Determine your Budget - This is the first order of business. Assess how much you can spend, be realistic and try to stay on budget.
Some resources to help you:
- The Costs of Learning to Play an Instrument
- Basic Budget Worksheet for Personal Budgets
Choose Your Instrument - Pick the one instrument you're most interested in, the one you're passionate about. Ask yourself if that particular instrument is the one you think you'll stick with. Better yet, make a list of your top 3 instruments, write the pros and cons of each as it relates to you. Finally, choose one and commit to learning that instrument.
Some resources to help you:
- Tips on Deciding which Music Instrument to Study
- Before You Buy a Music Instrument
- 3 Tips on Buying a Used Instrument
- Top 10 Instruments for Beginners
- Buying a Guitar
Enroll in Music Lessons - Do you want to enroll in a music school or hire a private teacher? Do you want to self-study? Do you wish to take lessons online or offline? The answer to this will rely on your personality. If you thrive in a group learning environment, enrolling in a group class is for you. If you learn best one on one, a private music teacher would be your best bet. If you're a self- starter, there are lessons available online and softwares and books you can purchase to study on your own. However, there are instruments that can be difficult to learn on your own, thus it's best to have a music teacher to guide you.
Some resources to help you:
- How To Choose a Music Teacher
- Before You Choose a Music Teacher
- Music Schools
Purchase Needed Books - There are lots of good music method books for every instrument imaginable out in the market today. These method books would either be your stand alone material or a supplement to your other learning materials.
Some resources to help you:
- Method Books for Music Beginners
- Sheet Music for Beginners
Take Care of Yourself - You are embarking on a wondrous journey, it will be exciting but don't forget to take good care of yourself. Eat right, get lots of rest, keep your brain active by reading anything relating to your chosen instrument (i.e. playing techniques, musicians, etc.), continue to practice and most importantly, exercise. Musicians are like athletes and your most important investment is to take extra care of yourself, especially your hands.
Some resources to help you:
- Common Injuries of Music Players and How to Prevent Them
- Exercises for Musicians
