Learning an instrument online is an attractive opportunity for many people. It can be difficult to find an appropriate teacher, schedule time every week to meet, and keep up with lessons. Often, it can be the case that the teacher does not adequately match the needs of the student, and the student can become disinterested in lessons.
Fortunately, the internet is a wonderful tool to use to learn instruments. There are countless hours of instructional videos from a wide range of teachers. You can sample a portion of every style and find the path in music that truly resonates with you!
What are the benefits of learning an instrument online?
There are many benefits to learning an instrument online.
Take lessons at your own pace
Perhaps the greatest benefit of learning an instrument online is that you can take lessons at your own pace. Unless you are working with a specific teacher via video chat, you do not need to show up to the same location at the same time every week for your instrument lessons.
This is a great advantage to those of us with busy lifestyles who find it difficult to work in time for new lessons and practice every week. Learning online presents us with a more casual pace that can be attractive to many interested students. This is the style of learning Skoove presents. You can study all of Skoove’s lessons and songs at your own pace, which helps reduce the stress of weekly assignments.
Take lessons from anywhere
Additionally, another benefit of learning an instrument online is that you can take your lessons from anywhere on Earth. Of course, if you are working via video chat with a teacher you will need to pay some attention to time zone changes. But, otherwise you are free to travel and study at any place. This ability has opened up a wider degree of flexibility in our lives and is likewise an attractive option for many students.
You can learn anything you want to learn
There is a vast expanse of information available on the internet for music students to explore. Never before in the history of music has so much knowledge and information been available so easily for students to find beyond the quarter, half, and whole notes.
If you want to study classical piano, you can find troves of videos and recordings. If you want to learn how to sing and play piano at the same time, you can find countless lessons and tutorials on the subject.
If you are just interested in learning a few basic piano chords, you can find all the information you need for your favorite songs right away.
If you want to dive into music theory and learn about scale degrees and other more esoteric topics, you can easily find articles, presentations, and workbooks that demystify all those topics.
The Skoove app touches on all these topics at different points. Students learn famous classical, pop, and rock repertoire in addition to basic chords, rhythms, and scales.
Are there any challenges?
While it is a wonderful opportunity to learn an instrument online, there are a few challenges we should consider at the start.
It can require extra motivation
Learning an instrument online, especially without a dedicated teacher, can require a certain extra level of motivation to succeed. There is no one else besides yourself to be accountable to. While some students thrive under these sorts of circumstances, it can be difficult to maintain discipline and focus over the longer term.
Working with an app like Skoove will help you stay focused and motivated to develop your skills on the piano. Lessons are structured in a methodical and logical manner to help you make certain progress!
Information is not always a good thing
The amount of information available on the internet today for music students is wonderful. However, information for its own sake is not always a good thing. It can be difficult to parse through various videos, classes, or websites and grasp what is truly important.
Some teachers or learning apps may not explain concepts accurately or clearly. Some may present information that is completely irrelevant to you and what you want, but you might not have the background knowledge to understand that. Some may not understand the differences between auditory vs visual piano learning and therefore you end up wasting your time altogether.
Working with an app like Skoove assures that you will receive high-quality information that is presented in a clear, concise, and useful way.
You miss the human interaction
A big part of learning an instrument is the interactive component. Learning how to play music with others is a beneficial skill. Of course, you can always pair your online lessons with in-person playing and practicing to get the best of both worlds!
Is it worth it?
Considering both the advantages and disadvantages of learning an instrument online, do you think it is really worth it?
It is certainly worth it to learn an instrument online. Never before in the history of musical education has there been such easy access to high-quality musical information. There are many structured learning apps and websites that are well-designed and thought out.
The quality of video and sound editing software has likewise increased dramatically so that instructional videos and apps now look and sound great. Additionally, there are many other tools available on the internet such as the online metronome.
Conclusion
Learning a musical instrument is a wonderful decision. However, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. Trying to find a reliable teacher in-person can be a challenge. You risk spending money on lessons that may not work for you. Nobody wants to do that!
Fortunately, the internet is a wonderful tool to learn how to play an instrument. It is truly possible to learn an instrument online and become quite satisfied with your musical skills. There are many advantages including:
- Learning at your own pace
- Learning from anywhere on Earth
- Learning anything and everything you want
Of course, learning an instrument online is not without its own unique set of challenges. Fortunately, Skoove is here to help you make it through! With a wide array of interesting lessons, songs, and concepts, Skoove is a great place to start your journey of learning an instrument online.
Author of this blog post
Eddie Bond is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and music instructor currently based in Seattle, Washington USA. He has performed extensively in the US, Canada, Argentina, and China, released over 40 albums, and has over a decade experience working with music students of all ages and ability levels.