Dance to the beat of your own drum!

For many people, music is an essential element of their lives, it not only relaxes them, but also lets them connect through the melodies and feel all the stories along the lyrics. The effect of the music in our bodies and brains is more powerful than what we thought; one song can change someone’s mood or even intensify what they were already feeling. Imagine if listening to music has that much impact on us, what would be the benefits of let’s say playing an instrument? Well, according to many studies, music has proven to bring cognitive and physical abilities to its listeners and interpreters. Without further ado, let’s find out why it would be convenient for anyone to learn how to play an instrument.

Improves your memory

A Stanford study shows that learning a melody and playing it stimulates areas of the brain which are involved with paying attention, making predictions and memory skills. Much more when the instruments require combinations that are not necessarily intuitive, in the case of the flute or guitar chords; experts affirm that those who have practiced since childhood have a lower risk of suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.

You acquire discipline

All those who play an instrument know that it demands discipline and a constant practice. In other words, playing an instrument takes time, effort and a lot of perseverance. Whoever plays an instrument becomes a methodical person who takes care of details, bringing stability and structure into their lives, and allowing them to manage their time in a better way. A disciplined person has such a determination that is able to overcome anything and reach their goals.

It reduces negative feelings

Many researches have shown that music is the best therapy to relax emotions. Music has the ability to change our mood and eliminate negative thoughts; besides playing an instrument helps to lower stress and anxiety in a healthier and dynamic way. For example, drumming is a great therapy because it accelerates physical healing, boosts the immune system and helps release emotional traumas. If you want to feel that boost of drum energy you can check this StepFlix African fusion class, in which you will learn to mark each accent along the sounds of the drums.

Exercises your brain

When playing an instrument you must do several actions simultaneously, whether using your hands in a specific rhythm, managing your breath, or controlling the position of your fingers. These tasks can be quite difficult for many, but surely with practice, the cells of your brain develop those skills, since both sides of your brain operate so you can come up with more diverse and creative ideas, as it becomes a more enjoyable activity, as well.

Playing an instrument makes us more mindful, since we are required to use our auditory, motor, sensory and visual systems to all work together. This inner system cooperation has some incredible outcomes that can affect so many areas of our life. It is also known that people who play an instrument are better at other practical things too, such as processing emotions, learning something new like another language or solving problems. If after reading this article you feel like playing an instrument sounds like a good idea then try it, it might be fun!

If you feel motivated and want to take the first step, we suggest you take a few classes so you have someone who will guide you step by step, and show you the best ways to play your instrument. However, since we are in the age of the internet, now, you can learn thanks to the many tutorials you find online.

Of course, what you can never miss is practice. It is vital that you create a routine in which the instrument is part of your daily schedule. It is normal if at the beginning it sounds terrible, you just need to rehearse constantly so that little by little you see the result of your effort.
Remember that playing an instrument is not an easy task, but if you never try it you will never make it sound good!

Also read: 10 most popular songs of 2019 to start 2020 with the intention of training