Learning a musical instrument is a great way to let your creativity flow, improve your hand-eye coordination, relieve stress, meet new people, and have some fun! Deciding to learn how to play a musical instrument as an adult can often be a little overwhelming. However, with a bit of help and guidance, you can begin your journey into the world of music on the right foot and get the most out of your new pursuit.
For many new musicians, the most difficult decision they have to make is deciding what instrument to commit to. While you can learn how to play many instruments, it’s better, in the beginning, to focus on just one so you can hone your skills before moving onto something new. With so many different musical instruments to choose from, knowing where to begin can often be challenging. However, focusing on some key areas, you can ensure that you make the right choice and select an instrument you will truly love.
Let’s take a look at a few things you need to consider when you are choosing a musical instrument to learn.
Story Stages
The Type Of Music You Enjoy
When you’re choosing an instrument to play, it’s important to give some thought to what kind of music you like. Generally speaking, this is the type of music you will want to play, so you need to choose an instrument that lends itself to your genre of choice. For example, if you want to play folk music, a guitar might be a good choice, while someone who is into jazz might prefer to learn the saxophone. Choosing an instrument suited to the type of music you enjoy will help you to enjoy the learning process more as you will connect with the music you are learning in a more meaningful way.
How Do You Want To Play?
Looking beyond learning the basics, you need to consider in what situations you see yourself playing your instrument. Perhaps you want to play in a band, join an orchestra or join social music sessions. If you need to be mobile, a drum kit or a piano might make things difficult. On the other hand, if you want to play in an impromptu jam session, you will need an instrument that offers some versatility. Take some time to consider how you want to play your instrument to help guide you to the right choice.
Consider Your Practice Space
If you live in a small apartment with elderly neighbours or neighbours with young kids, learning to play the tuba might not be the best decision. On the other hand, if you have a sound-proofed garage space that you can use to hone your skills, you can play as loud and as long as you like. To improve your skills, you need to put time into practising your new instrument, so your practice space needs to accommodate your playing.
Think Budget
While most musical instruments can be bought in various price ranges and can be picked up second-hand, some are significantly more expensive than others. For example, a tin whistle will cost you anywhere from twenty dollars to a few hundred. A beginner guitar, on the other hand, will start at a couple of hundred dollars, but you can pay thousands if you want. Understanding your budget will help you to determine what instruments you can afford and the standard you can expect for your money.
Choose An Instrument That Will Bring You The Most Joy
Ultimately, the most important thing with choosing a musical instrument to learn is to choose something that you will enjoy playing. If you’re not going to have fun learning your new instrument, you are less likely to stick with it and progress your skills. Playing music is all about self-expression and having fun, so be sure to find an instrument that will bring you the most joy on your journey into the exciting world of music.
