Pre-Covid
In the era that we could refer to as “Pre-Covid,” teachers would bring instruments to school and demonstrate all the possibilities. Students would then be invited to a few “Trial Lessons” to get more detail and give a shot to make a sound on their choices of instruments. The premise is that these choices would be made based on the sounds from our demonstration that are most appealing to individual students. Like any other preferences, all students are different – you may enjoy the high sounds of a Flute or the rich tone of a Clarinet and Saxophone, the brassy commanding sound of a Trumpet, or the deeper sound of the Trombone. Students may also choose Stringed instruments like Guitar, Violin, and Cello or perhaps the Piano or Drums. Either way, trying an instrument has been the cornerstone of getting started. And it still is today, but through Fundamental Music Instruction’s online presence, we are now able to demonstrate various instruments online so you can learn an instrument online of your preference.
Thrive While Learning an Instrument Online with Fundamental Music Instruction
Adapting to a new reality requires a few adjustments to this age-old model. Fundamental Music Instruction has posted a demonstration on our homepage to get you started on finding the right sound for you, (Instrument Demonstration) . We also schedule Instrument Family Webinars. Attending these will give more clarity to the benefits and drawbacks of each instrument within that instrument family. You can send questions in the chat window, and these will be addressed in the webinar session. Sessions will be recorded so you can refer back to them as needed.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a musical instrument – your music preferences, budget, space it might take up, your personal characteristics, the mobility of the instrument, and potential career options.
Below is the breakdown of these factors according to different kinds of instruments –
String Instruments
Most string instruments like Violin and Cello require a lot of practice and patience in the beginning, as progress can be slow. These instruments also require good dexterity and coordination; if the player is a child, they must be mature enough to understand the slow progress during the early stages of learning. It is possible to find these instruments fairly inexpensive, but a more professionally designed instrument can be rented from a reputable source to save a great deal of frustration. A quality instrument will hold tuning better, have a better tone, and last longer than their knock of counterparts. Violin – an old favorite, is used to play classical and popular music styles; Cello – is a beautiful deeper tone used in classical, jazz, and some popular music but is a bit bulky and not particularly mobile.
There are also less classical options for string instruments like the Guitar and Ukulele, the latter being extremely popular recently. The type of guitar we suggest for beginning fingers is a nylon string acoustic guitar. There are links on our program’s website for a dependable, inexpensive Guitar and Ukulele, learn more (Instruments and Supplies).
Woodwind Instruments
Woodwind instruments are separated into smaller categories, like Flute and Clarinet – which are compact enough to carry easily. Learning to play Flute will require more patience at the start as it can take time to master the coordination needed for holding it correctly to produce a clear, consistent tone. Once this is accomplished, the Flute becomes much easier to make steady progress. If you play Clarinet, there is fast initial progress as this instrument is easier to get control of the basic techniques, and you will play beginning songs rather quickly. The Saxophone is a bit bulkier, but it is relatively easy for students to get a beginner sound. A consideration for this is knowing that this will require hands large enough to handle the size of the keys – smaller hands will be best with the clarinet with the notion of adding or switching to the saxophone later. As with the Violin family, renting from a reputable source will ensure you get a high-quality instrument. Professionally designed instruments are easier to manage, produce a better tone, and are easier to maintain. Apart from classical music, these instruments can be used while playing different styles, such as jazz, folk, and pop.
Continue to learn more about the families of instruments and read our blog “Finding the Right Sound to Learn an Instrument Online – Part Two.” In Part Two, we will go into further detail about the Brass, Keyboard, and Percussion instruments, read more (FMI Blog). You can also check out our other blogs (FMI Blog Page).
Fundamental Music Instruction Can Teach You How to Learn an Instrument Online
The moral of that story is: pick a sound you like and get the instrument that makes it. Fundamental Music Instruction can help you find your sound and pick an instrument you are excited to learn to play. Fundamental Music Instruction offers online lessons for violin, clarinet, piano, guitar, and so much more! Find out more about the wide variety of music classes available to learn an instrument online (Instrument Demonstration). Please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected], call us at 908-244-4943, or Contact Us! We believe without music, our minds would be quiet, and we are thrilled to offer online music lessons for everyone, no matter your age.
