There are many musical instruments to choose from,
depending on budget and personal preference. There are also various ways to
learn. The traditional way is to learn your instrument on a one to one basis
with a teacher. You could also learn from a book, a CD or DVD, or online. The
problem with learning from a book is that you cannot hear how the notes are
supposed to sound and compare yours to them. This is especially true if you want
to learn to sing. Reading about how to sing and actually hearing the notes are
totally different.
Learning online, even though you might not have
considered it before, has some great benefits. First of all, online learning
provides a complete audio visual experience. You can see how to position your
fingers on your instrument and also hear the exact note you should be aiming
for. Online learning can be either free or very cheap, unlike a tutor, and you
can begin your lesson whenever is convenient for you, rather than make an
appointment with a tutor and have to travel to his or her house or studio.
If you are a slow learner, you can repeat the online lesson. A personal tutor
normally charges an hourly rate. Some people simply cannot afford to attend
lessons or travel back and forth to them, especially after paying the cost of a
guitar, piano or other costly instrument. Without online lessons, they might not
be able to learn at all.
Learning to play a musical instrument online
might not be right for you, however. For one thing, when you have a tutor and
make a mistake, your tutor will correct you. The tutor will be watching your
fingering and the way you handle your instrument. He or she will also be
listening to your music and you will get feedback. The online learning process
is one way. If you are making a mistake, nobody is going to tell you and you
might learn bad playing habits which are difficult to get rid of later.
If you decide to learn an instrument online, there are a few things you ought to
know before starting. First of all, there are literally hundreds of online
courses so it will be confusing to find the right one. The prices range from
nothing to the price of a private tutor, but pricing is not the only
consideration. The quality of the online lessons is as important as the cost, if
not more so, so you should check several out before committing yourself.
A good course will include audio, video and perhaps animations too. Some also
include email consultation or software to help you with your learning.
A
sensible thing to do is to check out forums for your preferred instrument. For
example, if you wish to learn the guitar, you can read reviews in guitar forums.
Somebody might have learned online and rave about a particular course. It is
handy to see what other people thought of the course you are considering and
find out whether it sounds suitable for you.
Many courses also offer a
money-back guarantee after 30 or 60 days, which is reassuring. This means that
the course creators are very confident that you will be able to learn your
instrument and they have faith in their online lessons. A course with a
guarantee is preferable to one without.
You can choose from beginner or
advanced lessons. Did you learn to play your instrument in school many years ago
and are looking for a refresher course, or are you totally new to the world of
music? This can affect which online course would suit you best.
Some
people can learn with a tutor and find it hard to discipline themselves to learn
online when there is not another person physically present. It depends on your
individual learning style. Other people would feel more comfortable and relaxed
learning from the comfort of their own house. It depends what would work for
you. Perhaps you tried using a private tutor and it did not work out.
Whatever your musical preferences and style, there should be a good online
course for you. Take a look at what is available and you will be surprised how
many online lessons actually exist. Learning online means you can learn quickly
and easily from the comfort of your own home, for a fraction of the cost you
would pay a private tutor.
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