Learn the basics;

After choosing a skill, it is time to get a lay of the land. Learning a new skill efficiently requires a thorough understanding beforehand. Starting with websites like Wikihow, eHow, and Wired, skim through articles and guides to your target skill. Pick out the skills that are common between guides. Overlapping points in guides can help you isolate critical sub-skills for practice.

Next, research more thorough guides to your skill. The Dummies Guides are a great place to start, but for more specialized information check sources from website guides. Again, the goal is to pull out the most common skills different practitioners consider important. Skim through three guides; note the important points.

Once you have an understanding of your target skill, the next step is obtain critical tools. Using information from your research, and keeping in mind the resources you are willing to devote to this skill, gain 30 days access to necessary equipment. To learn piano, get a keyboard or find a piano you can use every day. Rent something. Stop in at your local specialty store. More often than not, owners of local stores are willing to help a novice learn a new skill without too much investment.

While obtaining critical tools, keep in mind that the person you obtain your equipment from is likely a wealth of information. They may also offer a mentor to help you along the first steps in learning a skill.