The New Year is upon us, and you know what that means… We start dreaming up all the ways that we want to improve ourselves and live a more fulfilling, healthy life.
As you might guess, around this time of year we hear about a lot of folks who have set goals (for themselves or for their kids) of learning to play music in the next year, and we think that’s terrific! Because whether you only end up doing it for a few months or find your life-long passion, there is a personal and creative benefit for making the effort.
If you’re thinking about picking up an instrument or improving your singing, you really should find a qualified teacher and take weekly private lessons. Here’s why:
1. Faster Growth is Motivational
As much as we try to tell ourselves that we are not affected by short-term results, we are. Why else do you think that 75% of New Year’s resolutions fail in the first 30 days? People want to see progress from their efforts quickly. And, while a teacher is not a genie in a bottle that will make you a pro musician overnight, good private teachers know the quickest ways to help you learn and improve, which in turn will give you the best chance of staying motivated.
2. Fundamentals Are Crucial
The foundation of a building is what everything else gets built on top of. If you start with poor playing technique or are thinking of a musical concept the wrong way, then you’re creating an unsteady foundation that won’t support the new things you add to it down the road. A private teacher will help create the right habits and thought processes early on so that you establish the best fundamentals.
3. Personalized Feedback Really Helps
My personal anecdote:
I took a year off after undergrad to practice for grad school auditions at high-caliber jazz programs. I picked four schools, and all of the auditions took place within a few weeks of each other. The whole year leading up to it, I (stupidly) didn’t take any private lessons to help me prepare. When I got to my first audition, I bombed. BUT, I got great feedback on areas that I should be working on, and I spent the whole next week practicing them.
I did a little better in the next audition, but not great. Again I asked for feedback and practiced what was recommended. I did a lot better in the next audition, and on the fourth one, I knocked it out of the park.
Turns out, the fourth school I auditioned at was the only one I would be accepted to... I advanced more in those few weeks than I did the entire year leading up to it! So don’t go it alone; get feedback along the way!
4. You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know.
When someone is further down the road than you are, they know what lies ahead and can help you start thinking about what’s important now. For example, there are several things that you can do in your practice time that will help prepare you for playing with a band/ensemble. You wouldn’t necessarily know what you need to do on your own, but having the guidance of someone who is experienced will set you up for better success in the future.
5. Priorities, Priorities, Priorities!
If you’re trying to learn to play the guitar, it won’t take long before you realize there are a ton of ways to play the same chord. But which ones do you start with? With every instrument, there are a million decisions to make on what to work on and in which order. A private teacher can help you prioritize because they’ve been there and done it before.
So, in the spirit of the New Year, make a goal to knock the cobwebs off that old piano, restring the guitar, or work on expanding your vocal range - just make sure you’re being guided by a qualified teacher who will give you the personalized feedback that you need to move forward in the most efficient way possible!
- John Gotsis, Owner and Music Instructor at Vibe Music Academy.
