How to Become a Musician

Many people dream of becoming rock stars, jazz artists or even film composers. Although gaining fame and fortune through music is tough, realizing the dream of becoming a musician is much more realistic and achievable. As in any other profession or field, you need to learn the basic skills and techniques of music to achieve success, especially if you want to make money from performing or doing gigs. Read on to learn how to become a musician.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Choose an instrument to play. While certain musicians can play many instruments, they likely started with only one. This helps you focus your practice time and guide your stylistic creativity.

2. Learn about music theory. This includes the musical notation, chord structure, chord progressions and melodic conventions of your musical style. Jazz, classical and pop all have different theoretical traditions that take years of study to truly master.

3. Seek out and practice with local musicians. You might form a chamber music group, a quartet or just a jam band, but sharing and sharpening your musical ideas with friends is priceless.

4. Listen to recordings of artists you admire and emulate their style. Even artists as famous as Elton John and the Beatles fell in love with music and built their reputations by imitating their idols.

5. Create a structured practice schedule. Carving out enough practice time each week is hard, especially if you're already busy with another job or your family, so manage it wisely.

6. Consider taking private or group lessons with an expert musician in your area. Colleges, conservatories and public schools all have good resources for connecting you with a qualified instructor.

7. Work your way up to playing concerts and gigs. If you're a jazz or rock musician, bars and clubs are a great place to gain stage experience and build a following.