4 Things To Consider Before Learning an Instrument for the First Time

We interview Lessonface Teacher Roque Deschamps

Over the past year, new teacher Roque Deschamps has taken off on Lessonface. 400 lessons, many successful group classes through the Lessonface Pass, and a lot of hard work later, Roque answered some questions we had about his journey as a musician and a teacher. We talked about everything from his inspirations, teachers who changed his life, the best part about being bilingual, and 4 key tips to learning an instrument for the first time. Enjoy!
 

1. What was the very first instrument you picked up? Why did you choose that one?

The first instrument I played as a kid was the violin, when I was 7 years old. I kept studying the violin all throughout my teenage years alongside electric guitar, which I started playing when I was 10 years old because I was really getting into rock and I was really inspired by movies like Back to the Future.

2. Did you have any important teachers in your life who made an impact on you?

Yes, that teacher was Josean Jacobo. I was truly inspired by him to choose music as my profession. He introduced me to Jazz Harmony, Cuban music and Dominican folk music. Here I stopped being obsessed with rock and started to study other music styles.

3. Which musicians inspire you the most?

Some of them are Keith Jarret, Miguel Zenon, Tito Rodríguez, J.S. Bach, George Benson, Juan Luis Guerra, Stevie Ray Vaungh, John Coltrane, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Miles Davis, and Gil Evans. There are so many.

4. Let’s say someone reading this is considering learning an instrument for the first time. What advice would you give them?

• 1. First of all, find out which is the music style that inspires you to make music, and you visualize yourself performing. After that you can pick from the main instruments within that style, for example rock's main instruments: guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, or voice.
• 2. Make sure you find the right teacher. This teacher must be aware of your goal and also be proficient in the style you like.
• 3. Music theory : sooner or later you'll have to understand how music works if you are taking music seriously (both as a profession or a job). And I believe, the sooner the better. Even famous self taught musicians like The Beatles knew many of the basics of music theory and harmony in order to compose and share ideas among musicians.
• 4. Trust the learning process: Don't be too hard on yourself. Realize that the first requirement to learn any skill is not knowing how to perform it in the first place, and if you actually could you wouldn't need to take lessons. This just means you can only get better, so be patient, work hard, listen to your teacher's advice and you'll see the results faster than you realize.
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5. What is your favorite way to perform? Live in front of an audience, recording audio or making a video? Why?

Live in front of an audience definitely, the most important thing about music is the present and how I can interact with other musicians, how we can lock in and sync together to make something beautiful in the moment that will reach straight into the heart of the audience, this energy directly goes back to the musician and by that musicians might be able to climb higher and higher.

6. Do you have any advice for someone trying to learn Latin Music specifically?

Yes, choose one latin music style you like to start with because latin music is a very broad world (Cuban Son is a good place to start with). Do lots of critical listening to this music.

7. Who’s your favorite musical artist from the Dominican Republic?

Juan Luis Guerra, he is truly an amazing composer, arranger, and songwriter. He has a unique musical voice, and that makes him original, an innovator who is always breaking with the already established tradition creating new ways to perform genres like merengue, bachata, gaga, salsa. And always creating very sophisticated (and this never takes away from the) and tasty dance music.

Trust the learning process: Don't be too hard on yourself. Realize that the first requirement to learn any skill is not knowing how to perform it in the first place, and if you actually could you wouldn't need to take lessons. This just means you can only get better, so be patient, work hard, listen to your teacher's advice and you'll see the results faster than you realize.

8. If you magically had the power to learn one musical instrument you don’t already play and be great at it, what would it be?

The piano definitely. Every musician knows some piano basics but really playing and performing Latin and jazz piano at a high level would be what I would use my magical power for.

9. This is our last question! Being bilingual is a superpower. What’s the best part about being able to speak both English and Spanish?

Every language you learn opens many new perspectives of how others live, and think. I think this is the best way to interact and learn about new cultures. Also, having this super power is really amazing, because almost everywhere I go I can communicate and properly interact with most of the people I run into through English or through Spanish.

Knowing English and Spanish has been paramount in the past in order for me to win scholarships, and job opportunities in the past.

Check Out Reviews from Roque Deschamps' Students: 

"Roque does an excellent job at explaining the material and keeping me challenged. He keeps things fun while pushing me to get better. Additionally, he is extremely knowledgeable regarding guitar and music theory. Would absolutely recommend" - Joshua, Verified Student

"My second full lesson with Roque and already I can tell he is a really good teacher - well prepared, with a lot of knowledge and experience, musically very strong, very friendly and relaxed while at the same time challenging me. He sends materials after each lesson and even video tutorials, which was very helpful. Bonus for me - he has a guitalele and plays it himself, and has materials specifically designed to teach it, which very few guitar teachers can provide. Highly recommended!" - Laurin, Verified Student

Roque teaches 1:1 lessons in Guitar, Guitalele, Jazz Improvisation, Music Theory, Ukulele, Fingerstyle Guitar, Arranging, Improvisation, and more!

ABOUT ROQUE DESCHAMPS

Roque Deschamps is a highly experienced (+10 years) music educator with an educational background from the Conservatorio Nacional de Música de Santo Domingo, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg (Austauschprogramm), and several programs from Berklee College of Music. He's a professional guitar player experienced in several different styles and genres ranging from pop, r&b, rock, blues to many kinds of latin (merengue, bachata, bossa, samba, and more) music as well as a composer, arranger, and copyist.

>> Book a lesson with Roque Deschamps