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Learning a Musical Instrument—Learn and Play
Learning a musical instrument is an Art and Science both, because as an art it comes through practice and as science it has certain rules and principles to be followed. It takes practice if you want to learn a musical instrument. For example, it is impossible to pick up a flute (or any instrument for that matter) and expect to become a great musician right away. You must be able to breathe properly, obtain a beautiful, clear tone, and learn to play with expression.
How To Start Learning a Musical Instrument?
Pick what world music instrument you wish to learn. Some instruments include the didgeridoo, tin whistle, sitar, and percussion instruments like the doumbek and darbuka. Buy or borrow the instrument -- if you are using someone else's, it is important you will have ready access to it to practice on a regular basis.
For learning a musical instrument, tin whistles and even some ethnic percussion instruments are readily available at stores that sell music instruments. If you can afford one, go for it. If you want to purchase a particular instrument but are having trouble finding one, ask at the music store -- maybe they can special order one or know where to direct you. Find a competent teacher who will teach you step by step how to play. Buy a self-instruction manual if you want to try and teach yourself how to play. You can get these wherever you bought your instrument. Be sure to practice regularly between sessions with your teacher.
Some general tips for learning a musical instrument include don't expect to master an instrument overnight. Just practice! Good music teachers don't come cheaply, but in the long run the skills are worth it. Trying to teach yourself can be frustrating and requires a lot of self-discipline.
There are many online and offline resources:
Inside World Music is the Internet's most complete and authoritative website about World Music. Each week the site is updated with new interviews, artist profiles, MP3 picks, and Internet resources. Paula E. Kirman is the main voice behind the site. Before starting Inside World Music, she was the Guide of World Music at About.com for almost four years. However, Inside World Music is in no way affiliated with About, Inc (AKA About.com; Miningco.com; The Mining Company). For details, visit: http://www.insideworldmusic.com.
Another great resource for learning a musical instrument is Learntoplaymusic.com. Learntoplaymusic.com specializes in music tuition products that teach, in a lesson-by-lesson format, how to play any musical instrument. On this site you will find instructional books, CD's, DVD's and Videos for a wide range of musical instruments and styles. There are hundreds of titles for instruments including Guitar, Bass, Piano, Keyboard, Drums, Harmonica, Recorder, Sax, Clarinet, Flute & more, and an easy lesson-by-lesson format. For details, visit: http://www.learntoplaymusic.com.
Some other useful resources for learning a musical instrument:
Learn about instruments: Learn about the different families and different types of instruments. Click on any instrument to hear it (all samples are saved in AIF format). For details, visit: http://datadragon.com/education/instruments/.
Autoharp Lessons & Information - an illustrated guide to the initial basics of the Autoharp, covering how to hold it, tuning, chords and more at: http://mikestrickland.net/autoharp/.
Didjerido in Israel - a brief, step-by-step guide to playing the didjerido, covering basic sound production, circular breathing and special effects at: http://www.didjerido.8m.com/.
Folk of the Wood - Acoustic Lessons - beginning, illustrated lessons for several acoustic stringed instruments including mandolin, guitar, Dobro, banjo and mountain dulcimer, covering such things as holding the instruments, tuning, right and left hand exercises, chord progressions, reading tabulature and more at: http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm.
In Search of the Wild Dulcimer - an illustrated online instructional book on how to play the dulcimer in a contemporary guitar style, covering the types of dulcimers, what to look for when buying a dulcimer, common terms, how to tune a dulcimer, how to hold a dulcimer, two-finger picking, three-finger picking, claw hammer technique, chords and chording, the modes, playing with a guitar and more at: http://home.att.net/~wilddulcimer/TOC.HTM.
Sessioneer: Tin Whistle Guide - a guide to playing Irish-style tin whistle or pennywhistle, with instruction in where to buy one, care & maintenance, good form, the D, G and A scales, reading music, types of tunes, listening, tonguing vs. slurring, breathing, strikes, cuts, long and short rolls, crans, patterns & variations, phrasing & timing, tone, other ornamentation, adapting fiddle music, session etiquette, moving to flute and more at: http://www.sessioneer.org/default.asp.
The JANPress Learning Center - a collection of how-to essays, tips and tricks articles, and various other writings of revelation for the accordion enthusiast, covering how to learn the bellows shake, fitting melody to chords, overcoming stage fright, accordion usage in orchestras, the diminished chord button, how to practice, the technique of good accordion playing, general care of the accordion, preventing injuries and pain free playing and more at: http://janpress.freeservers.com/lc.htm.
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