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Under the Old Covenant, the Levites were distinguished by God from the rest of the people and set apart with special privileges of drawing near to Him in worship (Num. 8:14-16, 16:8-9; Deut. 8:10).  It was based upon this distinction that they were later used for singing and the playing of musical instruments in the Temple (1 Chron. 16:4; 23:1-5; 2 Chron. 29:25-26, 35:3-10; Ezra 3:10; Neh. 12:27, 44-47).  Under the New Covenant, no such distinction exists any longer.  There is no designated group set apart from the rest of the people to sing and use musical instruments in worship.  Yet this is precisely what happens whenever musical instruments are used in the worship of the church.  In the New Testament, we have all become priests unto God with equal access into His presence, and, therefore, we are all commanded to sing His praises (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; Heb. 10:19; Col. 3:16).  We have no authority to set apart any group for the playing of musical instruments in the church.

Old Light on New Worship, John Price, pages 53, 54