoy and is interesting to you. You’ve always been interested in playing the piano. Clarinets are a great sound. You may have always wanted to be a drummer in a rock group. It is important to choose an instrument that fits your lifestyle. Clarinets are more portable and may be better suited to people who are always on the go. A digital piano that has a volume control might be the best choice if you have thin walls or cranky neighbours.
Think about your favourite music when choosing the repertoire you will be playing. Have you got a favourite tune? You have always loved Mozart. You may love the idea that you could improvise your jazz solo. Why not try to learn them? Consider easier versions or music similar to the piece that is not as difficult. There are abbreviated versions, for example, of classical pieces like Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata or Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu.
Goal Setting
Set realistic goals about what you wish to learn and the time you have to practice. Setting goals helps you stay focused and allows you to track your progress. When setting goals, consider why you are learning music: Is this a hobby you can do alone at home? Want to jam with other musicians? Think about how you will get there. For setting goals, we recommend the Smart System:
Specific – Your goal must be exact. (Examples: I would like to learn the first movement from Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, or I would like to know how to play four chords in my favourite song. I also want to be able to play this difficult ten-measure segment without stopping.)
Measurable – Your goal must be measurable. Can you tell if you have achieved it?
Achievable – Your goal must be realistic and in line with your current level of skill and the amount of time, you can devote to practice. If you want to be able to play the piano like Yuja in six months, then your goal will not be achievable.
Relevant – Your practice goals should align with your overall learning goals. (Example: Do you have to be able to read guitar tabs in order to play the piano for friends at dinner parties?)
Time-bound– you need a date to achieve your goal. (Example: Memorize the names of notes in one week).
Tip #3: Practice Consistently
Consistent practice is the best way to achieve your goals. Create a schedule of practice sessions to keep you on track. Regular practice sessions are important to minimize distractions. The practice sessions don’t need to be long. A session of 30 minutes is sufficient. If 30 minutes is too long for you, then you can find multiple times during the day when you can practice between 10 and 12 minutes. You can plan various “music breaks” throughout the day to de-stress and prepare for the next task. You should plan regular practice but also be flexible. You may have other priorities than practising music.
Tip #4: Practice sections or “Chunks”.
Concentrating on learning smaller sections of a song, also known as “chunking,” can improve your practice sessions. The practice becomes more digestible, and you retain the information better. You could go measure-by-measure for particularly difficult sections. Practice slowly, starting with the first note of a measure and moving on to the next measure’s first note. After you have mastered the measure, you can practice it in two-measure sections, four-measure sections, etc., while increasing your tempo. You may have to learn only one difficult measure per practice session, depending on the length of your sessions. That’s okay! This strategy of learning difficult measures will be useful in the future when you encounter other sections that are more challenging. It will also help you play the barlines, which is an important aspect of musicality.
Tip #5: Use a metronome
Use a metronome when you are practising. Metronomes will help you to be honest with your timing. They’ll make sure you don’t slow down when music becomes difficult or speed up when music becomes more lyrical. Use your metronome even when you’re practising “chunking”. Set the metronome at a slower pace and practice the difficult sections slowly. This will help you master fingering and timing. Slowly speed up the metronome to get you at tempo. If you don’t think it is important to be “in time”, you may want to avoid bad habits.
Tip #6: Record yourself and listen to your recording
Recording yourself is another great way to practice. It can be not easy to listen to your music and focus on the whole picture when you’re playing. You can focus on your sound by recording yourself and listening to it. You will be able to hear any tempo changes, finger mistakes, or areas where you could improve your phrasing. You can then go back to your practice sessions and concentrate on these details. A teacher can guide you at first, but by listening, you will become your guide.
Listen to lots of music.
Listen to lots and lots of music. You can learn faster by listening to others perform the music that you are learning. Some interpretations may inspire you, or you might know what you don’t like to do. Listening to music from the same band or composer, as well as music of completely different genres, enriches your ear and understanding. You will become a more rounded musician the more you listen.
Study Music Theory & History
Studying music theory and history, along with listening to a lot of music, can enhance your musicality. It will also help you contextualize the pieces that you are learning. Music theory can help you understand the chords and melodies of your piece. This will make it easier for you to know. You may also notice similarities as you learn other pieces. Music history will help you understand the evolution of music and how it has changed over time. It can also be used to interpret different pieces.
Tip #9: Perform for other people
It’s fun to perform for others. You will be able to tell if you really know the music by how much pressure is put on you when performing. While we all strive for perfection in our performances, it is rare to achieve a perfect performance. Accepting imperfections and inconsistencies is a crucial part of learning to perform. You can’t stop and start in a show, so you need to know to play on through. You will become more comfortable and confident performing with or without a group the more you practice.
Tip 10: Patience
It may seem obvious, but our final tip is to be patient. It takes time to learn something new. Your favourite musicians spent years perfecting their craft. Don’t be frustrated or disappointed if you don’t achieve the same sound in a short time. You can calm yourself down by taking a breath, slowing down, and trying again. Or, you can take a short break. It takes patience and repetition to learn music, so be patient and show yourself grace.
Coda
It’s not difficult to learn music as an adult. It can be a healthy and enjoyable pastime. Liberty Park Music is a great place to begin learning music. Visit our website to get started with piano, guitar, drums, and music theory courses.