Five Ways to Use Music Technology

So you think you’re a techie? That might be true but there’s a good chance that you haven’t fully used your love of technology to enrich your love of music. Just like everything else in the world, technology is making music easier, more fun, and more assessable to amateurs as well as making the experience more profitable and efficient for professionals. Although it’s unlikely that technology will ever take the place of real instruments and real people playing those instruments, there are plenty of ways that music technology can make your practice or leisure time more fun.

Play with accompaniment

Adding accompaniment to your music used to be a difficult and expensive endeavor but now there are easy ways to do it. Apple’s Garage Band is a favorite among people who want to add accompaniment but don’t want high dollar, complicate programs that would take a long time to learn. There are many other programs available and some are free.

Record Yourself

Music teachers used to give out cassette recorders but now a computer or your phone will do the job. Recording yourself, both with video and audio only, help you to hear mistakes you’re making that you might miss while concentrating on fixing other problems. Since music is just as much about your body language as how you play, making a video of yourself is important as well.

Practice Systems

Regardless of your instrument, there are practice systems that provide you with tools to help you improve. Many of these systems allow for silent practice in case you live in an apartment or practice late at night and don’t want to wake anybody up. Some of these systems include tuners and metronomes built in while others may provide the accompaniment for your piece if you’re preparing a solo.

Download some Apps

You know “there’s an app for that”. Music has a ton of useful apps for your phone or tablet that can help you practice, perform, or just have some fun. There are apps that allow you to play guitar, listen to music streaming from the internet, identify a piece of music simply by holding your phone to the speaker, metronomes, tuners, and apps that allow you to compose melodies even if you can’t read traditional music notation.

Pull out the Casio

You might remember the days when the Casio keyboard could be purchased at Walmart. It came complete with some drum beats and less than beautiful backup band sounds but none of that matters. Even some of the old, cheap keyboards that are collecting dust in your closet can be hooked up to your computer allowing you to compose using more current music technology. Don’t assume that because it’s old, it’s no longer useful.

Finally

Music technology is changing the way we make music but don’t be fooled. For the serious musician, the traditional ways of learning how to write and play music are still the best avenues to success. Technology can be an aid to your success but it won’t take the place of sound training. A tool is only as good as its operator.