Make Space for Music

“Why should I learn to play a musical instrument?” - a fairly common question, with answers that range from cognitive benefits to social skills development. “Why should I learn to play another instrument?” now, that is a slightly rarer question. Learning to play another instrument has its advantages, even if you have no intention of being a one-person band. Most people who learn to play an instrument stop at one. They may go to great lengths to learn that instrument, but more

Performing in a band is without a doubt one of the most fulfilling things you can do as a musician. Sure, playing by yourself is nice, but there’s something special about coming together with other musicians to make something of your own. It’s not just about original compositions—even simply playing covers can be enjoyable. Although stable and long-standing, great local bands are exceedingly hard to come by. This is because a band isn’t just a group of talented musicians but

Most people tend to believe that there’s a ‘right’ age to begin learning music though there’s no exact consensus on what this age is. Parents often choose to put their kids into music classes when they’re five or six years old. Likewise, many working professionals resign themselves to the belief that it is ‘too late’ for them to learn an instrument. But is there really a correct age at which to learn music? And are there fixed ages at which it’s too early or too late? In shor

“So, what music do you listen to?” It’s a pretty common question, typically asked when two people gradually veer towards awkward silence. And to be fair, it tends to be a good conversation starter. It’s a question that’s almost universally applicable - most people have a favourite musical genre. When people start learning music, that translates to them wanting to play (or sing) songs of that specific genre. Ask a guitar teacher what his or her students most often ask to learn

It’s a question that isn’t so easy to answer. On one hand, you might feel the essence of music cannot be captured by a grade; on the other hand, you might think how good the certificates look on paper. But whether or not you should take a music exam isn’t so much about either of the above - it entirely depends on what you want to get out of it. Music examinations test a student’s theoretical knowledge, technical ability, and listening skills. All of these – together - are vit

A man I know once spoke about the difference between music as a passion and as a hobby. He said that those for whom music was a passion were ‘real’ musicians; he wasn't very clear on the latter. He spoke as if those who saw music as a hobby were somehow beneath ‘musicians’, as if passion was this all-important factor that made you the real deal. Truth be told, I bought it at the time. Why? Well, because I was flattered - after all, he referred to me as a ‘real’ musician. Now,