5 ways to learn music: how to find yours?

Have you always wanted to learn to play a musical instrument, or introduce your child to the art, but didn't know where to start? Whether you're drawn to the piano, guitar, violin or even singing, there are many ways to teach your rythm, whatever the age or level. Whether it's private tuition with a teacher, online lessons or even self-taught exploration, each learning method has its advantages. The key is to find the one that suits you, your schedule and your budget. We'll help you find your way!

1. Private music lessons: personalized attention

Learning with a teacher, whether for singing, piano, guitar or any other musical instrument, offers tailor-made guidance, perfectly adapted to the needs of each student. This type of course is particularly well suited to children in the early stages of musical development, who will benefit from a playful, progressive approach. But it's also ideal for teenagers and adults, whether they want to start out for pleasure, to discover a new instrument or to refine their technique with the help of an expert. Personalized follow-up allows you toprogress at your own pace rythm, while benefiting from real-time advice and corrections.

The teacher can come to your home, teach at a music school, or receive his or her students in a dedicated location, such as a studio or a room set up for lessons.

  • Advantages: individual and regular follow-up, progress adapted to the student's level, possibility of working at your own rythm, immediate feedback from the teacher, which helps to correct mistakes quickly.

  • Disadvantages: one-to-one courses can be costly and are often held at fixed times, which can limit flexibility.

  • Who's it for? Ideal for those looking for a supervised learning experience, children or adults, beginners or already experienced.

How to choose the right music teacher?

Finding the right music teacher will not only ensure your progress, but also your motivation. Here are a few criteria to consider:

  • The style of music taught: do you prefer to learn jazz, classical or pop? Make sure the teacher is comfortable with the style that appeals to you.

  • Pedagogical approach: some teachers emphasize pure technique, while others favor a more creative or playful approach. Choose the one whose method and pedagogy match your objectives.

  • Experience and recommendations: look for reviews and recommendations, either online or from friends and family. The teacher's experience with students of your age and level is also a plus to consider.

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2. Group learning: fun and interaction

Group music courses offer a friendly and stimulating environment, perfect for learning in a relaxed atmosphere. They are particularly suitable for children, who can discover music through interactive games, but also for adults looking for a more social dynamic. Working in a group not only allows you to develop your technique, but also to learn to play in harmony with others, while benefiting from collective motivation and shared pleasure.

  • Advantages: motivation through collective emulation, interactive learning, development of collective listening and group playing, more affordable, excellent opportunity to forge links and exchange tips between musicians.

  • Disadvantages: courses follow a structure and progression adapted to the group, with less scope for personalization.

  • Who's it for? Ideal for beginners, children at the start of their musical education, and adults who enjoy learning in a group.

3. Conservatory: comprehensive, rigorous training

Conservatories offer a comprehensive academic training program for children, teenagers and adults wishing to perfect their musical skills. In addition to learning an instrument (piano, violin, guitar, flute, oboe, etc.) or singing, students take classes in music theory andmusic history to gain a deeper understanding of the world of music. This rigorous framework enables structured progress, and also offers opportunities to join orchestral ensembles or take part in auditions and concerts.

  • Advantages: rigorous supervision, progress supported by examinations and comprehensive musical training, opportunities to attend masterclasses, concerts and other events that enrich musical learning outside the traditional classroom setting.

  • Disadvantages: the rigid timetable and high demands in terms of daily practice make the conservatory sometimes difficult to reconcile with other activities (studies, work).

  • Who should attend? For those considering a career in music, or who wish to acquire a thorough musical education from an early age.

4. Online learning: autonomy and flexibility

E-learning has gained in popularity thanks to platforms and applications accessible to all. This method offers the flexibility to learn at your own rythm, wherever you are, and to explore a variety of pedagogical approaches. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced musician, you can choose courses that match your goals and enjoy the freedom to organize your time and progress at your own pace rythm.

  • Advantages: flexible schedules, variety of resources available (videos, exercises, games), access to a wide range of styles and teachers that would be difficult to find locally.

  • Disadvantages: lack of direct guidance, requires self-motivation and can lead to stagnation in learning, especially when difficulties arise. The sheer volume of online resources can be confusing for a beginner, making it difficult to choose the right sources and suitable courses.

  • Who's it for? For autonomous learners, whether for a musical initiation or for experienced musicians wishing to progress on a specific point.

 

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Learning music independently: how to stay motivated?

Learning music online requires discipline. To stay motivated, set specific goals (such as learning a new song every month) and monitor your progress regularly. It's also a good idea to vary your activities so as not to get bored: alternate between technical exercises, improvisations and musical games, for example. Joining online forums or taking part in musical challenges can also give you a boost to persevere. If you feel that you're stagnating, or that certain techniques seem too complex, you can seek occasional coaching. It's entirely possible to opt for a hybrid method, combining e-learning with one-to-one or group lessons for personalized advice. Don't be discouraged if the path is sometimes difficult, and remember that there are always solutions to help you move forward.

5. Self-taught learning: creativity and freedom

Self-taught learning allows you to discover music on your own rythm. It's a path that offers total freedom: you choose what you want to play and when you want to play it. Thanks to books, teaching methods and online tutorials, you can explore different styles and gradually develop your own musical signature.

Some self-taught musicians also choose to learn by ear, an exercise that sharpens your musical ear and listening skills, and enables you to reproduce pieces without needing to read sheet music. This opens the door to greater creativity.

  • Advantages: total freedom, the ability to create your own style and low cost. This method encourages personal musical exploration and develops creativity by leaving room for experimentation, with no strict framework.

  • Disadvantages: the absence of direct feedback and the lack of structure can slow progress and lead to the adoption of bad technical habits, which are difficult to correct later on without external guidance.

  • Who's it for? For creative, independent musicians who like to experiment without following a rigid structure.

Choose a learning method adapted to age and instrument

It's possible to learn music at any age. For children, musical awakening often takes the form of fun, discovery-based lessons. Musical games and the learning of notes and rhythms capture their attention and gently introduce them to music. On the other hand, teenagers and adults are looking for more structured methods, with precise objectives and clear progression. For them, options such as online lessons, conservatory lessons or lessons with a teacher are more appropriate.

The choice of instrument is also important: the piano or guitar are popular with beginners for their accessibility, while instruments such as the violin or wind instruments like the oboe or trumpet often require coaching from the outset, due to their technical complexity.

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How do you find the method that's right for you?

Ask yourself a few questions to help you find the learning method that suits you best:

  • Do you prefer a strict framework, with regular courses and personalized follow-up, or total flexibility, allowing you to learn at your own pace rythm ?

  • Do you have a fixed timetable that allows you to attend face-to-face classes, or do you prefer the freedom to learn at any time, according to your schedule?

  • Budget-wise, can you afford to invest in private tuition, or do you prefer free or low-cost solutions such as online platforms and tutorials?

  • Can you motivate yourself?

  • Do you want to play an instrument quickly, or are you ready to devote time and effort to developing in-depth technical skills?

  • Do you prefer learning with other musicians or the concentration of a one-on-one approach?

Once all these questions have been answered, it will be easier to choose the learning method that best suits your needs and expectations. The important thing is to find the solution that will enable you to progress serenely and achieve your goals.

Newzik: tools for learning at home

Learning music at home has become easier thanks to a multitude of digital tools and applications. Among them, Newzik centralizes all your scores, making them accessible at any time and allowing you to work at your rythm. Whether you're a self-taught musician, a student, a teacher or even a member of an orchestra, Newzik supports you in your musical practice and adapts to your needs, whether you prefer an autonomous or collaborative learning method.

Features to suit every need

With Newzik, there's no need for scattered paper scores. Everything is centralized and easily accessible from your devices. In addition to storing your scores, you can personalize them with annotations, highlight important passages, or adjust nuances to better track your progress. This flexibility allows you to enhance your learning, whether solo or in a group. Last but not least, you'll be able to work independently with all the accessories that musicians need: metronome, page-turner, transposition tool... Everything is just a click away!

Collaboration made easy

Newzik goes one step further by making it easy to share scores in real time with your teachers or playing partners. Whether you're taking lessons remotely or playing in an ensemble, the application enables instant synchronization of scores, so everyone's on the same wavelength.

 

🎶 Discover the NewzikEducation collaborative platforma collaborative platform specially designed to facilitate distance learning of music. Centralize your scores, collaborate in real time with your teachers or classmates, and benefit from simplified organization of your repertoire. Simple, flexible and designed with teachers and students in mind, NewzikEducation is the ideal solution for learning while having fun. Take advantage of all its features today!

 
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