Music is not just a piece of art, it is also a form of expression. Being a musician itself is an experience that everyone should try to have at least once in their lives. The music industry has expanded so much over the past few years with all the new trends and sites out there getting more attention from different parts of the world. But regardless of what kind of musician you are, or want to be, there are a few basic things you need to remember in order to make your experience as smooth and fruitful as possible.
Practice Makes Perfect
The old saying is true, practise does make perfect. It’s not enough to just play your instrument for a couple of hours a day and call it a day. In order to get better at your instrument, you need to be practising consistently. This means setting aside time every day (or at least a few times a week) to work on your skills.
If you are a drummer, try playing to a metronome. If you are a vocalist, track your voice for 30 min every day. If you are a pianist, find piano sheet music to buy and learn some new scales and chords. Whatever instrument you play, just remember that in order to get better, you need to practice regularly!
To illustrate the benefits of constant practice, here’s a story about the world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. When he was 5 years old, his parents took him to a music school where the first thing the teacher said to him was ” practice makes perfect.” At that young age, Yo-Yo Ma didn’t really understand what that meant. But years later, after winning multiple awards for his skills and accolades from critics, he realized the truth of that statement.
Know Your Sound
Every instrument has its own unique sound. If you’re a vocalist, you want to find your own unique voice. If you’re a guitarist, you want to find your own unique style. The sooner you can find your sound, the sooner you can start developing your musical identity.
So it’s important to experiment with different styles and sounds until you find something that feels like “you.” Don’t be afraid to try new things and don’t be afraid to sound different. In the music industry, there’s always room for unique voices and styles.
Practice With Other Musicians
One of the best ways to improve your skills as a musician is to practice with other musicians. Not only will you be able to learn new things, but you’ll also get to build relationships and networks with other musicians.
There are plenty of ways to find other musicians to practice with. You can join a band, go to a music school, or attend jam sessions. The important thing is to find musicians that share the same level of skill and ambition. If you’re a beginner, don’t practice with advanced musicians. And if you’re an advanced musician, don’t practise with beginners. Find people that are at the same level as you so that you can all benefit from each other’s skills.
Here are tips for making friends:
Smile and Introduce Yourself
When you meet other musicians, the best way to make friends is to smile and introduce yourself. Most people are friendly and will be more than happy to chat with you. Just make sure that you’re respectful and don’t interrupt them when they’re playing.
Be Patient
Building relationships with other musicians take time. Don’t expect to become best friends with them overnight. Just be patient and keep hanging out with them. Eventually, you’ll get to know each other better and you’ll start working together more effectively.
Be Flexible
Musicians are often very creative people. They’re used to being flexible and adapting to new situations. So when you’re practising with other musicians, be prepared to change things up last minute. Don’t get frustrated if someone suggests a different song or style to play. Just go with the flow and be flexible.
Be Positive
Musicians are always in need of positive reinforcement. When you’re practising with other musicians, make sure to give them positive feedback. This will help encourage them to practice more and it will make them want to practise with you again.
Take Care of Your Instrument
If you want to be a successful musician, you’ve got to take care of your instrument. Whether it’s drums, guitar, bass, synthesizer or piano, if your instrument is in bad condition, you won’t sound good when playing.
For example: Are the buttons worn out? Are the keys broken? Is there rust on any of the metal parts? Here are tips for caring for different instruments:
Piano
If you have a piano at home, make sure to get it tuned every 6 months. If you don’t know how to tune a piano yourself, take it to your local piano tuner and ask them for advice. Also, clean your piano with a damp cloth every few weeks to get rid of any dust or dirt that’s accumulated on its surface.
Guitar
If you own an acoustic guitar, make sure to change your strings regularly. New strings will keep your guitar sounding bright and rich. If you don’t know how to change your guitar strings yourself, take it to a local guitar shop and ask them for advice.
If you own an electric guitar, make sure to keep the electronics clean. Use a soft cloth to wipe off any dust or dirt that’s accumulated on the pickups, pots, and switches. Also, make sure to keep the strings well-maintained so that they don’t rust.
Drums
For drums, practise regular maintenance. If you don’t know how to do this yourself, take it to your local drum shop and ask them for advice. For example, every few weeks or so, apply some oil to the bearing edges of your cymbals. This will keep them sounding rich and balanced. Also, make sure to clean your drums with a damp cloth every few weeks to get rid of any dust or dirt that’s accumulated on the surface.
Vocals
If you’re a vocalist, make sure to drink plenty of water. This will help keep your voice well-hydrated and it will prevent you from developing throat problems. Also, gargle with salt water briefly every few days. This will kill any bacteria in your throat and it’ll help prevent you from developing a sore throat.
Being a musician is a lot of fun, but it also takes a lot of hard work. If you want to be successful, you need to practise regularly and you need to take care of your instrument. Also, make friends with other musicians and know your sound. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful musician!
