Learning music: guides to get started and keep improving
How to start from scratch, practice better and choose between online, in-home or hybrid lessons.
Guides to learning music
What is the easiest instrument to learn? Easy to start vs. easy to master
Piano, recorder, and percussion get you playing quickly; guitar and tiple require building calluses; violin takes patience. A comparison chart and a checklist to help you decide.
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How long should a music lesson last, and how many lessons a week should you take?
A music lesson usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes and takes place once a week. Here is a chart by age, level, and goal, with the reasons behind each lesson length.
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Where can you study music in Bogotá? Free options, cajas de compensación, academies, and private teachers
An honest overview of music study options in Bogotá: free public programs, cajas de compensación, universities, academies, and private lessons, and when each makes sense.
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What is a half step (semitone) in music? Whole and half steps explained
A half step is the smallest distance between two notes. Learn to find it on piano and guitar, how many fit into an octave, and how the major scale is built.
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Music lessons in English in Bogotá
Which instruments you can study in English in Bogotá with Gissi, which teachers offer it, what's available for piano and singing, and how lessons in Spanish work for someone learning the language.
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Treble clef: how to read notes on the staff
Lines E-G-B-D-F, spaces F-A-C-E, and a few landmark notes to stop counting up from the bottom. Treble clef, step by step, with exercises for each instrument.
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At what age should you start learning music?
There's no single right age to start. We explain what to expect at each stage, from early music education to adulthood, and the suggested starting age for each instrument.
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Music school or private teacher? Which makes more sense
Music schools offer structure and ensembles; a private teacher offers attention and flexibility. We help you choose and tell you about a third option.
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Learning music from YouTube or with a teacher?
Tutorials are great for getting started and working out songs, but they can't see you play. What you can learn on your own, what the risks are and how to combine videos with a teacher.
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Individual or group music lessons? How to decide
Private lessons move at your own pace; a small group adds motivation and ensemble listening. We help you choose, even for siblings in the same home.
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How do you protect your hearing as a musician?
Your ears are your working tools, and there are no spares. How to rehearse at a lower volume, which hearing protection to use and which warning signs to take seriously.
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How many hours a day should you practice an instrument?
There's no magic number: it depends on your level, your age and your goal. Here are realistic benchmarks and how to make every minute of practice count.
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How much do music lessons cost? What affects the price
There's no single rate for music lessons. We explain what drives the price and how to compare offers that look different but aren't.
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Is it normal for your fingers to hurt when playing guitar?
Sore fingertips in the first few weeks are part of the process. We explain how to make it bearable, what to check on your guitar and which signs mean you should stop.
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What equipment do you need for online music lessons?
You don't need a recording studio. We explain which gear actually makes a difference in an online lesson and how to set up the audio so your instrument sounds the way it really does.
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Easy songs for beginner singers, by style
An easy song has a narrow range, a comfortable tempo and phrases with room to breathe. A list by style, and how to prepare each song step by step.
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Easy guitar songs based on how many chords you know
Two to four chords: a list of well-known songs, Latin and Colombian ones included, with the progression that repeats and what you practice with each one.
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Easy piano songs: beginner pieces by level
From “Au clair de la lune” to Satie: piano pieces and songs in four levels, with what each one trains and how to choose a good arrangement.
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In-home, online or hybrid music lessons: how to choose
What in-home and online lessons are like, what you need for each, and when it makes sense to combine them. A guide to choosing based on the learner and their instrument.
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How to learn music from scratch: where to start
You don't need prior talent or to know how to read sheet music. You need an instrument that motivates you, rhythm and ear training from day one, and a short but consistent routine.
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How to write a song from scratch, step by step
You don't need advanced theory to write your first song: an idea, four chords, a melody you like and lyrics of your own. We show you the whole process, step by step.
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How to choose a music teacher: 10 questions to ask before you start
A good teacher has mastered their instrument, knows how to teach it and adapts the lesson to the person in front of them. These 10 questions help you tell whether yours does.
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How to memorize a piece of music: the four types of memory
Repeating a piece until your fingers know it isn't enough. Solid memory combines four layers and a section-by-section method with restart points in case you get lost.
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How to practice music at home: a 20-minute routine
Practicing well matters more than practicing a lot. This 20-minute routine helps you progress on any instrument, with tips for kids and families.
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How to set up your space for online music lessons
A well-placed camera beats an expensive one. We show you how to set up lighting, noise, music stand and camera for the instrument you play.
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How to prepare for your first music recital
A good recital is prepared weeks ahead. This timeline tells you what to do at each stage, what to bring and how to handle performance day.
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How to overcome stage fright when playing or singing
Nerves never disappear completely, not even for experienced musicians. The goal is to play well with them, and that can be trained.
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Perfect pitch and relative pitch: what they are and how to train them
Perfect pitch is rare and hard to acquire as an adult. Relative pitch, the one musicians use most, can be trained at any age with daily exercises.
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Posture and ergonomics for musicians: how to avoid injuries
Good posture isn't about sitting still and straight: it's about making the instrument fit you. Adjustments by instrument, warm-ups, breaks and when to see a professional.
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Prefer to learn with a teacher?
Online or in-home lessons in Bogotá, for all ages, with vetted teachers.