What is the best way to master a musical instrument?

There are a couple of very important things to being able to play an intrument, and learning how to play it well. Obviously practicing like everyone else has said is extremely important, but also how you practice is a key part.
Whenever you practice, you always have to devote your time to fundamentals. I play the trombone, and the fundamentals I always have to work on are scales, lip slurs, long tones, buzzing, intervals, etc...Having all your "tools in the box" so to say will just make you a better musician overall. If you practice all the small things that you might find annoying and useless, will help you immensely whenever you encounter a tough passage in a piece of music. Also try recording yourself when you practice, then go back and listen to it. It makes a ton of difference. Also listening to recordings, and playing in a variety of ensembles will also make a huge impact. Good luck!

If you don't know already, you probably won't, but I'd go with practice.

well first you choose one you like then u learn the notes after that it takes practice

Devote all your time to its study. But who would want to do that?

I think the best way to eventually gain competence in a musical instrument is to stick with it for many many years playing regularly, and to play with other people.

It's all practice.

Practise regularly every day (at least two hours). You should have a good teacher who ensures you practise correctly.

Two things, and two things only: proper instruction and practice.

Some may disagree, but I think the percussion instruments are the easiest to learn, and probably to play.

The piano is a percussion instrument, and its study will benefit you whatever instrument you wind up playing.

The more difficult instruments I think most people will agree, are the strings: including the harp.

The three most difficult instruments to learn and to play after the strings - again, in my opinion, others may disagree - are the French Horn(usually by invitation only), the oboe and the bassoon. All three take a good pair of lungs, and perfect embrasure.

I forgot the organ, the "King of Instruments". I tried it and failed: mastery of the feet pedals, coupled with playing of the hands, was totally beyond me, as with a lot of people.

I didn't mean to go on like this; suffice it to say that all of the above answers are correct: proper instruction and practice.

Wotan

It takes a lot of practice to master an instrument. Lots and lots of practice

The first thing you should do is practice and it is CRUCIAL that you practice good habits, and not develop bad ones. Then you should practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice ... then when you're finished with that you should...practice. Really that's all that is necessary as long as you practice good techniques, and not bad habits. Get a private teacher if you don't have one, and don't forget to practice. : )

practice enjoyably!!!

Dont listen to these fools,

the best way to learn is to be forced to play under intense pressure.

Organise as big a concert as you can manage (say a few hundred people) and choose music that is way beyond your capability.

Then you will find that when the big day comes you will naturally manage to find the skill to play.

Or you will fail and make alot of people angry at you, but that is the risk you take...

Practise is the EASY way to do it.... :P

Not to steal the Motto from Carnegie Hall but.....


"Practice, Practice, PRACTICE!!!"

Practice makes perfect. Good luck : )

practice

practice makes perfect..
but it depends if you have interest in that instrument.