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Muic
Making

for Adult Beginners

As you decide on what instrument to study, you may want to consider some guidelines before buying.

What Interests You Most

Before buying an instrument, ask yourself what it is that interests you the most. If you are drawn to more than one, consider that one can be a preliminary step toward others. Switching to a different instrument within the same "family", such as clarinet to oboe within woodwinds, is easy and fairly common.

What's most important is that you must be drawn to the particular instrument, so that learning how to play it doesn't feel like a chore. Remember, it is only with continued practice and patience that you'll soon find yourself enjoying it and reveling in the music that you create.

Your Person

Keep your lifestyle in mind. If you change residences frequently, choose an instrument that is small and portable.

Consider the size and layout of your home. Ideally, you should have a space to practice without distractions and without disrupting the rest of the family. If your home is small, a very large instrument (grand piano or harp) or a very noisy instrument (trumpet or drum set) may not be the best choice.

Consider your personality. Music can be either a solitary or a social activity, depending on the instrument. If you are learning a band instrument, you should thrive in groups. To play the piano, you should be comfortable working by yourself for stretches of time. Instruments like violin, cello and flute can be played in either solos or ensembles.

Consider your physical capabilities. Finger dexterity, lung capacity, tooth formation, lip structure, size of hands and length of arms, and ability to carry bulky or heavy objects are factors to consider. For example, clarinets are fine for students with irregular teeth, overbite or full lips. The muscles around the lips may get tired after long use, and small pointed fingers may have trouble covering the tone holes. Violins require sufficient arm strength to hold up the instrument and bow. Cellos are larger and more awkward to transport, but comfortable to play in a sitting position. The doublebass requires longer arms and fingers, and it is very large and heavy.

Buy New or Second Hand

Can you splurge or do you have to stick to your budget? If cost is not a factor, then you might want to opt for a new instrument. If you are on a budget, buying a second hand music instrument is still a good option. When it comes to music instruments, buying a second hand instrument that is of good quality is better than buying a new instrument of poor quality. The downside is that you don't get any warranties, unless the used instrument is fairly new.

When buying a used musical instrument, keep the following in mind:

Who and Where

A good way to determine an instrument's condition is to know who previously owned it. If you're buying it from a garage sale, then you might be able to meet the owner and ask him why he's selling it, how long he used it, etc. If you're buying it from a music store, ask the salesperson if it's possible to know the name of its' previous owner, how long it's been in the store, etc. If you're buyng it from an online shop, make sure they have a good customer satisfaction rating or a favorable return policy.

Overall Condition

If possible, ask someone who knows a lot about music instruments to accompany you. Maybe you have a friend who plays the instrument you want to learn or a music teacher in your area who's willng to help you. They can help assess whether the instrument is in good condition by playing it, listening to how it sounds, and how it feels while they're playing it.

Value for your Money

Make sure that the money you're paying for the used instrument is worth it. Research first how much the instrument costs if it's brand new, visit different shops, compare prices, compare the condition of the used instruments and assess whether it is truly a good deal.

Associated Costs

Buying an instrument is just the beginning. Learning to play that instrument entails additional costs such as the following:

Lessons

This will vary depending on whether you use a private tutor, group instruction or go solo. Private tutors generally cost more. The length of lessons will also affect the cost, for example, a 30-minute lesson twice a week as opposed to a one-hour lesson three times a week.

Instrument and other Equipment

Your instrument will be one of your major investments. Make sure that you choose an instrument that is of high quality, so it will last longer. There might also be other equipment to buy depending on what instrument you plan on studying. You might not need anything more than maybe a stand or music case. Research this before you buy anything.

Sheet Music

Your teacher or school may provide sheet music or books. If not, you have to buy your own or ask if you can photocopy the sheet music or books to be used. As your music prowess grows, you may find yourself buying your own sheet music of tunes you personally want to learn.

Insurance and Maintenance

You should consider having your instrument insured if it's very expensive - better to be safe than sorry. Some instruments require more maintenance than others, while some require very little. Whether it's using a special polish or buying new strings, consider the maintenance needs of your instrument of choice before buying.