Have you ever found it to be overwhelming to start learning music? Thanks to technology, there are many ways to learn music today, whether on your own or with a teacher.
I started at a young age, thanks to my parents who signed me up for private lessons. Later in life, I taught myself for a bit but eventually went to Musicians Institute for guitar. Since then I’ve been growing my philosophy & have been learning from books and, of course, YouTube. I also taught private and group guitar lessons, so I’ve been on both sides of the fence.
Thinking of where to begin can be daunting. However, your personal motivation, willingness to learn, skill level, and budget will dictate which method of consuming music knowledge suits you best. Here we’ll talk about learning music through books, video, private lessons, and school and the pros and cons of each.
Books / PDFs
PROS
Most Budget-friendly option. Books are relatively cheap. Depending on the format, these can run you anywhere between $10 – $50. Even on the high end of that range, you usually get a lot of bang for your buck.
Wide variety of topics. Want to learn music theory or even country guitar? There’s probably a book for that thing you’re looking for, with digital versions also being available on websites.
Audio examples are key. Many books come with either an accompanying CD or a link to a website containing audio examples in a book. For example, Al Bonhomme’s Country guitar book teaches through songs that highlight a certain technique. The tabs in the books are great but audio examples confirm the right way to play.
Move at your own pace. It’s up to you how slow or fast you want to learn. It’s also great to be able to reference a certain section of a book in the future.
CONS
Requires discipline. You will need to stay self-motivated to get through a book or it’ll gather dust on your bookshelf. It’s also tempting to skip around to sections you want to learn instead of fully understanding the whole concept.
Difficult to learn without audio examples. Learning music from a book without audio examples is like learning to play basketball without a basketball. Pictures and text can only do so much. Music is an audio experience.
No feedback for technique. Audio examples can help you make sure you’re playing the right notes, but without a visual, it’s difficult to confirm if your technique is correct. Sometimes it’s better to watch an instructor provide a visual example of how to hold a guitar pick, drum sticks, etc.
Videos
PROS
Visual with audio demonstrations. Visual examples of playing an instrument is the best way to learn technique and confirm your technique is correct. Pictures in a book can only go so far.
The Internet is an endless well of videos for music education. If you search hard enough, you can save a lot of money watching YouTube videos to teach yourself music. If you need a little more guidance, there’s a ton of paid courses that cover a wide variety of topics and genres for your instrument.
Interactive videos. It’s not common but interactive videos ensure you’re on the same page with what you’re learning. Here at Bandora, I provide interactive videos to help learn music theory.
CONS
Searching can be overwhelming. Even searching for “Guitar for Beginners” can yield a wide variety of videos. YouTube does recommend videos, but it’s most likely not the next best thing you should learn based on your skill level. You’ll need to figure that on your own.
Varying degrees of quality. Some videos are great and comprehensive, but some are just clickbait. It’s going to be trial and error to find a personality you vibe with. If you like a certain teacher, I recommend checking if they have a paid course. It would be better than watching random videos on YouTube that don’t relate to each other.
No real feedback. Even with interactive videos and technology that hear you play, nothing beats an actual person to give you constructive feedback and make suggestions for improvement. The next best option is YOU. After watching a video, you have to be able to tell if your technique is right or needs improvement.
Private Lessons
PROS
Feedback in real-time. The fastest way to improve is to get constructive feedback. Having a music teacher tell you how to improve your technique is so valuable to your learning experience.
Personalized plan. Music instructors can also recommend to you what you should work on based on your current skill level. This takes out the guesswork so you don’t have to figure that out. It also works with your pace, which enables you to learn quicker.
Interactive. When I was starting to learn guitar, I found the best way to learn was to jam and play along with my teacher. My piano teacher did the same. They would play the rhythm section as I played lead. Music is a shared experience, and you can’t really get that from books or video.
CONS
Can be expensive. Different teachers have different price points, but it’s definitely more expensive than that Mel Bay book.
Varying degrees of quality. Like videos on the internet, you don’t know who you’re going to get as a teacher. This may take some trial and error.
Remote learning. Zoom calls are a great alternative during times of social distancing. Unfortunately, you lose the ability to jam live due to latency issues.
School
PROS
Curriculums. Learning through a curriculum is the most efficient and comprehensive way to learn music.
Surrounded by music learners. Being in a music environment where everyone around you is learning along with you is the best way to stay motivated. You could jam with teachers and classmates or even start a band.
Industry connections. Schools can have connections in the music industry
CONS
Most expensive option. This all depends on what college or trade school you decide to attend, but costs can vary. It also depends whether you want a certificate (about a year) or a degree (2-4 years).
This is not for beginners. I remember walking by the college marching band practicing and thinking how great it would be to contribute to that wall of sound. Then I remembered, I should have started learning a wind instrument in grade school. To make the most out of your learning experience in school, you should have an intermediate skill level of your instrument of choice.
Pacing can be overwhelming. If you are taking a class or two in music, skill level shouldn’t matter. If you are in school for music, chances are you have multiple classes covering a wide variety of topics, including technical skills, theory, and more. As I mentioned, this is not recommended for beginners.
I highly suggest you try more than one of these methods. There is no right or wrong way to go about learning music. Some people pick up their interest later in life and some of these methods may not be ideal. The important thing is that you are making progress in your music education and satisfying your curiosities by continuously learning subjects that interest you.
If you would like some extra inspiration, read about my story of how I learned music!
About
My name is Eric and I have a career in corporate finance but I’m also a part-time musician. I’ve been playing guitar for over 20 years and about 15 years professionally. I play in a live-karaoke band regularly and I volunteer as a choir director at a local church. No matter how busy life gets, I have always made time to include music in my life. Music has always been an important part of me and I want to share it with whoever is willing to listen.
