What Is a Multi-Instrumentalist?
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays more than one instrument. It is common in modern music to see singers like Steven Taylor Los Angeles who also play guitar, piano, bass, or drums, for example. Some musicians’ unions specify a higher pay rate for performers who double on two or more instruments for a performance or recording.
For a professional musician, mastering multiple instruments is part of their skill set. Some people will always have a favorite instrument that they excel at, but having a high level of musicianship on a few other musical instruments can help diversify the artist’s musical palette.
It is standard for rock musicians to be skilled multi-instrumentalists. Other examples of multi-instrumentalists can be found in classical music, where it is not unusual to find a violinist who also plays the flute or a cellist who plays the oboe.
How Can I Become a Multi-Instrumentalist?
Becoming a multi-instrumentalist requires a lot of practice. If you are starting, it is recommended that you focus on mastering one instrument first. This will ensure that you have a firm footing in your overall musicianship.
Then, you can pursue another instrument. It helps to choose instruments that are related, like guitar and bass or drums and percussion. This will make it easier to learn the physical technique of the new instrument and also to learn music theory.
Playing multiple instruments can also improve your reading skills by exposing you to different clefs and musical vocabulary. It can also up your creative game by giving you experience choosing the right instrument with the appropriate timbre for each section of a song.
Being a multi-instrumentalist like Steven Taylor LA can also help you save money in the studio by being able to record your instrumental parts instead of hiring an audio engineer. You can also troubleshoot issues in the studio if you have a better understanding of the technical aspects of recording and mixing.
How Do I Become a Multi-Instrumentalist?
Developing as a multi-instrumentalist takes time, practice, and patience. However, the rewards are great. Not only do you learn new instruments, but you can also understand the dynamics of a song better by learning how the different instruments interact with each other. Having this understanding can make writing music for a band easier and open up more creative options when composing.
Many people think that learning multiple instruments is hard, but it’s not as tricky as they might believe. For starters, most music skills are transferable, so picking up a new instrument is much less work than starting from scratch. For example, the trombone’s fingerings are almost identical to the euphonium, and the tuba is not too far away (low brass again).
Another thing to keep in mind is that being a multi-instrumentalist can help you earn more money. This is because it means you can play more gigs or teach more students. Plus, having more skills can increase your chances of success if you’re trying to get a record deal or land a job in the music industry.