Learning a musical instrument is a great thing as learning music is a wonderful skill that keeps your brain active. I call it “brain training.” I teach piano as well as voice.

With piano, first one has to learn to use all 10 fingers independently. Then one has to learn how to use each hand independently from the other. Then one has to learn to watch the music and trust your fingers to play the right notes. Then one has to learn how to use the pedals with your foot to enhance the playing. All of this has to be separate yet together. No small feat but not impossible either.

Like any other instrument including voice, you take one step at a time, perfect it, then add more as you move forward. We use method books to help this process. These books are written by several music teachers who came up with their own system of learning. There are books for children and adults. Set a regular practice time daily. Consistency is the key here.

Then moving forward you start learning more advanced music literature. Different music styles from the different periods of music. Early music, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, Contemporary. There are also different genres of music that you might like to pursue as well. Besides classical there is popular, jazz…or you may want to dabble in all the different genres.

As you’re moving along you are undoubtedly learning music theory…notes, counting, key signatures, time signatures, tempo, phrasing etc. All this gives the music more personality and identifies the period of time in which it was composed. You also learn about the composers. Who were they or are they if still alive? What made them tick? Their personality shows up in their music.

If you feel this is going to be your profession you start playing in ensembles. If you are a pianist you might start accompanying singers or choirs. Expert pianists are always in demand for these types of jobs. Expand your horizons and get involved in more musical ventures. If you are a violinist or clarinetist etc. you might want to play with a symphony. That’s where all those orchestral instruments hang out.

This is something you start as a child and keep learning, growing, refining and achieving throughout your entire life. You become seasoned at your art. No small feat but a wonderfully rewarding one if this is your calling. Making a career out of it is tricky since you have to find your niche in this vast musical world and attempt to make a living with it. But along with the lifelong pursuit of musical art comes a lifelong pursuit of networking. We’re all out there doing it for pretty much as long as we live. You’re a musician forever.

And even if music is not going to be your calling in life it still is wonderful to learn and again, helpful for your brain. It’s a skill and our brains love learning new skills!

Word of advice: always work with a trained professional music teacher who teaches the instrument you want to learn. In piano especially, many times people try to learn it themselves or work with someone who can play fairly well but isn’t a seasoned or even very well trained musician. Yes you can learn basic things but most of the joy in learning to play an instrument is to be able to play with a level of expertise, and play musical styles you like. A true feeling of accomplishment.

So there it is. I highly recommend if you have always wanted to play piano or any other instrument, go for it. Do the best you can and invest the time. Jump right in. It’s an education, brain training and fun! Finding a teacher can be easier than you think. The wonderful music organization I belong to, MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) is available online to help you. Insert your zipcode in your search and music teachers will pop up with their bios and credentials. And hopefully your teacher will be as nuts as I am. Ha!

http://www.makingmusicwitheve.weebly.com

#music #piano teacher #professional musician