The ancillary skills that musicians acquire organically.
One of the great things about becoming a musician are other skills acquired. In this article, I’ll discuss some of my favorites.
For instance, listening to different types of music can be helpful for honing your skills as a musician. Taking the time to break down recordings and analyze them on an individual level will help you understand the technical aspects of production such as time signatures, chord progressions, dynamics and more. Ultimately, taking the time to develop a strong ear for music will enhance your expression as an artist and allow you to communicate your musical ideas more effectively.
Also, learning to read and write music is an essential part of becoming a successful musician. Reading musical notation allows you to communicate your musical ideas with other musicians through standard musical language. It also helps you learn unfamiliar repertoire quickly without having to listen to every piece in full.
Organically learning to read and write music takes practice and dedication, as it requires knowledge of note values, rhythm patterns, articulations, dynamics and more. To begin, start by familiarizing yourself with the basics such as the notes on a staff and their respective values. You can also try using educational software or apps which offer step-by-step lessons on reading and writing music notation. As you become more confident in your understanding, challenge yourself by transcribing songs or composing your own compositions.
Developing a sense of rhythm is an important part of becoming a musician as well. Understanding the variety of rhythms and metrical patterns allow you to keep time, play with accuracy and interact musically with other instruments or singers. It also helps you improvise, create new arrangements, and come up with your own original ideas.
To begin developing your sense of rhythm, try tapping along to music. Learning the different beats and accents in different genres of music can help you develop rhythmic precision. You can also experiment with percussion instruments such as shakers, drums, or tambourines. This will
help you to better understand how certain rhythms are created. Additionally, singing or speaking rhymes out loud can aid in developing a strong internalization of the beat. With practice and dedication, you will soon be able to identify various rhythms naturally.
Learning musical theory is an essential part of becoming a musician. An understanding of this provides you with the tools to interpret, communicate and create music. It gives you an in depth knowledge of musical structure and allows you to better understand the language of
music.
To begin, start by familiarizing yourself with basic concepts such as intervals, scales, chord progressions and time signatures. You can also try using educational software or apps which offer lessons on basic music theory. As your understanding grows, challenge yourself to learn more advanced concepts such as harmony, counterpoint, and modulation. With practice and dedication, you will soon understand how these pieces fit together to create beautiful music.
Utilizing recording software and digital audio workstations (DAWs) is an important part of becoming a musician. With modern technologies, you can record, produce, mix, and master music from your home studio or computer.
For starters, familiarize yourself with the basics of recording. Learn how to set up microphones, use basic EQ techniques and capture sound accurately. From there, explore the world of DAWs such as Ableton Live or ProTools. Get to know the layout and user interface so that you are
comfortable navigating around the software. Once you have mastered the tools, start experimenting with new sounds and effects to create unique compositions.
Improvisation is an essential skill for musicians to develop. When you’re improvising, you’re creating music on the spot without having to rely on pre-written compositions.
To start, practice your scales and arpeggios as this will give you a strong knowledge base when it comes to making musical decisions while improvising. Once you have built up your skills in this regard, begin exploring various techniques such as call-and-response and “playing through changes” to help you shape your own unique sound. Through practice and dedication, you will soon find yourself confidently exploring different styles and genres of music through improvisation.
With all these skills waiting to be acquired, simply by becoming a musician, why wait — start the journey today!
