Music is like a great journey. You embark with your favorite instrument – guitar, piano or other – and you start learning, curious and passionate. But like any journey, it is sometimes fraught with pitfalls. As a beginner musician, you will face difficulties, make mistakes, and that’s normal! It’s even a sign that you’re progressing. However, certain errors are more damaging, and you might as well avoid them so as not to slow down your learning. So here is a guide to common mistakes to avoid to make your musical journey a success.
Not practicing regularly
You have taken your first guitar or piano lessons, you are excited and impatient to play your first pieces. This is excellent news, but be careful not to fall into the trap of irregular practice. Practice regularly is the key to a successful learning in music.
The practice should be part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth. You don’t need to spend hours playing, but play every day, even for just a quarter of an hour. This regularity will allow you to keep what you have learned, progress steadily and not get discouraged.
Ignoring Music Theory
Some beginners tend to ignore music theory, thinking that you only need to know a few chords to play a rock or blues song. However, learning music also means learning to read notes, understand rhythms, decipher a score. Music theory is the backbone of your learning, it will allow you to understand and correctly interpret a piece.
Additionally, a good knowledge of music theory makes it easier to learn other instruments. Do you want to move from guitar to piano? You have a good theoretical background, it will be easier.
Neglecting the musical ear
Musical ear is the ability to recognize and reproduce sounds, notes, melodies. This is an essential skill for any musician. However, many beginners neglect this aspect of learning.
Educate your musical ear takes time, but it’s a worthwhile investment. You will be able to play pieces by ear, improvise, compose. So, don’t neglect your musical ear, do listening exercises, use dedicated applications. Your musical ear is your best tool for making music.
Forcing your voice or your fingers
Whether in singing lessons, playing the guitar or piano, a common mistake is to strain your voice or your fingers. You want to hit that high note or nail that complex chord, and you push yourself, risking injury.
Remember : your voice and your fingers are your tools, you must preserve them. If you feel any discomfort or pain, stop and rest. It is better to progress at your own pace than to risk an injury that could compromise your learning.
Music is an exciting journey, but strewn with pitfalls. As beginners, you are likely to make mistakes. It’s normal, and even beneficial: you learn from your mistakes. However, some can slow down your progress or even injure you. So, practice regularly, study music theory, educate your musical ear, take care of your fingers and your voice. And above all, don’t forget to have fun: music is above all a pleasure, a joy. Never lose sight of this fundamental truth. Let the music !
