It’s fairly common to have these two feelings in lockstep with each other: “I want to learn a musical instrument,” alongside “what should I learn to play?”
Don’t worry, that’s not just you! The desire to make music is a strong feeling in lots of people, but not everybody knows exactly how they want to approach it.
There’s no 10-question test you can take that will automatically match you up with the perfect instrument, but there are some things to consider! Keep these factors in mind when deciding to learn a musical instrument.
Physical Requirements
Learning a musical instrument isn’t as physically demanding as, say, playing a game of basketball. But there are still some physical aspects of certain instruments that you should be aware of!
Some instruments are heavier and more unwieldy than others - bass instruments like the tuba, euphonium, and double bass are sure to pose a challenge if you’re not prepared for them!
Of course, those aren’t exactly the most popular instruments to play, but some very common ones have some things to look out for as well!
The trombone requires relatively long arms to hit the far positions, and a lot of arm movement to play fast passages, making it one of the more physically demanding instruments you can play (especially for younger kids).
The flute and violin require you to keep your arms up and maintain a solid upright posture while you play.
Any keyed instrument, including the piano, clarinet, and saxophone, will require you to have decent dexterity in your fingers.
And of course, woodwind and brass instruments will require a lot of air support, so that’s something to keep in mind if you have breathing problems.
Of course, you don’t have to be in peak physical shape to play these instruments, and most of these requirements can be easily overcome with dedication and hard work! But when you’re just setting out to learn a musical instrument for fun, it helps to know what playing it will actually feel like. Choosing an instrument that meshes well with your abilities will help start you off smoothly.
Cost
Obviously you don’t need to own one to start learning a musical instrument - in many cases there are student instruments here at Expressions Music Academy for you to start learning on. In addition, student instruments of your own can often be obtained relatively inexpensively.
However some instruments have more costs associated with them than just the initial purchase or rental. Woodwinds like clarinets, saxophones and oboes frequently have to purchase reeds for the instrument, while guitars, violins and cellos need restringings and other maintenance.
Also, some instruments are just plain more expensive than others. That isn’t really a big deal if you’re just looking to take some lessons for fun, but if you ultimately want to have one of your own, just know that a flute is easier to buy - and to keep in your home - than a piano.
Choose What You Like
All of these considerations amount to very little in the face of the single most important factor when choosing to learn a musical instrument: what do you WANT to play?
This is your musical journey, and you are going to learn a musical instrument that you want to hear, to play music you want to play. You don’t have to choose the best physical and financial match if you don’t enjoy playing it, or you don’t like the sound it makes.
If you want to play the flute, that’s what you should do. You like the drums, piano, cello? Play them! Think about the kind of music you love and want to play, and we can teach you to play that music on the instrument of your choice!
There isn’t anything more important to your ability to learn a musical instrument than your own motivation to do it. And that motivation will be highest if you are truly enjoying the instrument you’ve chosen and you’re having fun with your practice.
If you’re not sure which instrument you’re going to take to, no worries! We can help you trial musical instruments to help you along with that decision. Sometimes you won’t know how learning an instrument will go until you get hands-on with them.
Little things like how the instrument feels in your hands, how the mouthpiece fits, how comfortable you are in proper playing posture, these all will contribute to your decision, and you won’t know how you feel until you try them!
So whether you’ve made your decision on learning a musical instrument or not, contact Expressions Music Academy today and let us be part of your first step into making and enjoying music!