By JOHN DALY
With everyone still stuck in quarantine, the demand for online music learning has seen a drastic increase. When you’re at home stuck, it’s understandable to want to make use of all that free time to work on yourself and develop new skills. If you’re looking to learn music online and don’t know where to start, read on to learn more.
Know What You Want
At some point in our lives, most of us experience the sudden urge to make our own music as a medium to express ourselves. It’s also natural to find it challenging to decide on what to learn. Some people want to start from scratch and are eager to learn music theory, while others may be inspired to play a particular instrument. Before you start paying for any classes, make sure you decide on what you want to learn.
If you have several friends who play different instruments, you can try them out and see what they feel in your hands before you purchase your own instrument. If you want to learn to sing, you can start with basic vocal exercises and see if this is something you want to commit to on a long-term basis. Once you decide on what exactly it is you want to learn, it’s time to invest in an instrument and to browse your online options, whether they’re free or paid classes.
Start with Free Tutorials
If you already have an instrument at home, it’s best to start with free lessons that you can find on YouTube or any other video platform. This will help you warm up, and will also grant you the opportunity to get hands-on experience with how it feels to play and whether you can commit to it.
When browsing free tutorials, the trick is sticking with one teacher. Most online teachers will sort their videos into a playlist that you can watch in the right sequence. If you watch videos by different teachers who use different methods, you’ll only overwhelm yourself and you’ll be less likely to commit to the endeavor. In the event you don’t know who to watch, there are always recommendations on social media pages like Reddit that can help you out.
Consider Paid Courses
When you’re positive that your chosen instrument – that being a musical instrument or vocals, is what you want to learn- you can proceed to pay for online courses. If you’re wondering why you should pay for classes when there are free tutorials, it’s simply because professional classes are more organized, thorough, and provide you with teachers you can directly ask for help.
For those who are looking to sing, this may be your only option because free tutorials only teach you vocal warm-ups and there’s no practical way of knowing whether you’re on the right track or if you’re straining your voice. Of course, there are plenty of options to choose from. This 30-day singer review can familiarize you with what to look for when you’re browsing the right online platform. Before you sign up for a program, make sure they come with online instructors who are available to answer any questions you may have and who can give you additional tips when you’re struggling.
Stay Consistent
Just because you’re learning online, doesn’t mean you get to slack off. Because online courses have more flexible schedules, you might be inclined to skip practicing for a day or two. This is why you need to set your own realistic schedule and make sure you can stick to it as soon as your online class is over.
Your online instructor may suggest a practice schedule for you, but be prepared to be your own source of inspiration, seeing as online platforms cater to independent aspiring musicians and are not as strict as brick-and-mortar music schools.
Connect with Other Online Students
To stay inspired and keep yourself motivated, connect with other students online who are in the same boat as you. When you get to the point where you write your own music, these platforms can help you get constructive critique from other students around the world.
Online music communities also help with tips and tricks and can offer you valuable advice. Staying connected with other students and seeing the progress that others made will help keep you motivated and will inspire you to practice more frequently.
Online Music Platforms
There’s a slew of online music platforms for you to choose from, and they all come at different costs, with some being completely free of charge. Before you sign up for a paid program, make sure you decide on what you want to learn so you can be sure to commit to your choice for the long-term. If you can’t decide on an online school, it’s best to check reviews written by other students to help you pick what’s best for your needs.