We spend so much of our lives in our homes these days. Whether you live in the suburbs, more urban areas, or way out in the country, the home is where most of our time will pass. For those who want to learn how to play an instrument, that means finding out how to learn music at home. The outside world does offer us some places where we can get help (school, church, the local music store, etc.), but a lot of our education and training in this area will happen at home by default. To help you understand how to learn music at home, here are some tips and places where you can find assistance.
Hire a Personal Tutor
Let’s start with the old, tried and true method of learning how to play an instrument. Many people have chosen the do-it-yourself route when it comes to picking up this skill, but there’s something extremely beneficial about having someone there to help you in real time. Finding a teacher isn’t too hard these days. You can start by asking those around you for suggestions, then move on to local community centers or just do the simple task of performing a search on the internet. Most tutors will meet you wherever, including your own home. The catch is that they may charge a little more if you’re dictating the meeting place.
Of course, we do live in the digital age. There isn’t much of a reason why your instructor has to be there in person. The online world allows you to shop for the right teacher in your own time. Here you can read reviews from past students, filter results by price and more. If you’re not too much of an analog person, you might want to start here.
The benefit of a personal instructor can’t be overstated, especially for those who have no idea where to begin. These individuals can help you conquer form, give you helpful exercises, and help you understand music theory in ways you might find much tougher on your own.
Head to YouTube and Other Video-Sharing Sites
Beyond finding a tutor who can meet at your home (either digitally or physically), the next way to understand how to learn music at home is by watching the videos found on sites like YouTube. Since the year isn’t 2005, you are probably already using YouTube for many of the how-to problems in your life, from cooking to assembling some tech gadget.
YouTube is an irreplaceable asset for the musician, particularly since it’s free. As long as you have an internet connection, you can find song tutorials and all the answers to your burning questions. It’s important to remember the wide range of talent and knowledge on video-sharing sites like YouTube. While that person with a million subscribers may know exactly what he’s talking about, there are plenty of posers and bad teachers out there who aren’t as helpful as they promise to be. We should also remind you there are plenty of other video sites like Vimeo where you can find good content, but YouTube is clearly home to the biggest library and the most diverse channels.
Get a Digital Subscription to a Music Learning Site
Musicians wanting to know how to learn music at home can find so many more resources on the internet, too. In the last decade or so, a number of subscription sites aimed at musicians and aspiring artists have popped up. ArtistWorks is a place you can go to find dozens of training videos and courses covering a large collection of instruments. You can pay $20-30 per month for unlimited access, plus submissions to actual teachers who will give you feedback.
Even Christian music worship leaders can enjoy supplemental help on sites like Worship Together. Song charts and other resources here will let you step up your game in leading Sunday services. If you’re looking to unlock music lessons on theory, find printed materials, or learn real-world skills as a musician, there are music learning sites where you can purchase a subscription and collect those things.
Involve Your Friends and Family
Music isn’t just something you do on your own. That’s why if you want to know how to learn music at home, you should incorporate your friends and family. For a kid whose parents are paying for music lessons, it’s important to share what you’re learning with them. Let them know their money isn’t going to waste. It’s always good to have an audience who supports you and, for most kids, parents are a great place to start.
Friends are another important demographic for musicians who need community. Whether or not your friends play instruments themselves, their support can make a big difference as you follow this calling. If your friends are fellow musicians, maybe you can get together or set up a Zoom call to share your stuff and jam.
Embrace the Solitude - How to Learn Music at Home
Turning 180 degrees, you should also take advantage of the solitude you can find at home. Just like many people can do the best studying for school when they’re by themselves, musicians can get a lot done on their own as well. Your life won’t always have “you time” built in, so take advantage of it whenever you can. Dedicate an afternoon to learning a song you love. Conquer that difficult maneuver you’ve been wanting to imitate for years. In your personal time at home, you can accomplish a lot.
Watch Music Performances and Listen to Albums
Inspiration can be found anywhere, but many musicians just love to watch professionals performing their best work on stage. Watching Jimi Hendrix, Yo-Yo Ma, or Whitney Houston showcasing their amazing abilities on stage makes us want to create incredible works of our own. As you’re sitting there trying to figure out how to learn music at home, don’t forget to have a little fun and learn from the best by viewing old performances and listening to albums.
Thankfully, learning how to play an instrument from home is not a complex issue today.
Between technology and the institutions already part of your daily life, you can find ways to become a real musician without ever going to school for it (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.). A fun way to continue your musical pursuits is by attending a camp like Camp Electric. Here, kids between the ages of 13 and 19 can learn from established Christian artists and professionals who have mastered different aspects of the industry. Beyond that, we have great concerts, important workshops and more to help you in your journey. Find out how you can be our next student at Camp Electric by clicking on the link below.
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