Basic Music Theory
Television
My first piece of advice is to throw the time-bandit out. No? You’re
unwilling to do that? Okay then, use it to your advantage. During one
hour of prime time television there are over twenty minutes of
advertisements. That’s twenty minutes you could use to play. And
besides, you don’t need to buy all that stuff people are trying to sell
you. Save your money and buy a nicer instrument instead. Press the
mute button and play! (This technique works best for single people...)
When in Doubt, Leave it Out
I leave all my instruments out and ready to play. I have to be careful
when I pick one up because once I do, often it’s at least an hour before
I can put it down again. By leaving your instrument out you can pick it
up at a random moment and toss off an exercise or a song. Five
minutes later you’re back to what you were doing before.
Where to Do It
A Garage of One’s Own
When I was a kid and had to practice trumpet (I use the p word on
purpose—back then I didn’t know the difference), my parents finally
ended up sending me to the garage. It sounds cruel, but it was an
excellent thing. They didn’t have to hear my squawks and blats, and I
didn’t have to feel self-conscious about making so much noise.
When you start to play an instrument as a beginner, your self-image as
a musician is very fragile. You’ll feel self-conscious, maybe a little
silly, and you’ll be very aware of how bad you sound.
Yes, it’s true. You will sound bad at first. That’s part of it. For some it
can feel embarrassing, and for others simply uncomfortable. Only a
rare few don’t care. If you’re one of these, consider yourself lucky. If
you do feel uncomfortable playing with others around, the solution is
to play when you have lots of privacy, either when nobody else is
home, or in a separate building. Even a closed door is better than
nothing.
