Learning an instrument is one of the coolest and most beneficial things you can ever do for your health. You not only have a way to look cool but a way to give your brain a complete workout!
Research has shown that music, in general, can help with medical issues like reducing anxiety, blood pressure and even pain. Additionally, learning music and playing your first instrument can be an excellent way to express yourself.
However, with hundreds of different types of instruments available, it can be daunting to have to select your first choice. If you’re starting out and don’t know what you want to play, keep reading to discover three ways to choose the perfect first instrument!
Determine Your Expertise Level
One of the most important considerations is honestly evaluate your level of experience. If you’re an absolute beginner, it may be to start off with something simpler such as a piano or guitar.
These types of instruments will help you to develop the basic skills and techniques without causing overload. However, if you’re a moderate to a more experienced musician, you may want to consider other string instruments. These are typically more advanced instruments, such as a cello or violin.
If determined, you can certainly start off by learning how to play the violin. However, you must keep in mind that it’s one of the most difficult string instruments to master.
Although the anatomy of a violin is rather simple, it’s a challenging instrument for several reasons. These include learning how to hold the violin in the right way, learning the proper bowing technique and going through several trials and errors to learn the correct finger position.
Determine What Genre You Want to Play
Next, you want to determine what type of music you’re interested in learning to play. Determining the genre can significantly narrow down your list of options.
For example, if you want to learn classical music, you may want to look at wind instruments or string instruments. If you want to play rock or pop music, learning to play the piano or guitar may be more beneficial.
Experiment Before Committing
If you’re uncertain about the type of instrument you want to play, why not consider experimenting with a few before committing? Head to your local store and play around with a few instruments and take a few lessons before you take the plunge and spend hundreds of dollars on your first instrument.
Oftentimes, many people experimenting will start off by learning the piano or guitar because of its versatility. By learning the piano, you have the opportunity to take the skills you develop and apply them later to other instruments such as an organ, synthesizer or harpsichord, to name a few.
The same goes for a guitar. Once you learn the basics, you can utilize those skills on other string instruments such as a mandolin, lute, banjo and even a ukulele!
Choosing Your First Instrument
Ultimately, choosing your first instrument is about picking one that you love and one that creates a sound you love. If you take up learning an instrument and find you don’t enjoy playing it every day, it’s likely that it’s not for you.
Additionally, you must consider your overall size and the size of the instrument. If you’re a smaller person, you may find that a large and heavy cello may be too difficult to hold and play.
Now that you know how to find the perfect first instrument, it’s time for the fun — lessons! Find your perfect instructor by signing up for lessons here at Music Lab Northridge.