Whether you’re considering a career within the music industry or find music to be therapeutic, there are many reasons why you may have fallen in love with music.
Photo by Marcela Laskoski on Unsplash
However, it is one of the more expensive hobbies to pursue, with many feeling as though they are priced out due to this. Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can pursue your love of music without spending any money!
Watch online tutorials when learning an instrument.
If you are learning to play an instrument, YouTube can quickly become your new best friend. After all, here, you’ll find thousands upon thousands of free tutorials and lessons for just about every instrument, from guitars to flutes. While this does differ slightly from one-on-one tuition, it's a great way to familiarize yourself with the basics of an instrument or learn how to play your favorite song.
On a similar note, there are plenty of websites that provide free access to sheet music, too—whether you’re hoping to play the latest hits or more classical pieces. If you can’t find what you are looking for, consider shopping for sheet music second-hand.
Find free ways to listen to music.
Most music streaming platforms require you to pay for a subscription to listen ad-free. However, this does not mean that you have to put up with hours and hours of adverts, especially if they disrupt the flow of your playlist. For example, you could check out the best music torrents instead until you find a platform that you like.
Stay engaged with the music scene.
There are many ways in which you can remain actively engaged within the music scene without having to spend a single cent. For example, subscribing to blogs that regularly post about the latest releases and upcoming artists is a great starting point. After all, between reading interviews and reviews, you’ll be able to discover more about the kind of music you love!
Support up-and-coming artists.
Supporting up-and-coming artists over more established acts is another great way to enjoy music without spending money. For example, many of those who are just starting out in their careers will host free gigs and concerts as they work to gain more practical experience or build a consistent following. Who knows, you may discover one of your all-time favorite artists by attending one of these concerts!
On a similar note, local open mic nights are often free (or relatively cheap) to attend and could also help you discover great music from yet-to-be-discovered talent.
Find ways to make money out of your hobby.
Finding ways to monetize your interests is another great way to enjoy music for “free.” For example, if you’re a skilled musician in your own right, you may want to consider teaching others. Alternatively, you might want to look into working as a music journalist, writing reviews of albums, singles, and live shows. While it can be difficult to land this kind of role (even on a freelance basis), it often means that you receive free concert tickets alongside other perks.
Over time, you may even manage to turn your hobby into your full-time career, which means that you’ll also gain an intense sense of job satisfaction. After all, you can hardly call it work if you love what you are doing!
Become a seat filler.
Many venues and promotion companies offer free or incredibly discounted tickets to events that aren’t selling as well as originally intended. As a result, signing up to be a “seat filler” could be a great way to enjoy live music without having to spend much money whatsoever. Again, this can be a great way to discover new artists or bands, especially if you have not heard of them before.
You should also follow your favorite artists and bands on social media, as they may occasionally advertise free events for fans, such as listening parties ahead of an album launch. As they are usually first-come-first-serve, the sooner you see these posts, the better, so consider turning on your notifications so that you are alerted whenever they post!
Final thoughts.
In short, there are plenty of ways in which you can dedicate more time to your musical hobbies that don’t require you to drain your bank account. However, when you consider the benefits of pursuing your hobbies (especially when it comes to your mental health), this is often an area where it is worth spending a little money where you can afford to.
Money spent on things that make you happy is money well spent! X Neil.
