If you are shopping around for musical instruments, here are ten things you need to know:
- Play to your strengths. If your arms are short, don’t play the trombone. If your back is a worry, don’t play the Sousaphone. If your ears are functioning correctly, don’t play the recorder (couldn’t resist). Needless to say, stick to your most powerful zone. This will inspire you to work harder on the instrument.
- There’s nothing sadder than an instrument that’s too big for your body. The size of an instrument matters a lot when you play it. If it is too big, your arms will not have the capacity or the ability to play it. Ensure that you buy an instrument that fits your size rather than an instrument that is bigger than you can handle.
- The budget seems to be the most important part. Of course, you will need to plan what you are buying. Musical instruments are not cheap if you are seeking a long-lasting relationship with your music. You need to strategize your budget following your need. Surely you cannot always buy anything too fancy. So, try to explore the simpler options.
- Learning an instrument can be a noisy affair. Consider investing in a mute, a muffler, or a soundproofed bunker in remote woodland. For beginners, this can come off as the most useful tip.
- Budget, as mentioned, is an important part. However, saving your budget does not mean that you go for the cheapest option available. Invest in something that would stand for its quality for longer durability.
- Ensure that when you buy an instrument, you have a pre-decided space in your house to keep it. Larger instruments are, thus, far more difficult to hold in a house. For instance, an Octobass. It is massive. Could you find room for it in your house? Could you really?
- Just be aware that given the current market trends, renting is dead money. Getting your foot on the ladder is much more important. Think of resale, think of adding value: consider an extension or some major structural work to improve the layout.
- Ensure that you are buying it because you genuinely would love to play it and that you are really interested in it. Don’t buy just for the sake of looking cool in front of your peers. Eventually, your interest would wade away, and the instrument will suffer wastage.
- If your new instrument doesn’t immediately make you sound and feel like a complete professional, something is wrong. Tell the staff in the music shop that you’re not leaving until they bring you an instrument that achieves this goal.
- If you are cutting financial corners (and who can blame you), then maybe take some antibacterial hand wash along with you when you try it out. A little safety never harms anyone. This would be a pretty savvy tip since the beginning of learning could be a little harsh.
