Let’s be honest, being confined to the home isn’t as hard as it once might have been. We’re surrounded by wi-fi, smartphones, tablets, gaming devices, ultra HD TVs and no shortage of audio and streaming entertainment to keep ourselves amused.

Even with everything we have today, at some point we’re going to get sick of streaming endless TV shows, docos and watching funny quarantine videos on social media.

So, it’s time to get creative. This is the perfect time to try something different or learn a new skill. Time to invest and find that inner Bob Ross/Dave Grohl/Beyonce that lurks inside each and everyone one of us. Why spend hours trying to ‘find the entertainment’ when you can ‘be the entertainment’!

To help you on your way, we’ve found 5 ways to get your creative juices flowing to learn a skill and become that talented artists you always knew you could be. But never had the time!

And by the way they’re all free:

1. MEB Online Music Theory Courses | free AMEB.com

The Australian Music Examinations Board currently offers Theory of Music modules for free! You can study online at your own pace and will have free access to the courses until June 30th. If you’ve always wanted to understand music more profoundly, or are perhaps already learning an instrument, now’s the time to deep dive into the material. Offering music theory learning material and widely recognised examinations, the AMEB has been your resource for professional music education since 1918. Other websites that offer free classes on this topic: Alison.

2. Beginner’s Guitar lessons with Justin | free | Justinguitar

Justin Sandercoe has been teaching guitar online since 2001, but it’s never too late to join his tribe. Highly praised by fellow musicians, Justin is a household name in his field, and offers more than 1000 free online guitar lessons. Born and raised in Tasmania Justin has been living in London for over 20 years and plays music both in his role as an online teacher and with his band We Came As Strangers.

3. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics | free | Coursera

If you’ve always felt like you wanted to tell stories to the world through song, you should sign up for this free songwriting course! It teaches you all about developing your story, choosing a point-of-view, and using the right rhyming techniques to achieve the emotional response you’re looking to express in your songs.

4. Acrylic Painting Lessons | free | Will Kemp Art School

From still life tutorials to landscapes and creating abstract paintings with acrylic, these classes cover it all. You can even start from the very beginning and learn how to properly mix colours to create new shades or learn more about picking the right materials. Take advantage of Will Kemp Art School’s free videos now! Also recommended: Jerry’s Artarama

5. Dance Classes | free | Learn to Dance

This site offers short slips to learn specific moves, not covering entire classes, so it’s a great starting point if you have never taken dance lessons before. For something a little more substantial you’ll probably have to invest a bit of money. Also check out STEEZY or Sydney Dance Company’s Virtual Studio for a wide range of virtual classes for any level!

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Check out these sites offering introductory offers and free trials:

And when you’ve mastered your art, drop us a line and maybe we can feature you on this very site!