What Are the Benefits of Learning to Play an Instrument?
Is learning to play a musical instrument a dream that you know will never happen? Well, as the old quote goes: “the distance between your dreams and reality is called action.” You can learn to play an instrument like a pro, and once you hear all the benefits that come along with playing music, you’ll be more motivated than ever! Take a look.
Physical Benefits of Learning to Play an Instrument
Extensive studies have shown that children display long-term positive results from playing musical instruments. In fact, the benefits of music have been proven more effective in strengthening abstract reasoning skills in younger and older children than does teaching them computers skills.
Kids aren’t the only ones who can reap the benefits of learning an instrument. Adults will also gain tremendously from playing a musical instrument. Music has been shown to reduce stress, increase productivity, develop creativity, and build confidence.
Here are a few ways you can live a better, happier, healthier life just by picking up an instrument and learning to play the music you love.
Music and the Brain
You’ve probably heard that playing a musical instrument makes you smarter, but is that really true? Let’s take a look at how music affects the brain to answer that question. There has been a ton of research done to determine whether music is simply a mood enhancer or if it does something in the brain to improve cognitive processes.
Recent discoveries have led scientists to believe that both listening to and playing a musical instrument makes you smarter because these activities actually release more BDNF, CREB, and synapsin I, all elements that strengthen mental capacities. So playing a musical instrument produces brain-building compounds and neural growth factors that are making you smarter, stronger, and better at doing activities throughout your day.
Some of the brain benefits of learning a musical instrument include increased comprehension and math skills, better coordination, and a greater capacity for memory. Another question on this subject is does music help you study? According to these finding, yes. Playing music will make learning easier by involving both sides of the brain in the process.
So studying an instrument will be easier than studying any other subject since you’re growing your brain power as you practice and learn!
The Social Benefits of Music
Music is also proven to help tremendously in social situations, including work environments, friendships, and even more involved relationships. The training that the mind and body go through to develop musical comprehension is the same as the training required to develop speech and verbal skills, essential components in any relationship.
Additionally, music training develops the same muscles that will assist you in cooperation, time-management, organization, and concentration/listening skills. These are all skills that any relationship management expert will tell you are necessary for navigating healthy relationships.
Music training also strengthens a person’s self-expression and helps you to break out of your inhibiting barriers (get up there and play!). So develop your musical talents, and you will be a team leader no matter where you go!
Emotional Benefits of Learning to Play
It’s no secret that music plays on our emotions. The right song can make us feel elated, angry, or confused. Music can make us cry before our brain has even had time to ask why. Music has a powerful pull on our emotions, and you don’t need to be a scientist to confirm this as fact.
What’s more, playing music can have some fascinating psychological benefits. Regularly playing an instrument teaches you perseverance, discipline, and responsibility, important skills for accomplishing anything in life. Playing music also fills you with a sense of accomplishment; after all, you should feel good about mastering a song, difficult chord, or instrument!
Most of all though, playing music makes people happy! There are few pleasures in this world that can be compared to the high you feel from sitting down with your own instrument and letting your soul flow through your body and out across the freeing flowing chords of a musical piece. Discover the stress-relieving power of playing your own song.
Tap into the Benefits of Music
Now that you know the massive benefits of learning a musical instrument, you’re probably flooding your brain with questions like “What instrument should I play?” Or maybe you just want to play the easiest instrument to learn, or if you’re feeling extremely ambitious, the hardest. Explore the wonderful world of music slowly, and try your hand at one or more instruments you enjoy.
With all the music apps and tutorials available today, you can master an instrument faster than ever. Let us know in the comments what benefits you receive from learning an instrument!
