Did you know that over half of U.S. households contain at least one person who plays a musical instrument? If your household doesn’t yet have a musician, why not become one?
If you’ve always wanted to learn to play an instrument, now is the time. There are plenty of benefits to learning to play music!
Read on to learn some of the top reasons that you should pick up an instrument today.
1. It’s Great for Stress-Relief
Did you know that learning how to play an instrument can be good for your mental health?
When you play an instrument, you have to focus on the task at hand. The rest of your problems have to, at least temporarily, fade into the background while you play.
This can be fantastic for bringing you back “into the moment” and keeping you grounded.
Music is also a creative outlet for your emotions. If you’re struggling with overwhelming feelings, channel that struggle into your music and let it go.
2. It Improves Your Listening Skills
It’s obvious that playing music will make you more attentive when you’re listening to music. You’ll need to pinpoint specific sounds and try to mimic them. You’ll also need to be able to identify when something isn’t quite right.
Did you know that this translates into non-music listening as well?
Research suggests that musicians are better able to pick out individual sounds in loud situations. This means that they may be better at, for example, keeping track of a conversation in a loud and crowded bar.
These benefits continue even after age-related hearing loss.
3. You Might Make New Friends
Learning a new instrument might open you up to new friends and social situations. There are a few ways that this can happen.
First, everyone knows that playing the guitar in public or at a party is sure to get you some onlookers. You may win a few fans and start up some conversations about your new favorite hobby.
If you take classes, you’ll have built-in friends. You already know that you have at least one thing in common, and it’s easy to build a legitimate friendship from that starting point.
If you’re feeling lonely, it might be time to look up “bass guitars near me!”
4. It May Prevent Cognitive Decline
Research is new in this area, but it suggests that playing instruments may reduce the risk of cognitive decline in old age.
Playing instruments does improve cognitive development in children and it may increase the volume of grey matter in your brain. It also improves your memory.
But what about the long-term effects?
Studies suggest that playing instruments may help prevent both low-level cognitive impairment and dementia, though other factors may be involved.
Are You Going to Learn to Play an Instrument?
With these benefits in mind, is it time for you to learn to play an instrument? Whether you try the easiest instruments to learn or go straight for something complicated, you’re sure to love this new creative venture.
Good luck!
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