I'm a starting musician, where do I begin?

[Israely_Wizard]

I never had any real training in music: I didn't had voice training, I don't know how to play any musical instrument, and I never sang in front of a large audience. And yet, I like to sing, people say I have a good ear for music, and I'm in my singing group in my school.

Although I'm new to making music, I have a history with it: My dad write lyrics once in a while and even wrote a song that got very famus here, in Israel; Ever since I was about 3 years old I liked music (I have a home movie of me, at that age, conducting an opra piece that was on TV ); I even wrote a couple of songs myself (A chip off the old block), but it's in Hebrew, so I can't post them here.

I want to start a band, but I'm new at my town and don't now anyone around here. Would the fact that I have little to no muisical training be a problem convincing people to start a band with me?

[MmeBergerac]

Is there any school music at your town? You could learn to read music, if you don't know, or to play an instrument, at the time you'd meet people also interested in music. Surely you'll find someone else who wants to form a band, or even join one that already exists.

[LikeLuna]

There are so many people who can't sing at all who are in bands...I highly doubt anyone will mind that you haven't had training.

You should really think about joining school band/orchestra/chorus, if you can. Or you could take private lessons to learn an instrument. I've been in band for five years now and it's helped me enormously, especially as far as training my ears and becoming more aware of the parts in music (I'm not explaining it very well, but it's made me a better singer).

Edit: Oh, you are in a singing group. I didn't read that the first time, sorry!

[drummer]

Actually, many bands are looking for good singers. Mostly because there are many musicians who can't sing a lick.
I would just hang out at different music venues, talk to musical people in your town, just kind of be around when there is music playing. Many people are discovered this way.

[wickedwitch168]

Once you start to get to know everyone better, you might be able to find a singing teacher or an instrument teacher. In Canada (where I am) there are a lot of people who have their own music buisness.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

it would be good to get some musical training, but it's not like every single famous musician out there took lessons. You should try putting out flyers or something for a band audition and it would be good to figure out how to play some instrument. I suggest keyboard, just so you know both bass and treble clef

[Vita]

Or try a music store and see if they can connect you to someone who teaches an instrument you are interested in. One you feel somewhat confident try joined a municipal band if you town has one. I know around here every down does. Basically it's one practice a week and one concert. It's rather informal and a good way to get you foot in the pond so to speak

[leah49]

Some of the most famous musical artists out there can't read music to save their lives yet they are very successful, so that shouldn't hurt you in forming a band, but it would be a good thing to learn it. You can take lessons through a music store (the kind that sells instruments not CDs!). Either they should offer some for certain instruments or will know someone who can teach you. If a local high school or college (or equivalent) has a band, orchestra, or choir you could inquire there about lessons from one of the students. At the very least you could try to teach yourself with a beginner's book. It might be hard to do, but it seems you might have some kind of background with the singing group. Or you could go for a DVD or CD-Rom program that claims it can teach you. I don't know how well they work, but if you have no other options it might be worth a try.

[Grymmditch]

Don't sweat reading music if all you want to do is join a band.
I've been a musician for almost 30 years, some of those as a semi-pro, and I can't read music. A well developed ear can take you much further, unless you plan to join an orchestra or something - in that case, yes, you'll need to read, and read very well. For popular music though, a good ear is all you really need. It's still possible to grasp a good basic chunk of music theory without seeing it on paper.

Piano (or keyboard) is a great instrument to start out on, because everything is laid out linearly. Also, only one spot exists for each note. On the contrary, on say, guitar, there are a few different places to play a "middle C", which can make learning a bit tricky. But if you don't have a keyboard, then make do with whatever you have.

[Insomniatic]

Originally Posted by Grymmditch

Don't sweat reading music if all you want to do is join a band.
I've been a musician for almost 30 years, some of those as a semi-pro, and I can't read music. A well developed ear can take you much further, unless you plan to join an orchestra or something - in that case, yes, you'll need to read, and read very well. For popular music though, a good ear is all you really need. It's still possible to grasp a good basic chunk of music theory without seeing it on paper.

Piano (or keyboard) is a great instrument to start out on, because everything is laid out linearly. Also, only one spot exists for each note. On the contrary, on say, guitar, there are a few different places to play a "middle C", which can make learning a bit tricky. But if you don't have a keyboard, then make do with whatever you have.

I support this route, I think if you understand basic music you should be able to learn songs easily, just make sure you have a few sources to learn from, even if you don't have a teacher, so getting a couple of Keyboard/Piano basics is good, also making sure you know somebody who is musically trained 'officially' is also good, lke get in touch and make friends with someone who knows how to play the piano properly, that is very important, and then you should be good

[tj4234]

The first time you play live, it is quite weird. And it will all seem to go bad to you. Because you will feel how much just standing live has dropped your ability. But that gets easier.

To find a band, I suggest putting an advertisement in the local paper or music magazine. That is how a lot of famous bands formed(Take That, Spice Girls, Metallica etc).

[Saoirse]

I would suggest once you make some friends in town, im sure some of them will have a similar intrest in music and use that to start your band, then if you all start playing together there is a good chance you will be about the same level on your different instruments allowing you to improve quicker, rather than having someone amazing at their instrument and the rest of the band average, cause its slows down your progression(or so i feel).

[tj4234]

also another way is to find out who plays an instrument at your school(a music teacher knows a fair few of them(note, not all... a lot of musicians, such as myself, hated music in school and hate the teachers)) and then get to be friends with them.

You will probably find their are either in the really popular groups, or the ones who are usually better, tend to be shy. The reason the shy ones are better is because they don't socialize as well and so, they do what they would do on their own. They practice.

[skistar123]

LEARN TO READ MUSIC. Seriously, just do it! As soon as you've done that, instruments are easier - you just have to learn where all the notes are, but if you can read music, you can probably play the instrument to a basic level! (if that makes sense). I can't stress enough how important it is to be able to read music. Don't learn using guitar or drum tab, or those ocarina boxes or anything like that because it's all very well until you want to learn a different instrument. Standard notation is interchangeable among most instruments and it's the best skill a musician can have. You might hear famous musicians say they can't read music or they wouldn't know how to read a score, but I would be prepared to bet large amounts of money that they are lying/know more than they think!