8 Ways To Make Your Life More Musical

If you meant to click on this post then you like music, or maybe you want to like music more. If you don't like music then I don't know whats wrong with you (also, why are you reading this?). Never the less, I'm going to give you 10 ways to make your life more musical. Let's start:

1. Listen To Music

Simple, right? Sure we listen to the radio when we are in the car. We hear music in movies and TV shows. Music is all around us, but sometimes we take it for granted. Sometimes music is down graded to "pretty noise". In a fast paced lifestyle we often don't take to time to listen to music while doing nothing else. Actively listening to a piece of music will take your full attention.

2. See A Concert

Similar to listening to music, seeing a concert takes your full attention. Life doesn't always let us attend the concerts of our choosing. Maybe they are out of town or sold out. Perhaps our favorite artists are no longer living. What ever the case, the internet is our friend. Invest in some nice headphones and plug them in to your favorite computer/device. Crank it up a little too load and immerse yourself in the show.

3 Learn An Instrument

Many people are intimidated by learning an instrument. Don't be turned off by the learning curve. Playing an instrument can be a great way to wind-down and chill-out. With just a few chords you can play most popular radio tunes. Guitar, Piano, Drums, or anything else that you'd like to learn will help your life become more musical. Even if your skill doesn't ever get you past "novice" you still get to proudly display your awesome instrument with pride.

4. Take A Music Class

Music classes are offered at any college or even a online class. These classes are great to learn about the origins of music, how music is written, or just how to sound like you know what you are talking about when you discus music with your friends. If you aren't a musician, you can still talk like one.

5. Learn To Read Music.

Whether you play or not. you can learn what all those little symbols mean and feel superior to all that people who just act like they do. If you do play an instrument, reading music is very helpful. Being able to convey ideas about music in written form can be very help. Just like English, Music is a langue. Reading and writing music will help you be more musical in a technical since at least.

6. Learn To Sing

Whether you like to sing or not, learn the proper techniques to sing. There are times in life when you need to sing. Someone wants to sing Christmas carols, Sunday morning church, boaring road trips... Why not prepare a little bit and be the best singer in the group.

7, Join A Forum

There are communities on the internet for nearly everything. If you like a certain genre of music, I'm sure there are others like yourself. Meet these people in a online, text-based medium. Discuss the superiority of the type of music that you like.

8. Subscribe To A Music Blog

Yep. The last thing on the list is a shameless plug your your to subscribe to this blog. Although it is a great way to stay up with whats going on with music stuffs. If you like this post then hit the subscribe button and get a notification when there's new posts.

Ugly Truth: Making Money With Music

So as a musician coming up through the ranks, I have played far and wide for much less than anything that is considered monetary compensation. I understood the value of playing with different people and in different places. Each time there was a lesson to learn. Different people play different ways and have different experiences. Experiences that I could learn from and use to further my playing. Mind you that this is a time before YouTube. Watching a musician is now as simple as typing in a keyword into a webs search. Still I think there is an intangible that is gained when playing with many different groups of people. No matter how you approach it, this is a wealth of knowledge to be had by applying your skills and talents in as many different applications as possible. Having said that, there are those rare and precious opportunities to gain more than knowledge from all this work. That's right, money. There are people who get paid to play. Lets look at some examples.

Music Labels:
There are many ways to get paid for the music that we love. No matter what type of music we play. Some become so proficient at their craft that others invest in the music that they make. Yes, I'm talking about music labels. artists are paid by people who want to market a certain brand of music. Basically, a music label is a company, or part of a company, that try to make money form talented artist and in return they pay the artist. The music is viewed as a product to market and sell. Of course There are many that criticize the music industry for how they handle artist's natural creative process. Also, there are some like myself that feel as though music as an art suffers because the artist that more financial backing gets more exposure and thus more wins more popularity. I won't go as far as to say that the larger music labels dictate what music is you listen to, but when was the last time you listened to an album that was completely independently produced? There has been a trend where established bands/artists take their own funds and independently record an album. This really doesn't count, due to the fact that without the help of a large label rocketing the artists/bands to their current status. How does one get on with one of this labels? Be a extremely talented artist? Yes, but there are so many talented artists. You must truly standout and make yourself noticed.

Pictured: Getting noticed.

The Working Musician:

Many artist we know today got there start this way. This is the conventional way most musicians think of monetizing their talents. Playing at bars and venues can net small profits (even smaller if share between band members). Many bands don't see dime one before become established in the local scene. This option may require you learning some covers. Some places may favor certain genres, so you may have to be steeped in dozens of songs spanning diverse genres. Being one of these musicians for a time I learned that your best friend can be your merch table. Having a CD, stickers, a shirt or buttons can boost revenue. Many find this lifestyle hard to maintain. More than anything, the revenue made from doing this is just enough to keep the habit going. There have been innovations in the way people enjoy and lesson to music. The ipod had nearly single-handedly redefined how people buy music. YouTube provides many people with a way to listen to their favorite artist/song without making a transaction. Artists and musicians have taken notice and have been creating and posting content online. Some use it as a way to get noticed (see above) and other have used it too make money. Digital media is sold online at staggering rates. Many artist post videos on YouTube to create interest in their music.

pomplamoose. No I don't know how it pronounced.

Church:

Many musicians are employed by churches. This option is not appealing to everyone because there are many different views, even in the Christian church, about music. Not all church pay musicians. Many rely of volunteer, but larger churches that can afford to heir professional musicians do. These jobs often require commitment, flexibility and strong interpersonal skills. Many of these jobs depend of public opinion to grade your performance, so being likability can come in hand. Not to mention that getting this job may require a group of people voting for approval, so charm is almost as important as musical talent.

Education:

Perhaps the easiest means of monetizing musical talent/knowledge, teaching students music happens naturally. Just being a musicians creates interest in the instrument. My mother always had a piano in the house, so of course I wanted to learn to play. I didn't stick with the keyboard, but I think it created the interest that led me to my instruments of choice. Giving music lessons can be a fun way to help a new generation to play music and perhaps teach yourself a few new things. Many music stores offer lessons and need instructors. Many people teach out of their homes or studios. This presents many of the same challenges as running your own business.

There are several ways to make money with what you love. Music is a huge industry that is even changing. There is no guarantee that you will make millions, but with if you are dedicated to your craft then there are several ways create revenue from all the hard work of learning your musical instrument.

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.