If you have read this far, I am sure you already know the benefits that come from music lessons. But if you are interested in gaining insight from others...and maybe some useful tidbits...
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“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without,”-Confucius.
1. INCREASE YOUR IQ
*According to an article from The Telegraph
online magazine, “New research suggests that regularly playing an
instrument changes the shape and power of the brain and may be used in
therapy to improve cognitive skills.” There is continually more
evidence that musicians have organizationally and functionally different
brains compared to non-musicians, especially in the areas of the brain
used in processing and playing music. Some studies show that playing an
instrument can increase your IQ up to 7 points.
2. INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF YOUR MEMORY
Research has shown that both listening to
music and playing a musical instrument stimulate your brain and can
increase your memory. A study was done in which 22 children from age 3
to 4 years old were given either singing lessons or keyboard lessons. A
control group of 15 children received no music lessons at all. Both
groups participated in the same preschool activities. The results
showed that preschoolers who had weekly keyboard lessons improved their
spatial-temporal skills 34 percent more than the other children. Not
only that, but researchers said that the effect lasted long-term.
3. INCREASE MATHEMATICAL ABILITY
Reading music requires counting notes and
rhythms and can help your math skills. Also, learning music theory
includes many mathematical aspects. Studies have shown that students
who play instruments or study the arts are often better in math and
achieve higher grades in school than students who don’t.
4. IMPROVE READING COMPREHENSION
According to a study published in the journal Psychology of Music,
“Children exposed to a multi-year program of music involving training
in increasingly complex rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills display
superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared with their
non-musically trained peers.” It’s not surprising to hear results like
that because music involves constant reading and comprehension. When
you see black and white notes on a page, you have to recognize what the
note name is and translate it to a finger/slide position. At the same
time, you also have to read what rhythms the notes are arranged in and
force your tongue to produce the correct pattern
5. BUILD SELF CONFIDENCE
Overcoming musical challenges that you
thought you’d never quite master can give you a great sense of pride.
When you first start learning how to play an instrument, it seems like
just holding a note for a couple beats or hitting a high pitch is an
amazing accomplishment. Many small successes will eventually breed long
term, innate self-confidence.
6. REDUCE STRESS & BE HAPPY!
Listening to and playing music can promote
stimulation to areas of the brain that promote increased joy and
decreased stress. During the past decade, the investigation correlation
between music and the brain has proven that music can modulate activity
in parts of the brain that are known to be crucially involved in
emotion. The potential of music to modulate activity in these structures
has important implications for the use of music in the treatment
chronic stress.
7. ENHANCE HAND-EYE COORDINATION
The art of playing an instrument requires a
lot of hand-eye coordination. By reading musical notes on a page, your
brain subconsciously must convert that note into specific motor patterns
while also adding breathing and rhythm to the mix.
8. LEARN PERSEVERANCE & SELF DISCIPLINE
Learning to play an instrument takes time and
effort, which teaches patience and perseverance. Musicians have to work
through difficult sections of music multiple times in a row before they
can play it correctly. Practicing often and working on the hard parts
requires perseverance. The best musicians in the world are masters of
discipline.
9. INCREASE COOPERATION
Cooperation is an important aspect of being
successful in life. Playing an instrument requires you to work with
others to make music. In band and orchestra settings you must learn how
to cooperate with the people around you. Also, in order for a group to
make beautiful music, each player and section must learn how to listen
to each other and play together.
10. LEARN RESPONSIBILITY
Maintenance and care are very important in
keeping an instrument in working condition. Each instrument has
different procedures to keep it functioning properly, but most
instruments need cleaning and some form of oiling/greasing. In addition
to maintenance responsibilities, there are other aspects such as
remembering music events (like rehearsals and performances) and making
time to practice.
11. LEARN CULTURAL HISTORY
Music reflects history and gives us insight
on what it was like to live in the era and geography of its creation.
Each piece of music has a unique history that is explored upon learning
it. The more diverse your musical knowledge is, the more informed you
are about a variety of cultures, eras and geographic influences that
shape the art form as we know it today.
12. BOOST LISTENING SKILLS
Playing an instrument requires you to listen
very carefully. You have to learn to hear when you’re playing a wrong
note in order to correct yourself. Tuning your instrument means hearing
if the pitch you’re playing is high (sharp) or low (flat). When
playing in an ensemble, you have to listen for the melody and play
softer if you’re the supporting part (accompaniment). Training
listening skills teaches us how to be reflective and thoughtful.
13. ENHANCE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Air is one of the key components in making
music. In order to play music correctly when playing an instrument (or
sing music with your voice), you’ll need to take huge breaths and learn
how to expel the air properly to make the desired sound. Breathing
exercises are highly recommended for musicians, and they can strengthen
your respiratory system.
14. MAKE LIFELONG FRIENDS
When you become a musician or a vocalist, you
become a part of a bigger community. Not only is it fun to play music
that you enjoy, but it feels wonderful to join together with others to
create a unified sound. Friendships and relationships are strengthened
through common interests and artists typically find that their most
meaningful (and longest lasting) relationships are found through those
they meet through the sharing their art form.
link*This was found at the "14 Reasons Everyone Should Take Music Lessons" article by the Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, Virginia
