08 Dec 8 Benefits of Learning an Instrument as an Adult
We all know that encouraging your child to play a musical instrument can offer a plethora of benefits from development and social skills, to dedication and responsibility, but did you know there are many benefits that also come from learning to play an instrument as an adult?
Perhaps the opportunity wasn’t presented to you when you were younger, or maybe it was but you lacked the drive and dedication that you now possess as an adult. The great news is that it’s never too late to learn something new! In fact, there are additional benefits from learning now that you are grown, older and wiser.
If you’ve been on the fence about learning to play an instrument, here are 8 Benefits of Learning an Instrument as an Adult that just might encourage you towards taking a chance and making music a new part of your daily adulting life.
1) Increase Grey Matter
In terms of brainpower, having more grey matter to work with is good. Studies have shown that the volume of grey matter in a number of regions of the brain is higher in those learning to play a musical instrument. The long-range connection between brain regions is also strengthened with instrument playing. Those studying an instrument can look forward to improvements in literacy, spatial reasoning, and verbal memory.
2) Increase Reaction Time
Aging plays a lot of cruel tricks on the body. While young people have quick reflexes, older people tend to react slower. Luckily, by playing a musical instrument you can train your body to react more quickly again.
3) Become a Multitasker
Maybe you already think you’re adept at juggling a variety of tasks at once or maybe you just wish you were. Either way, learning to play an instrument can make this ability strong. Playing music pushes us to involve multiple senses at once. Do so on a regular basis and your multisensory skillset increases.
4) Expand Your Social Circle
We offer weekly group lessons and open jam sessions that encourage mixing and mingling among our students and community. We do this because we know it fosters learning and is important. More and more people work remote these days or sit in a cubicle and don’t socialize a lot with others. In our off time, we’re often looking plugged in looking at our devices rather than interacting with people in real life. If you’re retired (or just don’t get out much) you may be missing the social interaction you enjoyed when you worked. Taking music lessons usually requires you to leave the house and be among like-minded individuals who may just become new friends.
5) Boost Blood Flow
If you feel like you’re lagging in the energy department you may be tempted to reach for a cup of coffee or an energy drink. Rather than pumping your body with caffeine, grab your instrument instead. Studies have proven that brief periods of music lessons up the blood flow in the left hemisphere of the brain.
6) Alleviate Stress
Stress is all around us and sometimes it can be tough to find a way out of the daily grind. Fortunately, playing an instrument channels our energy and focus into something that makes people happy. That shift can lower your blood pressure and heart rate, which is good all around.
7) Better Breathing
Yes, playing an instrument can help you breathe better too—at least, playing a wind instrument does. Rather than taking the shallow breaths that so many people usually take, when you play a wind instrument you have to take deeper breaths from the diaphragm to be able to play properly. Deep breathing in such a way leads to a stronger respiratory system.
8) A Sense of Accomplishment
We’re always learning, but as adults, we may not feel that we’re making the big strides in learning that we made when we were kids. Sometimes adults lament the things that they wish they’d learned when they were younger. The truth is that learning to play an instrument can happen at any age in life and the sense of accomplishment you get from learning to play as an adult can be even greater than what you may have had as a kid.
If you really want to learn a new skill, it’s never too late. Music has so many advantages for us and those benefits are not kid-exclusive. There are so many reasons to pick up an instrument as an adult. Take the plunge and start reaping the rewards.
It’s never too late to learn!
We offer private one-on-one lessons with the area’s finest instructors. Everyone in our faculty is an experienced educator and elite performer on their respected instrument. We offer professional one-on-one lessons at our studio in Buena Vista, Colorado. We offer a wide variety of instruments both acoustic and electric and specialize in a variety of music styles from beginning to advanced. We cater our lessons to suit the age and desired skillsets of each individual in order to maximize their learning potential. Private lessons are for one hour each week and we offer half-hour lessons for children 12 and under.
- Instruments offered: Violin, Viola, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Beginner Piano, Ukulele and Voice
Enroll by December 25th and get one class free with the purchase of a one-month subscription.
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