If you are a musician, you know that practice makes perfect. The more you play your instrument, the better you will become at it. But did you know that teaching music can actually make you a better musician? Not only that, but the demand for music teachers is quite high. According to a study, there are almost 122,550 music teachers in the U.S and the number is expected to grow exponentially.
If you are looking to improve your music skills, teaching music can certainly go a long way. We will now look at how you can do so.
Transcribe More Music
When you are trying to learn a new piece of music, it can be helpful to transcribe it. This means writing out the music from memory or from listening to a recording. Transcribing music helps you to really internalize the piece and understand how it is put together. It also forces you to slow down and really listen to all of the details in the music.
As you transcribe more and more music, you will start to develop a better ear for picking out subtle details in the music. You will also become better at sight-reading music, which will help you when you are sight-reading new pieces.
Play with Others
Playing music with others is one of the best ways to improve your skills as a musician. When you play with others, you have to listen closely to the other instruments and adjust your playing accordingly. This can be challenging at first, but it will help you to develop better listening skills and learn how to play as part of a group.
In addition, playing with others can be a lot of fun! It’s a great way to meet other musicians and make new friends.
Learn How to Be Flexible
One of the most important things that you can learn as a musician is how to be flexible. When you are flexible, you are able to change your playing style to fit the situation. For example, if you are playing with a group of people who are not very experienced, you might have to play more simply than you are used to. On the other hand, if you are playing with a group of highly skilled musicians, you will need to be able to step up your game and play at their level.
Being flexible also means being able to switch between different styles of music. If you are mostly a classical pianist but you want to learn how to play jazz, it will take some time and effort to learn the new style. But once you do, you will be a much better musician for it.
Keep Your Technique Sharp
Finally, one of the most important things that you can do to improve your musicianship is to keep your technique sharp. This means practicing regularly and not letting your skills lapse. Even if you are not playing in a band or performing publicly, it is important to keep up with your practice.
If you are teaching music, you might be tempted to let your own playing slide in favor of working with your students. But if you want to be a better musician, it is important to make time for your own practice. By keeping your technique sharp, you will be able to play better and sound better when it really counts.
Conclusion
Teaching music can be a great way to improve your own craft. By transcribing music, playing with others, and being flexible, you can develop new skills and become a better musician. If you are looking for ways to improve, teaching music might be the perfect solution.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships. Additionally, he runs the weekly podcast “FULLSPEED,” featuring interviews with cutting-edge entrepreneurs. As the founder of the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” he provides four scholarships for US students. Keep up with Eric on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.