The Benefits of Learning to Play a Musical Instrument

The melodious strains of a piano or a guitar conjure images of sitting by a fireplace, enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, on a cold winter day. Music has always been a pleasure and way of escaping for many. Listening to music or playing a musical instrument has many benefits. It brings joy to you and to those around you. Do you know how to play a musical instrument? If you were too busy before, now is the perfect time to learn to play a musical instrument. Here are some benefits of doing so.

Defeats Boredom – Retirement may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Yes, you can relax around the house and enjoy peace and quiet. But, after some time, boredom begins to settle in. This can lead to a host of other problems, including depression, a negative outlook on life and physical deterioration. This is the perfect time to learn a musical instrument as it alleviates boredom.

Increases Memory Capacity – Research shows playing a musical instrument stimulates the brain and increases memory. This problem is quite common in the aging process. However, keeping yourself occupied and challenging your brain can prevent its onset. So, pick up a guitar or sit at the piano bench and start learning some music.

Enhances Coordination – A significant amount of hand-eye coordination is necessary when playing a musical instrument. When you read music notes, your brain converts these notes into specific motor patterns. Loss of coordination skills is also a problem with the aging process. You can avoid this by learning to play a musical instrument.

Sharpens Concentration – As we age, our thought processes tend to veer off to other areas. It becomes more and more difficult to keep our minds focused on one thing. However, this can be avoided by playing a musical instrument. You need to concentrate well on aspects like pitch, quality of sound, rhythm, and tempo, etc. This helps you to sharpen your concentration skills.

If you lacked the time, before retirement, to learn to play a musical instrument, now is the perfect time to do so. Imagine the fun you will have, with your friends and neighbors, playing music together.

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