Top 7 instruments for successful online learning
Playing a musical instrument can be very rewarding for children and adults, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming. The Music Loft Academy can help take the guesswork out of choosing the perfect instrument for you or your child to learn online. Considerations include; what kind of music you listen to and enjoy, the size and physicality of an instrument, the space in your home or apartment, and budget.
When choosing an instrument, we recommend these seven beginner-friendly instruments for online musical study:
- Piano
- Acoustic or Classical Guitar
- Violin/Viola
- Cello
- Flute
- Clarinet/Saxophone
- Trumpet
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Can you learn Piano or Keyboard successfully with online lessons?
The piano is the perfect foundational instrument. Most students start their musical journey on the piano at the age of 6 or 7.
Piano music is written in both treble and bass clef. Almost all other instruments including strings, woodwind, brass, and voice use either treble or bass clef. This makes piano music universal.
Piano has a wide variety of musical genres, from classical to jazz to pop/rock. The piano is the only instrument where you are able to play melodies, harmonies and bass lines at the same time.
Learning the piano (or any musical instrument) has numerous benefits including;
Improving your memory and brain speed, expanding your aural skills, sharpening your concentration and focus, decreasing stress and increasing happiness, boosting your confidence, and increasing your hand strength and dexterity.
If you have room in your home, an upright piano is a great investment. If you need something more portable that comes with the ability to use headphones, an 88 key weighted keyboard is a great choice. The keys are heavier and feel like a real piano.
Ready to try your first instrument? Sign up for an introductory piano lesson with one of our Music Loft Academy instructors.
Can you learn acoustic or electric guitar successfully with online lessons?
There are 3 main types of guitars; acoustic, electric, and classical. Generally speaking most people begin on an acoustic guitar. It is also known as a folk guitar. The strings on an acoustic guitar are a combination of both steel and nylon. Acoustic Guitars are typically played with both hands by strumming or the use of a guitar pick. The guitar comes in different sizes to accommodate finger length and body size.
For online learning, we recommend students start guitar lessons at the age of 10.
A classical guitar has all nylon strings and a larger neck. Schools often start guitar students on classical as your focus is on note reading, and finger picking. The classical guitar (also known as a nylon-string guitar or Spanish guitar) is a member of the guitar family used in classical music. The classical guitar is a solo instrument and its repertoire is mainly classical music. It is held in an upward direction and a footstool is used to help hold the position of the instrument on the lap of the musician correctly. The individual strings plucked with the fingernails. The strings are all nylon and the neck of the instrument is thicker than an acoustic guitar.
Electric guitars are rock and rollers tools of the trade. They have thinner necks which makes it easier to play for younger musicians. Some students begin on acoustic and then switch over to electric. Others just go straight to electric. An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes. It uses one or more pickups to convert the vibration of its strings into electrical signals, which ultimately are reproduced as sound by an amplifier. Most electric guitars are used in rock and roll and jazz music. They have steel strings and the musician uses a guitar pick instead of his fingers.
The Music Loft Academy offers an introductory class in acoustic, classical or electric guitar. Sign up today!
Can you learn violin successfully with online lessons?
The Violin is considered one of the best beginning instruments. Its design creates some of the most beautiful music and is one of the world’s oldest instruments. It has been around for almost five centuries. The violin comes in different sizes to fit the size of the learner. It is a versatile instrument and can be played as a solo instrument or as a part of an ensemble. You can play many genres of music on the violin. Some of the most popular are; classical, folk, and fiddle.
When considering learning violin online, we recommend the student be at least 7-8 years of age. The violin will also require parental supervision in the beginning to help with foundational concepts such as how to hold the instrument and bow along with note reading.
With any stringed instrument, you will need to go to a reputable string shop or luthier to be fitted for the correct size cello. The Music Loft Academy highly recommends renting an instrument and not purchasing one. Rental programs are also a great way to see if your student likes an instrument without laying out hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a student line instrument. Most reputable string shops and luthiers offer an affordable “ rent to own program”.
The other consideration is that stringed instruments come in various sizes, and beginning students will most likely start on a smaller instrument. Most rental programs have a “rent to own” program that will roll over your rental credit until you are ready to purchase a full size instrument.
We strongly recommend you to NOT purchase an instrument on the internet. If you do, you are setting your child up for failure. These instruments are made with low quality materials that make it impossible to produce a good sound, cannot be repaired and are generally unplayable. If you are not sure about the quality of an instrument you are considering….ASK The Music Loft Academy. We cannot stress enough that there is no such thing as a good cheap instrument.
If you are not sure where to begin, we are here to help! We have experts in the field of stringed instruments on staff and they can guide you through the process of choosing the correct instrument for your student.
Start playing the violin with an introductory class at the Music Loft Academy.
Can you learn cello successfully with online lessons?
The cello produces a deep, rich, and vibrant sound. The cello reaches the lowest pitch in the traditional string quartet and is capable of covering nearly the entire range of pitches produced by the human voice. The Bach cello suites are one of the best examples of cello repertoire. The cello is larger than the violin and viola and it is played sitting down. It is held in between the knees. The cellos are a critical part of orchestral music; all symphonic works involve the cello section, and many pieces require cello soli or solos. Much of the time, cellos provide part of the low-register harmony for the orchestra.
When considering learning cello online for the first time, we recommend the student be at least 10 years of age. The cello will also require parental supervision for the first few weeks to help with foundational concepts such as how to hold the instrument and bow along with note reading.
With any stringed instrument, you will need to go to a reputable string shop or luthier to be fitted for the correct size cello. The Music Loft Academy highly recommends renting an instrument and not purchasing one. Rental programs are also a great way to see if your student likes an instrument without laying out hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a student line instrument. Most reputable string shops and luthiers offer an affordable “ rent to own program”.
The other consideration is that stringed instruments come in various sizes, and beginning students will most likely start on a smaller instrument. Most rental programs have a “rent to own” program that will roll over your rental credit until you are ready to purchase a full size instrument.
We strongly recommend you to NOT purchase an instrument on the internet. If you do, you are setting your child up for failure. These instruments are made with low quality materials that make it impossible to produce a good sound, cannot be repaired and are generally unplayable. If you are not sure about the quality of an instrument you are considering….ASK The Music Loft Academy. We cannot stress enough that there is no such thing as a good cheap instrument.
If you are not sure where to begin, we are here to help! We have experts in the field of stringed instruments on staff and they can guide you through the process of choosing the correct instrument for your student.
Start playing the cello with an introductory class at the Music Loft Academy.
Can you learn flute successfully with online lessons?
A flute is a reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening.The misconception is that this is an easy instrument. It takes more air than the clarinet or saxophone to play! It is small, lightweight and generally plays the melody in an ensemble.
There are 2 types of flutes, open hole and closed hole flutes. For beginners, closed hole flutes are recommended.
We recommend the flute starting at age 10. The flute requires a lot of air and a larger lung capacity. Flutists breathe exactly how vocalists breathe, and require the same type of air support to create good sounds. Many students with asthma have benefited from learning the flute as it supports healthy breathing techniques and core strength.
The flute is not just an instrument for the band or symphonic orchestra. It is found quite frequently in jazz, folk, and world music.
The flute is lightweight, portable and easy to care for.
Rental programs are a great way to see if your student likes an instrument without laying out hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a student line instrument. Most reputable music stores offer an affordable “ rent to own” program.
We strongly recommend you to NOT purchase an instrument on the internet. If you do, you are setting your child up for failure. These instruments are made with low quality materials that make it impossible to produce a good sound, cannot be repaired and are generally unplayable. If you are not sure about the quality of an instrument you are considering….ASK The Music Loft Academy. We cannot stress enough that there is no such thing as a good cheap instrument.
The Music Loft Academy offers flute lessons for all skill levels. Start today with an introductory class!
Can you learn clarinet and saxophone successfully with online lessons?
The clarinet and saxophone are woodwind instruments that require a reed. The reed is made from a cane plant and is attached to the mouthpiece with a ligature. When you blow into the instrument, the reed vibrates and produces sound. Both instruments are popular among students who are interested in playing in the school band. The clarinet and saxophone are helpful to strengthen the pulmonary system and lungs. It may even help mild to moderate asthma sufferers. Famous saxophonist Kenny G. suffered from asthma. His doctor told him to keep playing!
In a public school setting, many students start learning the clarinet first. Schools often do this to balance the ensemble as saxophones are very popular. If the student shows they are serious , then they can make the switch to the alto saxophone. For beginners we recommend starting woodwinds at the age of 10-11.
With any woodwind instrument, we recommend renting an instrument and not purchasing one. Instruments are expensive. Rental programs are a great way to see if your student likes an instrument without laying out hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a student line instrument. Most reputable music stores offer an affordable “ rent to own” program.
We strongly recommend you to NOT purchase an instrument on the internet. If you do, you are setting your child up for failure. These instruments are made with low quality materials that make it impossible to produce a good sound, cannot be repaired and are generally unplayable. If you are not sure about the quality of an instrument you are considering….ASK The Music Loft Academy. We cannot stress enough that there is no such thing as a good cheap instrument.
If you are not sure where to begin, we are here to help! We have experts in the field of woodwind instruments on staff who can guide you through the process of choosing the correct instrument for your student.
Can you learn the trumpet successfully with online lessons?
The trumpet (cornet is a smaller version) is the smallest member of the brass family.The sound on a trumpet is produced by buzzing into a small mouthpiece. A buzz is produced by putting your lips together to make a motorboat sound. Trumpet is a great solo instrument and is very versatile.
While orthodontia is somewhat troublesome to a trumpet player, it is not impossible to make good sounds with braces.You may need to use dental wax when playing as the pressure on your mouth with braces will not be comfortable.
The trumpet is a well-respected and popular choice in a variety of musical genres, including jazz, funk, classical, marching band, rock and pop. One of the most famous trumpet players of our time is Wynton Marsallis.
A side benefit of playing trumpet is that it gives our lungs, diaphragm and abdominals a good workout and strengthens our respiratory system. It may help improve our posture by strengthening our core muscles.
We recommend that a student begin online trumpet lessons at the age of 10-11.
With any brass instrument, we recommend renting an instrument and not purchasing one. Instruments are expensive. Rental programs are a great way to see if your student likes an instrument without laying out hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a student line instrument. Most reputable music stores offer an affordable “ rent to own” program.
We strongly recommend you to NOT purchase an instrument on the internet. If you do, you are setting your child up for failure. These instruments are made with low quality materials that make it impossible to produce a good sound, cannot be repaired and are generally unplayable. If you are not sure about the quality of an instrument you are considering….ASK The Music Loft Academy. We cannot stress enough that there is no such thing as a good cheap instrument.
If you are not sure where to begin, we are here to help! We have experts in the field of brass instruments on staff who can guide you through the process of choosing the correct instrument for your student.
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