How to Learn to Play an Instrument

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Learning to play an instrument may seem daunting to someone who has little experience in doing so. This is an easy and more casual approach to music.

Steps

1. Decide. Deciding to start learning to play an instrument can be as simple as picking one up somewhere, perhaps at a friend's house, and playing it. The music you create might not sound great to you right away, but in fact, you are already learning that instrument.
   
2. Get an instrument. Buy or borrow one that is attractive to you and within your budget.
   
3. Find a nice place in the house for your instrument. Store it where you spend your leisure time, or someplace where you're going to see it often during your day. The more accessible your instrument, the more you will pick it up and play it. Eventually you'll be picking it up every free minute you have.
   
4. Listen for the sounds that you like. Experiment, focusing on a few notes or rhythms that interest you. When you do something you like, do it again and try to remember it for next time. In the beginning, it's all really this simple!
   
5. Learn the basics of music theory. Knowledge of simple chords and scales will broaden your musical imagination, you can do a great deal with a just a little. Ask a friend to show you, or find an online resource. Learn these basic structures at a comfortable pace, and you'll be tackling more advanced ideas in a New York minute
   
6. Take lessons if you think you should. While you'll likely learn technique faster from a teacher than on your own, it is you, yourself who must find your own self expression.
   
7. Practice playing in time. Find a beat off of which to work: there are free metronomes online. A ticking clock or the radio will function well for you too. Even if you're more interested in playing out of time or experimenting with odd times, you should know how to relate music to time.
   
8. Play with a friend, it's more fun. As well as helping you to stay in time, this will introduce you to new ways of playing.
   
9. Start a band. Collaboration with others will give you direction and motivation in your music.
   
10. Play scales. On all instruments, playing scales will help you improve faster technically
    
11. Take grades. Grades are another great way to motivate you, and they also give you an indication of your standard. It's probably best if you start at grade 1.
    
12. Play the music passionately. No matter how boring a piece, even if it's like a nursery rhyme or something, play it with your heart and soul. If you're finding this hard, imagine you're telling a story with the music and actually say an appropiate story in your head. Even better, try to fit emotions with the music, for example if there's a sad chord "feel" hatred, if it's a happy chord feel relief.
    
13. Practice practice practice! Start by aiming for 30 minutes a day (even less if you play a wind instrument) and as you notice you get better, gradually increase it to sayd, an hour. It's not the end of the world if you don't get your planned practice time in!
    

Tips

• The way music is brought to life is through play, just as learning is brought to children through play; the joy of music is in the freedom to play. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, especially in the beginning.
  
• Cherish your early stages in music making. There is an "innocence" in every musician's first stages that is lost as they continue learning. Some accomplished musicians spend their whole lives trying to make music this way.
  
• If you get frustrated, loosen up. Even as a more proficient musician, sometimes it's just better to close your eyes and play.
  
• When buying an instrument make sure that you play it first, and that it's of a high enough quality and easy to play. Cheaper instruments not only sound worse, but they're harder to play and you're not going to want force yourself through the inadequacies of the instrument. Compare your instrument to other contenders in every price range to find what you like or don't like about each one. Then buy something simple that you find pleasant.
  
• Practice by playing the scale do that till you get that hang of it then work on some songs and new notes
  

Warnings

• Don't play when you don't want to play. A piano is not "worked", it is played. There is nothing wrong with putting your instrument down to "rest" for a while. Often time away is necessary for the arrival of new ideas and the abandoning of old habits in your music.
  
• Don't force yourself! You can't become good overnight. Only by continued playing are you going to improve your skills. Be patient and have fun!
  

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