The Benefits of Playing Instruments at Any Age
Did you know that music has been shown to help plants grow faster?
Music is good for humans too. As well as the joy of listening, there are various benefits of learning to play an instrument.
And all these benefits ring true no matter what age you are. It’s never too late to start creating music.
Continue reading to learn about the many benefits of playing instruments. You can also visit CongaChops.com to understand the benefits of playing Conga.
Relieve Stress
People have long turned to music for relaxation purposes. It helps reduce the symptoms of stress, lowering blood pressure and heart rate to create a much calmer inner state.
Playing a Select New or Pre-Loved Instrument or singing causes the body to release endorphins. This “feel-good” chemical creates a general feeling of well-being, relieves pain, and reduces emotional stress.
Practicing mindfulness is an excellent way to decrease stress, anxiety, and depression. Some people choose to meditate, but any act of focused awareness of the present moment will benefit your mental well-being.
To play music well, your mind must be fully focused on the connection between the instrument and your fingers. You must let go of your thoughts and be fully present. A musician can quickly go into a meditative state which is sure to have a positive impact on all types of negative emotions.
Develop Patience and Discipline
In our lives, it’s important to develop patience and perseverance. A lack of patience can cause disharmony in our health, career, and relationships.
Learning to play an instrument is a wonderful way to develop patience. Don’t give up when you get frustrated at the beginning. It will likely sound awful when you first pick up a new instrument, but persevere, and your ability will undoubtedly improve.
You’ll have to remain disciplined in order to memorize the necessary information and learn various fingerings and/or chord shapes. Consistent practice will lead you to your goal, but you’ll have to be patient because you’re not going to become Jimi Hendrix or Ludwig van Beethoven overnight.
Sometimes, we need a little bit of help along the way. Sloan School of Music is a modern music store that offers private and group lessons.
Unleash Your Creativity
Learning to express creativity can make your entire life more vivid and beautiful. With a bit of patience, you’ll soon be capable of creating your own music and expressing yourself in a captivating way.
Learning new skills is a great way to nurture your creative side, and playing an instrument involves sound, sight, and physical feeling. Each time you play, you will inspire your creative juices to flow.
The language of music has helped people to express emotions through sound for thousands of years. Creativity opens the mind, teaching us how to solve problems in an innovative way.
Improve Memory Ability
Music is so powerful that it can create deep neural connections in your brain. Learning an instrument will improve both your cognitive memory and your muscle memory. You’re giving your brain the equivalent of a full-body workout when you try to learn something new.
An interesting 2003 study found that children who play musical instruments have significantly better verbal memory than those who do not.
The benefits of playing an instrument are not limited to children. Memory, one of the cognitive skills most affected by the process of aging, is essential for older adults to maintain their well-being, social connections, and cognitive health.
A study of 157 twins found that those who play an instrument were “less likely to develop dementia and cognitive impairment.” The musicians were able to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by one-third.
It’s Good for Your Brain
The mental benefits of playing an instrument are endless. Albert Einstein, one of the most influential scientists of all time, adored playing musical instruments. His wife Elsa once said, “I fell in love with Albert because he played Mozart so beautifully on the violin. He also plays the piano. Music helps him when he is thinking about his theories.”
There’s a significant link between playing a musical instrument and the increased volume of gray matter in various regions of the brain. Musical instrument training engages the brain’s motor, auditory, and visual areas. It’s an amazing way to flex the brain’s muscles.
And musicians are more mentally alert. Playing an instrument strengthens the brain’s executive function and increases blood flow in the brain, providing a natural boost to your energy levels.
Increased Confidence
There are social benefits of playing an instrument too. As you progress, you’ll begin to feel more confident in yourself and your abilities.
One day you may play in front of other people, and this is great for building confidence. Mastering an instrument will make you swell with pride, and this massive boost of confidence will positively affect many areas of your life.
It’s also a good method of widening your social circle. It’s no secret that music brings people together. Practice in a disciplined manner, and it won’t be long before you’re sharing your gift with family and friends.
Children can connect with new classmates through their instruments and hobbies, and it’s not all that different for adults too. They can meet like-minded amateur musicians by going to an open mic night.
Spending time among people with similar interests is the foundation for long-lasting friendships that nourish your creativity and growth.
The Benefits of Playing Instruments Are Endless
And there you have it. Now you know some of the fascinating health benefits of playing an instrument.
Well, what are you still doing here? Go pick up an instrument and verify it yourself.
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