Have you ever met anyone who regrets being able to play a musical instrument?
I haven’t, but I have met countless people that regret not learning one.
So what are the advantages?
A large number of studies have been undertaken into the advantages of learning a musical instrument. Highlights include:
Learning a musical instrument is fun!
Collaborative music making in bands, orchestras, choirs etc is one of the most satisfying things to do. Perhaps one of the best parts of learning a musical instrument is that you can meet lots of new people and friends in a sociable setting.
You get to explore new possibilities in your music making by learning from those you meet and passing on your own experience to help others is extremely fulfilling.
Stress reliever
Ever come home feeling stressed? 5 minutes playing your instrument will sort that out every time. We all know that stress is part of life, so why not give your child this lifelong skill, so they can quick relieve stress in the future.
Don't forget, you don’t need to be a professional musician, just a reasonable level of competence to enjoy playing for your own pleasure.
Learning improves confidence
Performing to others noticeably helps with self-confidence, especially in those children who suffer from shyness. If your children don't yet play, watch how they react when they see your face, full of pride, the first time they perform.
Mastering a piece on a musical instrument is difficult – there’s a huge amount of satisfaction in achieving it. There's some tips in this blog that can really help too.
Performing takes an inner strength that many people only discover when they do it. A lot of people surprise themselves, in a good way!
Learning music improves memory
Studies have shown that memory is improved by learning music. Many instruments are played from memory in performances. Learning that many notes takes time and practice, but if you, or your children, can learn music, you can learn most other things too!
Playing music requires both the left and right sides of your brain to work together, increasing cognitive abilities and muscle memory, and as most instruments require a significant physical co-ordination and motor skills
Studies have shown that learning a musical instrument has a beneficial effect on a child’s learning ability and overall memory
Discipline and Time Management
Children learn self-discipline from practice. You, their teachers and they know it is needed if they are to improve, but they may not always want to practice. Our student app will really help with this.
Time management is key to effective practice (and therefore faster progress). Not just knowing when their 20 minutes is up, but making sure it fits into all the other time pressures, such as clubs, homework and, maybe, even the washing up!
All these skills are self-evidently transferable into other all aspects of life
Music actually makes you smarter!
Many studies show a direct correlation between musical training and academic success. Einstein once said: “Life without playing music is inconceivable to me. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music... I get most joy in life out of music”.
If your children want to start learning, probably the best place to start is at school. Many schools have instruments they can lend, starting them on a lifelong journey.