It’s not hard to see the benefits of playing an instrument. Just ask Google!
With school starting up again next month, kids across the country are getting a chance to join (or continue) with school music. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to discover a new passion and improve their lives. But for those of you who aren’t in school anymore – this article is for you too! The benefits of music last a lifetime and it’s never too late to start. Let’s dive in.
1: Train Your Brain
Music is like lifting weights for your brain! According to Psychology Today, musicians have more grey matter in the areas of the brain associated with playing an instrument, such as the auditory cortex. Of course, this brain-matter boost helps them become better musicians, but it also contributes to improved speech, language, emotion, and auditory processing.
2: Make Friends
Playing an instrument invariably puts you in touch with a community of like-minded people. Whether sitting side-by-side with fellow students in school band or orchestra, playing with a small group, or even visiting your local music store so you can continue strumming in solitude, playing an instrument is a great way to meet cool new people!
3: Get Healthier
Playing music doesn’t just help the mind – it actually make the body healthier too! Research has shown that making music can lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, and improve our body’s ability to fight viruses. Plus, we all know that music helps us reduce stress, and reducing stress is associated with countless physiological benefits.
4: Develop Professional Skills
Very few of us are born with the requisite skills to master an instrument. Instead, it takes years and years of practice, patience, discipline, and time management. While becoming a great musician is a wonderful result of all this effort, these traits will serve you well in all aspects of your life, like your chosen profession. Every worker in every industry can benefit from a little more discipline, patience, and time management. Why not hone this skills with music?
5: Have Fun!
We can go on and on forever about the benefits of making music, but we don’t want to lose sight of the most important thing. Making music is FUN! Watching TV, playing video games, or surfing the internet are really effective ways of killing time, but time spent playing an instrument is a true joy. Plus, the more you hone your skills as a musician, the more satisfaction you get from it. So, next time you feel the urge to check that Instagram feed, why not put down the phone and pick up an instrument?
Don’t just take our word for it though. Check out these videos of students talking about their favorite band and orchestra instruments and what playing music means to them.