While most of us start out playing an instrument with ambitions of securing our place in a band or achieving mastery in our respective field, many that try their hand at improving at a specific instrument do so in search of a new hobby.

Provided that your intentions with picking up a new instrument aren’t overly serious, your lessons don’t have to be either. You can also find some beginner and intermediate-level classes that will incorporate some less conventional teaching practices in order to make your learning a bit more fun.

This could be anything from learning to play your favourite song to exploring new genres of music that you otherwise might not get the chance to if you were preparing to attain some formal qualifications or grades within your instrument.

The truth is that many of us operate busy schedules and are looking for an outlet to relax or unwind outside of our professional or student lives. Whether you are working full time or you are a practising musician you can always take some value from developing your ability to play a new instrument.

If you already play an instrument then this is a great starting point, as many of the skills that you develop as a musician are transferrable across a number of different instruments.

Playing a new instrument is often a great way to make new connections as you will be able to join a community of musicians that play at a similar level to you. Whether you live in Dublin city or in a small rural town, it is likely that you will be able to find others that are embarking on a similar journey to you.

You might also find a capable teacher to mentor you as you progress in your new hobby. In this article, I will look at some of the different resources and befits for students looking to take up an instrument as a hobby across the island of Ireland.

Take a look at this article on how music lessons are typically structured across the different levels here!

music reading conservatory.
Learning to read music is part of the process. source: unsplash
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Marie-clémence
€17
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Tarah
Tarah
€25
/h
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1st lesson free!
Gabriela
Gabriela
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/h
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1st lesson free!
Niamh
5
5 (7 reviews)
Niamh
€25
/h
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1st lesson free!
Marie-clémence
Marie-clémence
€17
/h
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1st lesson free!
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How to stay consistent with your learning

If you are taking up a new instrument as a hobby then the most common problem that people in your position fall victim to is in staying consistent with their study efforts in the long run.

It is easy to get distracted when playing an instrument, particularly if it is just a hobby and you are facing the common dilemma of having to strike a balance between your work and social life.

You’ll be glad to hear that you aren’t the first person to face these problems, and there is a multitude of different techniques that you can try to prevent you from throwing in the towel.

Many of these options have been tried and tested by countless musicians and hobbyists in the past so they might just be worth your while!

Try out some other musical styles, such as jazz, traditional music, or pop. This will keep your efforts fresh and assist you in sticking with your new interest.

Avoid playing at home alone if you want to improve your performance. You can only improve your performance in front of audiences by, well, performing in front of audiences!

Not all music is about scales. Be imaginative and seek out engaging modern music to play. A few excellent orchestral compositions are by Sigur Rós, Radiohead, and Arcade Fire. Participate in musical education, and consider doing it with some of your buddies.

Try listening to their music and share some of your latest musical discoveries with them. Look for free music lessons in your neighbourhood and take on the challenge of learning a new instrument by yourself or with friends.

Get the grade that you deserve in leaving cert music with the help of a few tips!

Benefits Of Playing an instrument

Practising an instrument has countless underlying benefits and can assist with improving your mood, and preventing sleeplessness, and stress relief.

learning to read music while playing an instrument will help you develop your motor abilities, including hand-eye coordination and other ones. Playing an instrument will teach you to listen carefully for the right note and work to nail it, which may help you build a better ear.

Getting better at an instrument over time may help you have a better rhythm. Even as a beginning musician, you could start to realize that you have a deeper appreciation for using your listening skills.

Being able to hold an instrument correctly and hence play it correctly frequently depends on having an appropriate posture. You'll notice that your posture organically improves both when you practice and when you don't.

You will require extraordinary levels of attention whether you are in school or performing in an orchestra. It may take a while before you start to see results with an instrument, but when you do, it may be a reason for great joy.

Naturally, every class boosts your self-assurance, and getting better at your chosen instrument might even make you feel more valuable. This will make it simpler for you to play the crowd informant role, which will eventually help you earn a better score on the practical assessment of the leaving cert! 

Explore all of the options that are available to you as a music student in Ireland.

The best tutors available
Tarah
Tarah
€25
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Gabriela
Gabriela
€13
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Niamh
5
5 (7 reviews)
Niamh
€25
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Marie-clémence
Marie-clémence
€17
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Tarah
Tarah
€25
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Gabriela
Gabriela
€13
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Niamh
5
5 (7 reviews)
Niamh
€25
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Marie-clémence
Marie-clémence
€17
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Let's go

Looking at the cost of music lessons: Moderate To Expensive

Professional musicians have historically learnt to play the violin and other instruments through private instruction. Having a tutor work with you one-on-one is one of the key advantages of taking private lessons. can guarantee that you are optimizing each of your practices.

Private instruction will put more of an emphasis on breaking bad habits and enhancing playing posture and intonation. This special type of coaching offers such a practical approach.

The lessons will also provide some accountability which is often needed in order to stay consistent, particularly with a new hobby.

In order to improve your grade in leaving cert music, you will need to work on all aspects of the course. Music students need to improve their level of singing or playing an instrument in order to achieve these results. A strong practical exam can work wonders for your music grade and it will help you to boost your points in other subjects in the final year.

During your final year of studying for the music exam, you should focus on getting the results that you deserve. Many music students try to attain a certain grade for their instrument just to help with their performance in the music exam. The study and practice that you need to do for both exams are actually quite similar so your time will be well spent.

You can play all types of music on a violin
Taking up a new instrument will take some time and commitment - source: pixabay

Cost To Learn an instrument Privately

Private instruction might be rather expensive, but it is definitely worth it when you consider the quality and development in your competence that you will see quickly. Another advantage of taking individual lessons is that the instructor can assist your musical talents and tailor the training to your skill level.

Many traditionally trained musicians learnt to play their instruments via individual study. All ages can benefit from private classes, which are excellent for assisting you in learning your instrument from the very beginning to the professional level. Regular private tutors charge €12 per hour for private sessions, while more expensive tutors charge significantly more.

Read up on how learning an instrument can help your performance in the leaving cert music practical exam.

The Cost Of A Group Tutor

Group classes are a fantastic way to play alongside other accomplished instrumentalists and musicians, and they can be quite motivating and helpful for boosting confidence. You may also gather a group of friends and attend your lessons together. Don't worry if you can't find someone interested because these classes are also a terrific way to meet new people.

Booking additional group courses might be appealing because they are significantly more affordable than privately instructed classes. While working with others might be beneficial, you won't receive the individualized attention you need to make significant progress in group sessions. The main purpose of group sessions is to introduce musicians to one another and teach them how to play together.

Group of young people
Learning in a group of friends can be a great way to improve your music skills - Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Online Music Lessons

If you are considering taking music lessons and learning a new instrument with your music teacher or online, then you need to know how your lessons will look. There are so many musicians and music teachers that teach students how to play an instrument, though you will learn that they all have their own style of teaching.

How one music teacher might work or structure their lessons might look a lot different to another. This is why you need to have a familiarity with what level you are at with the instrument and how the music lesson will be conducted.

Since you can choose a teacher from anywhere in the globe and connect with them through video conference utilizing Zoom or Skype, online lessons are a great method to learn.

Online classes are often more affordable than group sessions and less expensive than private violin instruction. You have access to the entire world with online education. The price of your lessons will vary depending on your skill level, the demand for teachers, and the instrument you plan to advance with.

Whether it's through private tutoring sessions, in a group alongside new or existing friends or online via skype or zoom call, why not start developing your command of a new instrument and start your new hobby with Superprof today?

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Samuel

I enjoy reading fiction, playing chess, live music and traveling.