If you are learning a musical instrument, then you know it is hard to keep your motivation going every day. Learning an instrument is tough work, and you can easily put it down for a day or two, and have it turn into a month. However, doing small things every day to work on yourself and your craft can improve your musical abilities dramatically.

By developing routines that will make you both learn your instrument quicker and master your skills, you will be well on your way to becoming the musical genius you have always dreamed of. Apply these five habits in your life and see the progress immediately!

1. Exercise Every Day

The odds are unless you are a professional musician on stage every night, the amount of energy you will spend playing your instrument is minimal. This can lead us to believe that we do not need to be in top shape to play music. This is mistake number one. You are constantly utilizing your muscles when playing, and you have to make sure they are ready for the demands you will put them through!

See Also: 3 Ways Playing an Instrument is like Working Out

2. Practice. Practice. Practice!

It is not a popular idea for everyone, and it can be tedious, but the best way to become a musical professional is to put in the work. There are tons of different exercises for any instrument in order to work on different skills related to playing. From fundamentals to speed to technique, practicing can take your musical ability to new heights.

See Also: These 7 Great Songs Make Piano Practice Fun Again

3. Learn About Your Instrument

One of the most important things for any musician, and one that is easy to overlook when learning how to play, is to familiarize yourself with the instrument you are playing. The best way for you to get started is to learn everything you can about the tools of your trade. Some of the best music that has ever been made came from artists who pushed the boundaries of their instruments. Find out the sounds you can produce, the different styles you can play, and get started on your musical experimentation.

4. Get Back to Basics

One of the easiest ways to develop poor techniques and musical habits is to skip the basics course and forget about the essentials of playing an instrument. Basic skills can be developed early on, but are hard to maintain after some time. Skills such as timing, pacing, rhythm, and keeping a constant beat can seem unimportant, but can make your music sound a million times more refined when done right.

5. A Different Style Every Day

The best way to expand your musical horizons is to explore new sounds and styles while journeying into different genres. In order to truly push your learning, you should also make sure you are working outside of your musical comfort zone as often as possible. Even if you do not necessarily like the music you are listening to, you can always learn something new by paying attention to skilled and talented musicians from every genre.

Get started and develop these habits to take your music skills to the next level!  

The post Learning an instrument? Successful musicians build these habits appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

To learn music is to learn a whole new language.

If you are one of these go-getters, you’ve probably already vacillated between two important life skills, learning an instrument vs. learning a language. Since both are known to promote better brain functionality, develop stronger communication skills, and stimulate different parts of the brain, it might be a tough choice. Well here’s a little tidbit that might help make the decision a little easier.

The Far-Reaching Benefits of Learning an Instrument

Did you know that when you learn an instrument, you are giving yourself the very tools you need to make learning a new language easier? In fact, if you do want to learn another language, then practicing a musical instrument will only help enhance those brain muscles that you need to acquire the new language faster and more intuitively. Even one hour spent each week practicing will grant you the benefits of learning an instrument.

It’s pretty simple once you understand the mechanics of the brain. You see, when you practice playing piano, flute, guitar, or any other instrument, you are stimulating certain pathways in your brain that connect auditory and motor regions. These pathways are the same ones used in verbal communication (sound processing, vocabulary, etc.).

So the music exercises students go through actually encourage the brain to recognize subtleties in languages as well. You can recognize the different accents, inflections, and nuances of a new language, process them, repeat them, and apply them to memory more fluidly than if you didn’t have this brain channel already open and running smoothly.

Music also develops a person’s cognitive reasoning and multi-sensory skills, giving students of a new language the ability to recognize written text to speech more readily. This is extremely helpful when learning a new language.

Music, The Origin of Verbal Language?

In fact, some scientists hypothesize that the very development of spoken language came about through the use of musical training and communication! While we can’t say that’s a fact, we can say with certainty that learning a musical instrument will enhance your brain power and make learning a new language easier than ever. So before you pick up Spanish, French, German, or whatever dialect you’re attempting to tackle, do yourself a favor, and practice your scales first to warm up your noggin and get your brain into the right gear.

See also: Health Benefits of Playing an Instrument

What’s Next?

Now that you know how beneficial playing is, your next question you ask yourself should be “Which instrument should I learn to play?” Guitar is a popular choice because, honestly, it makes people feel like a rock star. Piano is another excellent choice as it’s fairly simple to learn. There are both guitar and piano lessons for beginners all over the web, or you can utilize the convenient apps that help make learning something new a cinch.

Whichever instrument you choose, realize you’re giving yourself one of the greatest gifts of your life. So dive into the wonderful world of music, and learn something new today!

The post French or French Horn? Why Learning an Instrument Trumps Acing a New Language appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

1. The Entertainer

What can we say? You can’t get much more entertaining than this one, and we’re sure everyone from your mom to your best bub will enjoy letting loose with this classic. The Entertainer has an upbeat flavor that takes over your toes and gets them moving almost automatically, but you need not have been taking piano lessons for years to catch on.

The secret to this crowd-pleaser is its repetitive nature. While the pace is fast, the piano chords themselves aren’t overly difficult so even if you’re just learning how to play the keyboard or piano, you’ll pick this up quickly.

(Joplin also has another song, Maple Leaf Rag, a great beginner piece that’s easy to learn.)

2. Piano Man

Piano Man by Billy Joel is one of the quintessential songs to try when you start learning to play the piano. Aside from the obvious title, Piano Man has rhythm, style, and soul that pulls people in and makes them want to keep listening to this classic.

It’s also a great tune that most people will be able to sing along to (something that’ll just make your piano playing skills seem even more impressive!). Take a look.

3. Für Elise

This one is a little more sentimental than the rest of the toe-tappers we have on the list, but it’s undeniably a crowd-pleaser. People are drawn to Für Elise for its transformative rhythm, pace, and tone. You can easily bring an entire room to silent tears, and before they even know what they’re crying about, lift their spirits and smiles once more. Für Elise is a must-learn if you are learning an instrument as it’s one that the whole family can enjoy.

4. Clocks

Clocks is a song by Coldplay that you’re going to want to learn fast. It has a stunning intro that will mesmerize your family and friends, building into a breathtaking crescendo that will leave the entire room speechless. Bet you didn’t think you’d be able to do that to a crowd when you started your online piano lessons! Here’s an easy guide to learning this song fast.

The best part of learning to play piano songs like these is getting your family and friends involved too! Once the music starts up, people will automatically gather around the piano, quietly start humming, before bursting into song. Give them a try – they’re guaranteed to make the next family gathering, holiday party, or lazy evening an instant success!

Give them a try – they’re guaranteed to make the next family gathering, holiday party, or lazy evening an instant success!

The post 4 Songs That Will Have Your Family Gathering Around the Piano appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

1. I’m not musically talented

A lot of folks have tried to play the piano, guitar, or another instrument and failed. That means you just aren’t musically-inclined, right? Wrong! There are plenty of reasons your first attempt at music wasn’t successful. It might have been the wrong time, you may not have practiced enough, or you may have had a terrible teacher.

The most common reason people aren’t successful when they start learning an instrument is that they lack the right tools. Did you ever try to call someone with a bar of soap? You wouldn’t say you don’t know how to make a call because the soap didn’t make the connection, right?

Playing music is the same idea. If you’re not given the right tools, you’ll be hard-pressed to succeed. Today there are loads of apps, sheet music forums, and resources for online piano lessons, so you can actually learn to play the piano faster than ever before.

(Also, and perhaps more importantly, you don’t need to be “talented” to play piano or another instrument. You just need to practice. Perhaps you won’t be the next Bach, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun playing.)

2. I’m too busy

This is another excuse we tell ourselves to keep us from learning something we’re actually passionate about. The solution is really simple though. It’s all about prioritizing. We have the time for the things we make time for. End of discussion. Listen to some beautiful piano music, and remind yourself how much you want this. Suddenly, windows of time will open up.

3. I don’t have a good teacher

This is similar to the first excuse and is easily solved. A bad teacher won’t give you the proper tools you need to play, and she’ll be demotivating, detrimental, and a total turnoff for many musical learners. Fortunately, a solid music app can teach you everything a human can, and it’ll never put you down for making a mistake!

4. I hate practicing

Can’t argue with you there, buddy. Practicing difficult piano chords and songs is hard, but there’s a way of making it a lot easier. If you want to enjoy practicing your piano lessons (so you actually do it and get the benefits from the discipline), learn songs that you enjoy playing! No one said you have to take on annoying, frustrating, or boring pieces. Find some music that you love, and practicing these chords will become one of your favorite pastimes!

5. It’s all just taking too long

This excuse stems from a common music lover’s malady: unrealistic expectations. If you go into your piano lessons for beginners thinking you’ll be on the stage with a live audience within five weeks, you’re living in the Twilight Zone. Greatness takes time to build, but there is hope! Today’s technology, science, and research have given us tools that make learning more effective than ever before. Today’s student can take advantage of memory techniques and logic to learn pieces faster and make practice sessions more productive.

Kick your inner perfectionist to the curb and give yourself the room to spread your musical wings and fly! You really can do it if you drop these self-destructive excuses and start giving your musical abilities a chance. 

So go ahead and give it a try right now! But seriously. 

The post 5 Excuses Stopping You from Learning to Play an Instrument appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

Think of trying to play basketball with a football. Using the wrong equipment can make our lives miserable. But using the right tools, or picking the right instrument, can be a lifesaver. Depending on the amount of practice you want to do, or your energy level, or even how creative you feel, these profiles can help you find what instrument is best to learn!

Piano – The Professional

Piano is a great instrument for people who love to practice for hours and learn fundamentals. Piano can provide a great foundation for any other instrument, but requires lots of time to truly master. It’s a fantastic option for people who like to spend time alone as it is generally a solo instrument, though there are a lots of famous keyboard players in legendary bands.

Guitar – The Creative One

Guitars are awesome for people who are very creative, and very extroverted. The instrument’s low learning curve means that it’s probably the easiest instrument to learn, and you can start making music very quickly. You can quickly pick up a guitar and be well on your way to playing  “Wonderwall” for the first time. While it’s easy to start, the guitar also offers a great improvisation platform for seasoned musicians who are looking for more of a challenge.

Drums – The Hyperactive One

Do you constantly find yourself tapping on every surface around you? Do you notice patterns in everything? Then drums are for you! Playing any percussion, and especially a drum set, requires you to be able to maintain a consistent beat for extended periods of time. It also necessitates a ton of pent up energy and a great deal of hand/foot-eye coordination. It’s easy to learn, but very difficult to truly master.

Bass – The Backbone

Bassists don’t really get the spotlight. That’s great for more introverted musicians. While people are busy fawning over a guitarist’s riffs, no one really notices that the bass is like duct tape–it holds everything together. While bass is easier to pick up than guitar, it is a bigger challenge in terms of being constant. While guitarists can go crazy and improvise, a bassist–along with the drummer–makes sure a band is always right on time.

Violin – The Technician

The violin is one of the most difficult instruments to learn. It requires fantastic motor skills and a great knowledge of musical fundamentals, as its neck is fretless–as opposed to its cousin, the guitar. While the violin has the steepest learning curve, it is also one of the most rewarding instruments, as it is capable of producing an extremely wide range of sounds.

What instrument is the right one for you?

The post What Instrument Should You Learn To Play? appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

The Way Learning an Instrument Makes You Feel

If you haven’t played the piano before, just think back to any beautiful piece that you’ve heard in the past. The music grabbed your attention and held you in place with an unseen but phenomenal force that you won’t soon leave behind. Now imagine being able to create – on your own – the kind of harmony, serenity, and beauty that that pianist created.

If you’ve played piano in the past but stopped, remember the feeling you got when you sat down and let the music flow forth from your fingertips? The invigorating rush when the melody came alive as you tapped across the keys? Those are feelings that can’t be replaced with any other hobby (picture getting that kind of charge off of stamp-collecting!), nor can they be forgotten.

See Also: What Instrument Should You Learn To Play?

Playing the piano can be frustrating when you start a new piece, but take a few moments to revel in that wonderful feeling, and remind yourself that it’s so worth the effort.

What Learning to Play an Instrument Does to Your Mind

Drums are fun when you want to let out some aggression, but they lack any sort of chord precision or pitch selection. Guitars are more complex but are still limited to six simultaneous notes, and besides, they focus on single-hand dexterity. Piano, now that’s a horse of a different color. You need to use not one, but two hands simultaneously, coordinate between 88 keys, and continuously maneuver ten different notes, sometimes all at once.

That’s a ton going on, logistically. And do you know what happens when you’re forced to coordinate so many things at one time? According to science, something fascinating. Unlike most people, pianists showed better all-around usage of both sides of their brains. What’s more, piano players displayed stronger decision-making, problem-solving, spontaneity, language, and social behavior skills than the average person.

See Also: Memory Overload? Here’s What Music Can Do to Help

And that’s not even the full extent of it! Read more about how playing the piano positively affects your brain here.

Making Music is Now Easier than Ever

When your parents were growing up, piano lessons were mini-torture sessions designed to hone your skills and develop the mind. But that’s old-school style, and today, learning the piano is easier than ever. From online courses to touch-sensitive smartphone apps, you can now learn how to play piano wherever you go and whenever you want. They say nothing good in life comes easy, but with the newest technology in your pocket, learning to play piano has become a whole lot simpler.

So basically, playing piano makes you more productive, smarter, and happier, making everything else you do better. Hmm, remind me why you haven’t put this at the top of your to-do list yet??

Check out how you can start playing like a concert pianist in no time at all (well, almost) with our cool learn piano app. Take your first step towards accomplishing this rewarding New Year’s resolution by downloading Simply Piano now!

The post Why Learning to Play an Instrument Should be Your #1 New Year’s Resolution for 2016 appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

[playbuzz-item url=”//www.playbuzz.com/joytunes10/which-native-american-instrument-are-you”]

See Also: Which Type of Music Are You?

The post Which Native American Instrument Are You? appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.