When you understand the music

Many parents believe, correctly, that the gift of music is something to cherish, and it'll add a fulfilling aspect to their life that they'll take with them forever. And even without the encouragement of their parents, many children want to attach themselves to an instrument once they see it played on TV or in person. Either way, it takes some work, but the ability to play music is a priceless gift and leads to endless satisfaction for the musician himself and the company he keeps. Here's what you can expect at the start.With music, there's the physical and the mental aspect. When you understand the music itself (the notes, how these form to make chords, how chords form to make keys, etc.) the physical becomes easier. Everyone learns differently, and it's true that there are autodidacts who view the instrument esoterically--it seems like they can just pick them up and play. But anyone benefits from learning the theoretical concepts behind the notes. 

With this in mind, at the start of lessons you can expect some theoretical training. First, you'll learn the names of the notes. Each pitch has a different name. Next, you'll learn how the duration of each note is demarked. You need to learn where the notes are on your instrument and how they appear in sheet music. If this sounds confusing, don't worry! Your teacher will break it down in manageable sections so that you won't be overwhelmed. Also, you don't learn the entire instrument at first, just a section that's small and reasonable. The physical and mental aspects are combined when you'll see the notes on the page, find them on the instrument, and then play them to make music.

 This is when you're really cooking, and it takes less time than you think to reach this point!Generally, you can expect to let this information take some time to absorb. Don't be surprised if the first few lessons are a bit repetitive until you start getting your head and hands wrapped around how it all works. Even if you understand how the notes are written and where they are, your hands need time to physically adjust to being in such contrived positions. Our hands and fingers never have to do what they do unless we're playing, so don't be surprised if this feels funny. 

Sometimes it'll even seem sk external fixation impossible! You might say, "But my fingers physically can't do this." Take note, what your fingers can physically do will change a great deal with practice. Don't be discouraged! The best thing to do is carefully manage your schedule, so you play a regular amount of hours a week without burning yourself out. If you want to play more than that, cool, but stick to the minimum you set out.When it comes to music, don't be discouraged if there are some initial setbacks. Just work through it and on the other side you'll never regret having put in the work!