Learning to play an instrument is a great talent. We can all admire the skills of expert players, but few of us can actually pick up an instrument and play. If you've always wanted to be a musical maestro, now is a great time to start. But what's the best way to learn an instrument - expert guidance or teaching yourself?
Expert Guidance
Taking professional lessons is the traditional way to learn, but why? Here we examine the advantages and disadvantages of getting professional guidance:
Advantages
They know exactly how everything works, and will teach you the basics. As you develop, they will be able to teach you the more complicated parts. This will help you master every technicality quickly and easily.
Struggling to master your new instrument? They are always on hand to make everything a little clearer. By following this kind of instruction, you can practice at home and have as many classes as necessary.
Disadvantages
Professional music lessons are costly. With many people struggling to make ends meet, is this really a luxury you can afford to be paying for? Depending on your level of experience and particular instrument, the cost can skyrocket.
Many people also struggle to find the time to attend regular sessions. Relying on someone else is also a turn off for many people. For those who work full time, finding a time that works for you and your teacher is almost impossible,
You also have to learn what the teacher wants you to. On some occasions you will have very little freedom over the songs you learn. Some people then find their skills are limited, and can't adapt them to playing naturally.
Teaching Yourself
So what about DIY tuition? Is this the option for you? Here are some things to bear in mind:
Advantages
Learning yourself gives you so much more freedom; you can learn on your own terms. This gives you the chance to dedicate as much or little time as necessary into learning the instrument. This also gives you the freedom to learn in a way that suits you. For example, learning individual notes and putting them together, or learning a full song.
This freedom also transcends into how you teach yourself. YouTube videos are a great way to teach yourself how to play, for example. Video tutorials make learning easy as you can repeat them until you have them mastered. Books and DVDs are also easy, affordable ways to learn at home.
Disadvantages
However if you're struggling, where can you turn? If you teach yourself you have no real way of getting over a particular hurdle. This is often the time that DIY learners, give up.
When you teach yourself, there's a chance that you'll miss out on something. For example, the tutorials you use may not cover tuning your instrument. Missing this information can result in costly damage to your instrument.
Which Method is for Me?
The thing is, there is no definitive answer to what's right or wrong. The choice is all down to what will work best for you. If you already have experience, you could consider the teaching yourself and picking up where you left off. With so many options though, it's worth trying both.
Expert Guidance
Taking professional lessons is the traditional way to learn, but why? Here we examine the advantages and disadvantages of getting professional guidance:
Advantages
They know exactly how everything works, and will teach you the basics. As you develop, they will be able to teach you the more complicated parts. This will help you master every technicality quickly and easily.
Struggling to master your new instrument? They are always on hand to make everything a little clearer. By following this kind of instruction, you can practice at home and have as many classes as necessary.
Disadvantages
Professional music lessons are costly. With many people struggling to make ends meet, is this really a luxury you can afford to be paying for? Depending on your level of experience and particular instrument, the cost can skyrocket.
Many people also struggle to find the time to attend regular sessions. Relying on someone else is also a turn off for many people. For those who work full time, finding a time that works for you and your teacher is almost impossible,
You also have to learn what the teacher wants you to. On some occasions you will have very little freedom over the songs you learn. Some people then find their skills are limited, and can't adapt them to playing naturally.
Teaching Yourself
So what about DIY tuition? Is this the option for you? Here are some things to bear in mind:
Advantages
Learning yourself gives you so much more freedom; you can learn on your own terms. This gives you the chance to dedicate as much or little time as necessary into learning the instrument. This also gives you the freedom to learn in a way that suits you. For example, learning individual notes and putting them together, or learning a full song.
This freedom also transcends into how you teach yourself. YouTube videos are a great way to teach yourself how to play, for example. Video tutorials make learning easy as you can repeat them until you have them mastered. Books and DVDs are also easy, affordable ways to learn at home.
Disadvantages
However if you're struggling, where can you turn? If you teach yourself you have no real way of getting over a particular hurdle. This is often the time that DIY learners, give up.
When you teach yourself, there's a chance that you'll miss out on something. For example, the tutorials you use may not cover tuning your instrument. Missing this information can result in costly damage to your instrument.
Which Method is for Me?
The thing is, there is no definitive answer to what's right or wrong. The choice is all down to what will work best for you. If you already have experience, you could consider the teaching yourself and picking up where you left off. With so many options though, it's worth trying both.
About the Author:
We've shared our expert tips on this website for those thinking about taking up a musical instrument or perhaps progressing.
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