Some people start learning music from a very young age, but there are many people who feel inspired to try it out when they’re older. Whether you’re a teenager, an adult, or are seeking advice on how to guide your child throughout their musical journey, here are a few great tips for beginner musicians:

It’s all about practice
Learning an instrument or learning how to sing is not something that happens overnight – it requires an incredible amount of hard work, patience, and determination. Although music is fun, the process still requires discipline, so be sure to practise as much as possible – ideally an average of 20 minutes every day.

Don’t underestimate your warmup exercises
No matter what instrument you’re learning, whether guitar, piano, drums, bass, saxophone, or indeed your singing voice, it is of utmost importance to do your warmup exercises. Not only does this help to prepare and improve the parts of your body that are involved, but it will also help you to enhance your skills faster.

Take care of your instrument
Your instrument – whether it’s your voice or a musical instrument – needs plenty of care. If you’re a singer, take all precautions such as drinking plenty of water, doing vocal warmups, not smoking or drinking alcohol, not shouting, and keeping your chest and neck warm. If you play an instrument, see that you have proper storage and protection for it, and clean it regularly to preserve it as much as possible.

Use a reward system
When learning something new, it’s important to focus on the positive rather than on the negative. Set yourself small and reachable goals and treat yourself once you’ve achieved them. This will encourage you to try harder and also make the process a little bit more exciting.

Ultimately – have fun!
Music is a beautiful thing, so don’t let the idea of learning panic you and destroy your love for it. If you’re not happy for some reason, try out a few different things such as changing instrument, learning or practising in a different environment, or trying out alternative learning techniques. Allow yourself to enjoy your musical journey and you’ll never look back!

If you’re looking to start music or singing lessons in Guernsey, then get in touch with the School of Popular Music today to find out about the classes we offer.

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