5 Excuses People Use Not To Learn an Instrument

It has been so long since I started learning the guitar that it takes a minute for me to remember what it was like. I was so awed by a youth minister at my church. I was too young to actually be in the youth, but I bothered him so much that he showed me three chords and let me practice on one of his guitars. Soon I bothered my parents enough to fix up an old guitar enough for me to mess around at home, and the rest they say is history. I made so much noise on that old, junk guitar that my folks decided that i needed a better instrument. I got my first real six-string when I was about 12 after about a year and a half of beating on an old box (at least that is what it sounded like) that looked somewhat like a guitar. Even though there wasn't much music but it was one of the best investment of time I've ever made. Still there are people who want to learn, but talk themselves out of it. There are several reason people use, but what I hear most often is...

I don't have enough time

Learning to play an instrument take a lot of time. People are intimidated by the commitment they have to make. After just a small amount of instruction, it can seem like so much time has to go into something like this that it would occupy your entire life. They aren't far off. There are people who have basically devoted their lives to playing an instrument. Oddly enough, they are either bums or millionaires. What I tell my students is that five minutes of quality practice everyday is better that half an hour once a week. For anyone willing to learn, but are afraid of not having the time, your don't need hours of practice a day. You need a small amount of time that you can focus on your instrument and do it everyday. It will amaze you how fast your progress.

It Is Too Hard

Many people get frustrated when learning anything new. It is always a challenge, but challenges are what make learning satisfying. Say that learning to play is hard or difficult is like saying the sky is blue. Everyone has to put in the time and effort. Some have an unfair amount of talent. Their time and effort are less. More often it takes many hours of practice and repetition. When a student tells me that something is too hard, I tell them  that something may take more effort, but everything can be mastered.

Too Old to Learn

Many people believe you can't teach an old dog new tricks. That might be true, but I've seen old people learn the guitar, so it is never too late to learn. I've personally taught a lady that was well into her retirement years that had taught herself a great deal even before seeking lessons. It is harder however for most adult to learn a new skill. Our schedules are full of things that rightly take priority over playing music. Its difficult to find the time needed to learn a skill that require all of you focus. Steady practice and a little discipline can go a long way to achieving your goal.

It is Too expensive

Learning music does come with a cost. If there is no one that can offer an instrument at little or no cost to you, then you are forced to acquire one on your own. The time and practice that you need can hardly be accomplished by borrowing a friends, or occasionally playing an instrument. lucky there are many retailers that offer affordable options. You can learn many instruments with less than a hundred dollar investment. Others, for instance the drum kit, can cost a few hundred to get started. I often try to aid students in search of affordable instruments by finding reasonable used instruments. This can allow someone to afford a quality instrument for considerably less.

Too confusing

To anyone who in unaccustomed to reading music, written music is terribly confusing. There are shapes and signs that don't mean anything to someone outside of music. I often explain that music is its own langue. In many ways, it is. It may only have seven letters, but what one can do with those is astounding. Understanding the very basics of this langue is steep task and mastering it can take a lifetime. No wonder there are those that are intimidated by the very sight of written music. Funny shapes on lines with symbols that seem arbitrary is a lot to process. Just like learning the langue that we speak from day to day, everyone has to start with the building blocks and slowly move forward. No one learned to read before learning the alphabet. The only way to learn music is by breaking it down to its most basic elements and building from there.

Music is a challenging and rewarding endeavor that many find to be fulfilling. There is a journey awaiting anyone who is willing to commit and learn a musical instrument. Music is present in nearly facet of our lives. From the stores where we shop, to our cars and our homes, music plays in the background. Music can open doors and lead you on adventure. To those that make music, it can be a life changing experience.

What size of Ukulele is right for you!

In the last five years the Ukulele has gone from a novelty, one that your aunt brings back from her trip to Hawaii, to an instrument featured in many of today's most popular music. This instrument has been closely associated with the Pacific Islands, and now is enjoying a much deserved surge in popularity. The ukulele is an  unimposing and inviting instrument that is simple enough for beginners and yet masters of the instrument can amaze audiences. For the beginner, the task of selecting a size of ukulele can be difficult. Let's look at some information that can help decide what size ukulele is right for you.

Soprano:

This is the smallest and the most common ukulele. Smaller than even a child size guitar, these instruments offer some advantages. These are small and light, so they make great traveling instruments. They lend themselves well to children with smaller hands. They are usually less expensive than the larger sized ukuleles. The action is very light, meaning that you won't have to strain to fret the strings. However, the small size does have some drawbacks. A small neck may pose a challenge for musicians with larger hands. Sopranos have the most limited range of all the ukuleles. The string tension is rather low, making it prone to accidentally bending the strings, making your notes slightly out of tune. If you have a young student who is showing some interest in the ukulele, this may be the right size ukulele for you.

Concert:

Sometimes called an alto ukulele, the concert ukulele is very close in size with the soprano. Usually tuned the same as the soprano ukulele, the concert serves well as a beginner instrument and the next step in a ukulele player's education. Concert ukuleles are often priced closely to similar soprano ukuleles. The main difference being the length and width of the neck. Often these ukuleles have a wider neck. If you are looking to stay close to the iconic sights and sounds of the soprano ukulele, but need an larger neck to accommodate bigger hands or a wider range of notes, then the concert ukulele fits you the best. 

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Do Ukulele Players Need to Learn Scales?

Playing the ukulele is a lot of fun. I remember shortly after acquiring my first ukulele when my beautiful wife danced around with my two daughters. She played the uke and made up nonsense, Hawaiian-sounding, words. She has no idea how to play the instrument, but it was a lot of fun. Now, add the practical application of chords and strumming techniques and  you start playing the ukulele rather than playing with it. I've been teaching ukulele for a number of years now. Most of my student learn some basic chords first and we work through "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". More serious students begin learning the notes of the treble clef. Soon they learn the "C" major scale. After we learn our first scale, we don't really apply it directly into their other playing. It ends up being another exercise in a long list of exercises. Which begs the question, Do ukulele players need to learn scales?

The Case For:

Of coarse ukulele players need to learn scales. Scales are the backbone of music. Scales are the building blocks of the chords that we play. For example: the major chord is build from the 3rd and 5th intervals in the major scale in addition from the root. To make that chord minor, you take the 3rd interval and lower it a half step. Also, scales are great from writing and improvising melodies. My approach to guitar solos and melodies was mostly trial and error before learning and understanding how to use scales. Needless to say, there were many times I hit a very wrong note at the very wrong time. Scales are also useful for creating interesting note patterns when playing chords. Changing from chord to chord sounds much more impressive by running up or down the appropriate scale to accent the next chord. In short, scales take to guess work out creative playing.

The Case Against:

Scales are a useful tool for many musicians. Knowing scales can help a musician do many things, but when applied to the ukulele, one can argue that the application might not be worth the work. It is true that the majority of the iconic sound of the ukulele comes from chords and strumming. When considering the soprano, the smallest ukulele, it is easy to see where single note melodies might take a back seat. The soprano's sound is almost percussive in sound. There is little sustain in the soprano because of the low mass. This is not to say that single note melodies or small runs in between chords are not employed by some, but they are less prominent in traditional ukulele music. There are many things to learn and practice. Scales may not directly apply to useful skills when playing the ukulele.

The Conclusion

If someone, who is interested mostly in strumming and singing with the soprano ukulele, were to ask me if they need to learn to play scales on the ukulele, I would say that they should focus on other techniques first. Conversely, If someone, who came from playing the guitar and was interested in playing blues on the baritone ukulele, I would say that scales were a very important part of their practice. Scales are a very useful tool that any musician could benefit from learning.

New Years Resolution: Be More Musicial

Here it is. Another close to to another year. I've never been one for the New Year's resolution in the past. I've had all of the standard "lose weight", "be more active", and "do more good things" resolutions. I've obviously keep all of those... So I decided to make a challenging one for the year of 2014. Perhaps now you are wondering what a mysterious music-blogger could resolve to do. Maybe it is that I will blog more, or start a new blog, or make my blog better in some way, or find someone that actually reads blog any more. None of those I'm afraid. I already try to blog more. Looking at my history, you might find that I took something of a hiatus... for the most of 2012 and 2013. So what do I actually resolve to do in 2014? Well, learn more instruments.

I've been a guitarist fore most my life. I learned my first chords when I was about 12 years old. I haven't been the most devote student of the guitar. For a time, I focused on learning the drums. I had a friend that let me join his band with the caveat that I learn and play the drum for said band. It was my first "real" band and I jumped at the chance. I love playing percussion. I don't post much about drumming because I am really a laymen in that area. I could talk about what I like and don't like about drums and drum gear... kind of like this blog. Anywho! Would you like to know what instrument I plan to learn this learn and who I plan to do so? You absolutely would?! That great, because I was planning on doing that anyways. (By the way, you are really agreeable. It's almost like I'm imagining your entire side of the conversation.)

The plan: I learned to play the instrument that I do when I was much younger and the only thing I had to worry about was not failing school and playing music. Of course I thought myself to be Tony Hawk and Jimi Hendrix all rolled into one. To be honest I've already tried to learn new instruments. Its really frustrating. I'm surprised I was ever able to learn the instruments that I do know.  I get frustrated so easily and when I don't start playing angel farts from the word go then I want to throw said instrument across the room. Pro tip: don't try throwing a piano. So what do I plan on learning and how do I guarantee the learning of the instruments in the future. First things first, I plan to learn Violin and Banjo. Kinda random, I know, but I've been want to learn the violin for some time and the banjo is becoming a very popular instrument as of late. How will I do this when attempts have failed before? Scheduling. I will schedule time for each instrument every week. It is easy to get frustrated and spend time making yourself feel better by picking up something that is more familiar, but learning is a discipline.

So there you have it. 2014 is the year of new instruments. I tried several years ago to learn the violin, so I still have the fiddle, but I have to acquire a banjo. If there is anyone out there that has a banjo they'd like to donate then feel free to comment and let me know. Happy New Year, everyone!