Eleven Things they didn't tell you ...

... about learning a musical instrument

Thinking of taking up an instrument? Great! But be warned - it's not as easy as you might think...

1. You will not be able to play perfectly immediately

You're better off starting with the basics, one step at a time.

(via imgur) 

2. Everyone will expect you to be able to play perfectly immediately

No matter how much you protest, everyone you know will assume that just because you've started learning you'll be a prodigy from the start. In the eyes of everyone else, you are one of the Von Trapp children.

...or doing a party-piece on demand, just like this:

A Mozart duet from Ariana Piknjač & Nikolina Šušak

Ariana Piknjač & Nikolina Šušak perform some beautiful (and clever) Mozart

3. No matter how young you start, there's always someone more prodigious than you

You really think you're making progress, you're mastering the scales and arpeggios, maybe even a few little Grade 1 pieces under your belt... and then you see something like this:

4. There are lots of rules to learn

Just because Jimmy Page uses a violin bow on a guitar doesn't mean you can too. And don't think you can get away with a bare chest on stage either. See also: Nigel Kennedy's concert attire.

5. Your practising will sound terrible at first

Everyone wants to sound amazing from the moment they pick up a new instrument, but don't get too excited. Practise is hard. It takes a lot of effort and dedication. Most of the time, especially at the beginning, it sounds bad. It makes Britney Spears do this:

(via reactiongifs.com)

6. Learning the guitar? Maybe the violin? Strings in general?

Your fingertips will never be able to feel anything ever again. Except pain. 

(via Reddit)

7. Oh, you've taken up the trombone?

What a chance to show your friends just how versatile an instrument the trombone is! It's not all about comedy noises and the theme tune from Jonny Briggs, right? Wrong. All people want from you is this sound:

8. Learning an instrument can alter your appearance

Is that a love-bite on your neck? No, you've started learning the violin.

9. You will suddenly find yourself with extra luggage

Any dreams of cycling home or taking the scenic walking route will be quashed the moment you strap that tuba or double bass to your back. Oh, and if you're of schooling age, you might want to think about preparing some witty answers to the question, "What's THAT?"

10. Eventually you will join an ensemble of some kind, and that's when the fun really starts

"Want to come for a drink tonight?" 
"Can't. Rehearsal."

(via Don't Poke The Bear)

11. It's easy to give up

But really, you shouldn't. Harness your sticktoitiveness. Keep going up and down those scales and doing those exercises. Like anything, practise makes perfect, and the joy you give to others with your playing will ultimately make the whole endeavour completely worthwhile.

Beethoven beats Mozart ...

... to the top spot as the most popular Classic FM composer of 2019

Beethoven is more popular than Mozart. Picture: Getty

By Helena Asprou

The Classic FM Hall of Fame 2019 has just come to an end – and now results reveal that Beethoven is more popular than any other classical composer

For four days over the Easter weekend, we celebrated the 24th annual Hall of Fame – the world’s largest poll of your classical music tastes.

Now, results show that Beethoven has been voted the most popular composer of all time.

There were 21 of his musical masterpieces in this year’s chart, which is an outstanding achievement and up two pieces from 2018.

It also makes Beethoven more popular than the likes of his rival Mozart, who dropped to second place with a total of 19 entries – four less than last year.

Beethoven’s Fur Elise on the harp

Credit: @rachelleehall / instagram

Following closely behind them was Tchaikovsky with 15 entries in the Top 300, while film composer John Williams and Bach both had 12 entries.

Four pieces penned by Beethoven also made it into the top 20, including his Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (‘Emperor’), which was placed at no. 6, and his Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, which came in at No. 8.

Another four of his compositions reached their highest places ever – including his Piano Sonatas Nos. 8 (‘Pathetique’) and 14 (‘Moonlight’), and the Bagatelle No. 25 (Für Elise). 

The results come ahead of the classical composer’s 250th anniversary next year, making it the perfect tribute to his fine work.

What makes The Lark Ascending so beautiful?

The piece topped this year's Classic FM Hall of Fame. Alan Titchmarsh explains why...

Classic FM presenter John Suchet, who has written six books about the German composer, said: “Beethoven’s music lifts the spirits. You can motivate yourself by listening to his Fifth Symphony, you can calm yourself by listening to his ‘Pastoral’ Symphony.

“His music is for all ages and every mood. It is entirely fitting that he should resume his rightful place as the best loved composer of them all as we prepare for his big anniversary year: 2020, the 250th anniversary of his birth.”

More than 110,000 votes were cast in this year’s Hall of Fame, with 300 classical masterpieces played on-air in the countdown to your No. 1 – Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending’.

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Mental health charities call for ...

... ‘vital’ support for classical musicians

Two thirds of musicians suffer from depression. Picture: Getty

By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM

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A new campaign – ‘Harmony in Mind’ – aims to better support musicians and tackle the mental health crisis in the culture sector

A study by Help Musicians UK found that 71 per cent of musicians have experienced anxiety and panic attacks. Meanwhile, 65 per cent have suffered from depression (three times higher than in the general population).

Between 2011 and 2015, it was found that men working in the culture sector were 20 per cent more at risk of suicide, while the risk among women was 69 per cent higher, compared to other industries.

Today, the magazine Classical Music launches a major campaign to help tackle the sector-wide crisis.

Classical Music is joined by seven of the leading mental health and classical music charities, including the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine, Help Musicians UK, the Incorporated Society of Musicians, Musicians’ Union, Music Support, The Royal Society of Musicians, Help Musicians UK and Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma movement led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.

Picture: Getty

Together, they are calling on industry leaders to better support musicians and staff, and to tackle the underlying causes of the crisis.

They are also urging orchestras and other classical music organisations to sign up to the Time to Change Employers’ Pledge. Led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, ‘Time to Change’ is working with employers in all sectors to change how they think and act about mental health in the workplace, and ensure that employees facing these problems feel supported.

“The music sector has a high level of self-employed workers which makes them particularly vulnerable,” said Francesca Treadaway, from the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

“The gig economy, where short-term contracts or freelance work is prevalent, has a lack of regulation with no job security or access to holiday, a pension scheme, sick pay or maternity cover and protection and support mechanisms which are to be found in more traditional employment.”

Picture: Getty

Over the course of a year, Classical Music magazine will provide a platform to share best practice, new research, advice and resources for musicians. It will also create a virtual forum for visitors to pledge their support, share experiences and discuss solutions to end the mental health crisis.

The campaign is led by the magazine’s new editor, Lucy Thraves, who hopes to create an environment where musicians feel “safe, supported and accepted”.

“This wonderfully creative and enriching industry presents unusual challenges for its people, with high levels of stress around performance, job insecurity [and] widespread funding crises,” said Thraves. “Stigma around mental health issues is still great, with constant anxiety and stress considered normal.”

Last year, a report was commissioned by the concert promoter Skiddle, who reported that 65 per cent of its respondents were dealing with “intense and unmanageable” levels of pressure.