Hey, friend!
This guest post comes to us via Liv Taub.
In the past, you may have only been to learn an instrument with the help of a book or a teacher. But today, there are so many more options available, and Liv is about to share with us a few ways we can learn an instrument online.
By the way, if you think you’ve got what it takes to be a Music Entrepreneur HQ contributor, you can find our guest post submission guidelines here.
Alright, let’s get to it!
Learning to play a new musical instrument is almost a rite of passage for schoolchildren. Some got to learn how to play at school. Others had tutors visiting their home. Everyone else had to learn through books or videos, trying our best to learn on our own.
Fast forward to 2018, and we have a plethora of ways to hone our musical talent (or lack of it!). While one-to-one private lessons are still hugely popular, the rise of technology has given us new avenues to explore in learning new skills, and music is no different.
From tutoring apps that you can download to your phone or tablet, to real life Skype tutors that will guide you through your lessons, there are now a multitude of ways to learn, and each one has its unique appeal.
So, whether you are looking to be tutored from afar, or simply want access to some popular piano sheet music to help you play some of your favorite songs, you should be able to find help somewhere on the web.
One-To-One Tutoring
Skype tutors are fast becoming an extremely popular way to learn an instrument, not least because of the flexibility and convenience that comes with them.
Rather than needing a tutor to travel to your house or vice versa, with the aid of a webcam and microphone, you can have your lesson anywhere, and at any time. If you happen to live a rather busy life, finding a face-to-face tutor that works after 9pm may be quite troublesome, but with remote music tutors, this issue completely disappears. If tutor A can’t fit you in, tutor B can.
Equally, if you wish to learn an exotic instrument, you could find yourself with very few options in your local area. Online tutors, on the other hand, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so if you need sitar lessons in Australia, keyboard lessons in Peru, or even bagpipe lessons in the United States, your geographical location is no longer an issue.
Watch Free Online Video Tutorials
Another option for budding musicians is to follow along with online video tutorials. YouTube is absolutely full of them, some great and some a little confusing, but once you separate the good from the bad, you will find yourself with access to a vast library of useful information.
Especially useful for those who already have a basic knowledge of their instrument, these tutorials can serve as refresher courses for those of us who are just a little rusty or are looking for exercises and songs to practice along to.
Learning Virtually is Becoming a Reality
Looking to the future, learning an instrument is going to get even easier than it currently is. The latest development is in the realm of virtual reality.
No longer the preserve of video games, virtual reality has begun to infiltrate many areas of our lives. From virtual boardrooms at work to ringside seats at a boxing matches, it seems everyone is getting in on the action, and learning to play a new instrument in VR is no exception.
While VR is still in its infancy, there are developments that allow the user to see how to play the drums or piano in a virtual space. Right now, VR drums and VR music makers seem to work almost perfectly, as the large “hit targets” of each drum, combined with the fact you only need have two motion controllers for sticks, make for a very fluid and visceral experience.
Playing the piano is VR however, while possible, is currently less impressive due to the fact that tracking individual fingers is a far more difficult thing to implement accurately.
But that doesn’t mean that in another five years it won’t be a perfectly legitimate way to learn how to play, or at the very least, practice (if you don’t happen to have your instruments with you).
Conclusion
For now though, there is plenty of help available online to empower your learning process regardless of your skill level. Simply find the approach that is right for you and everything else should fall nicely into place.
If it doesn’t work for you, try a different approach. With a little time, dedication, and the help that is now available online, you could find yourself improving much quicker than you ever thought possible.
- 3 Ways You Can Learn to Play an Instrument Online - June 26, 2018
