Importance of Advancing
Since I'm a guitarist, let's just discuss this in terms of guitar, although it applies to every instrument.
So, there's broadly two types of musicians:
1. Basic
2. Advanced
Now majority of the population that tries to get into music quits in the first few years. Thus, we categorise them as basic. I know a lot of musicians, many of them are close friends, who are stuck on the basics even while learning from a teacher. The thing is, not all teachers are capable of teaching advanced techniques and styles.
Here's something I've learnt over the past few years of being with advanced as well as basic musicians:
Many people learn the basics, and perfect the basics, but they stop there. They don't go further. They don't have the willingness to learn more than what they know.
This, according to me, isn't right. In case of guitar, the people who I term as basic, learn chord progressions for popular songs and are quite satisfied with it. The general public thinks you're good at what you do, because they don't really know much about the instrument, or music. However, they fail to realise that taking the next step is extremely important.
Learning tougher songs, learning picking styles, soloing, improvising, is what they miss out on. When you advance as a musician, when you take the next step, you'll realise that the basics are now like child's play for you. You won't find it difficult anymore.
Advancing in music is also important for a better understanding of music as well as the instrument. If some day you have to perform with a group of musicians, you should be able to have a basic understanding of the language they speak. A musician who doesn't want to advance will always remain at the basic level, and won't be able to do half of what an advanced musician can do.
Advancement not only gives you a better understanding of the instrument, but it also gives you the ability to create. If you understand, you can create. If you stay at a lower level, all you can do is copy other musicians.
Now that I've established the importance of advancing in music, let me tell you a few reasons I feel hold people from advancing:
1. Students who learn music from websites (e.g. YouTube) other than professional online courses don't really know how to go about learning the instrument properly. They often end up learning a few chords and playing progressions.
2. Students who don't really practice and don't care, end up being only basic musicians.
3. Students who refuse professional guidance.
4. Students who learn the instrument not because they love it, but because they want to show the outside world full of non-musicians how talented they are. (They usually just end up playing a few chords here and there or strumming in the tune of famous songs)
5. Students who are forced to learn the instrument by their parents or school. (believe me, there are such students)
If you're a basic musician and you think it's high time you take the next step, here are a few ways you can go about it:
1. For those of you who learn instruments through YouTube and other such websites, I'd suggest seeking professional help. Professional teachers always have a way of teaching you so you understand everything and have no problems advancing.
2. For those of you who already have professional help, and feel that it's time you take the next step, first talk to your teacher. Tell him/her that you're interested in learning advanced techniques.
3. Apart from seeking professional guidance, study advanced music yourself for a better understanding. The internet will provide you with a lot of information, so use it to your advantage (Only for theory of music...for practicing advanced music, strictly following professional advice is highly recommended). Reduce your time on Facebook by half an hour and study music instead.
If you find it difficult to advance, it's okay. Don't quit. After all, if you sound good the first time you play it, you aren't really learning anything.
Thank you for taking your time out to read this post...
I hope this information helped you to a certain degree...
most importantly, Happy New Year!
EMAIL ME AT parthbhavnani@outlook.com
So, there's broadly two types of musicians:
1. Basic
2. Advanced
Now majority of the population that tries to get into music quits in the first few years. Thus, we categorise them as basic. I know a lot of musicians, many of them are close friends, who are stuck on the basics even while learning from a teacher. The thing is, not all teachers are capable of teaching advanced techniques and styles.
Here's something I've learnt over the past few years of being with advanced as well as basic musicians:
Many people learn the basics, and perfect the basics, but they stop there. They don't go further. They don't have the willingness to learn more than what they know.
This, according to me, isn't right. In case of guitar, the people who I term as basic, learn chord progressions for popular songs and are quite satisfied with it. The general public thinks you're good at what you do, because they don't really know much about the instrument, or music. However, they fail to realise that taking the next step is extremely important.
Learning tougher songs, learning picking styles, soloing, improvising, is what they miss out on. When you advance as a musician, when you take the next step, you'll realise that the basics are now like child's play for you. You won't find it difficult anymore.
Advancing in music is also important for a better understanding of music as well as the instrument. If some day you have to perform with a group of musicians, you should be able to have a basic understanding of the language they speak. A musician who doesn't want to advance will always remain at the basic level, and won't be able to do half of what an advanced musician can do.
Advancement not only gives you a better understanding of the instrument, but it also gives you the ability to create. If you understand, you can create. If you stay at a lower level, all you can do is copy other musicians.
Now that I've established the importance of advancing in music, let me tell you a few reasons I feel hold people from advancing:
1. Students who learn music from websites (e.g. YouTube) other than professional online courses don't really know how to go about learning the instrument properly. They often end up learning a few chords and playing progressions.
2. Students who don't really practice and don't care, end up being only basic musicians.
3. Students who refuse professional guidance.
4. Students who learn the instrument not because they love it, but because they want to show the outside world full of non-musicians how talented they are. (They usually just end up playing a few chords here and there or strumming in the tune of famous songs)
5. Students who are forced to learn the instrument by their parents or school. (believe me, there are such students)
If you're a basic musician and you think it's high time you take the next step, here are a few ways you can go about it:
1. For those of you who learn instruments through YouTube and other such websites, I'd suggest seeking professional help. Professional teachers always have a way of teaching you so you understand everything and have no problems advancing.
2. For those of you who already have professional help, and feel that it's time you take the next step, first talk to your teacher. Tell him/her that you're interested in learning advanced techniques.
3. Apart from seeking professional guidance, study advanced music yourself for a better understanding. The internet will provide you with a lot of information, so use it to your advantage (Only for theory of music...for practicing advanced music, strictly following professional advice is highly recommended). Reduce your time on Facebook by half an hour and study music instead.
If you find it difficult to advance, it's okay. Don't quit. After all, if you sound good the first time you play it, you aren't really learning anything.
Thank you for taking your time out to read this post...
I hope this information helped you to a certain degree...
most importantly, Happy New Year!
EMAIL ME AT parthbhavnani@outlook.com
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