Why you should learn to play an instrument

Believe it or not, hobbies are more than pastimes for teenagers and young people. This is due to the fact that maintaining hobbies continues to reap benefits no matter how much you age. While there are various different hobbies to choose from, learning to plan an instrument is one of the most popular.

With that in mind, here are just some of the reasons why you should learn to play an instrument. 

It’s a great way to relieve stress

More than 6 in 10 adults feel stressed on a daily basis, meaning that you must develop a variety of coping mechanisms and strategies in order to clear your mind. Listening to music or playing an instrument is often considered a quick and easy way to reduce stress as it encourages you to refocus your mind on something practical or positive, as opposed to honing in on what is causing you stress. 

It encourages you to take time for yourself

If you’re trying to level up your life in 2022, then you must start taking more time for yourself. By picking up a hobby that requires time and focus, you’ll start to build a better work-life balance. This will also help you to recognize the benefits of dedicating energy and time to your personal development, which could help improve your mental health.

It improves your cognitive abilities

Learning to play an instrument improves your cognitive abilities, especially when it comes to your memory. In fact, a recent report found that ‘taking up piano lessons at an older age could delay dementia onset‘ and that individuals who play throughout their lives are less likely to deal with cognitive decline. 

It’s fun

It’s important to remember that you don’t need an excuse to spend time doing something you love. Learning an instrument is a lot of fun, and if this is the only thing you get out of this hobby, then that’s perfectly fine. Being able to play an instrument could also be useful when you’re entertaining guests or attending a special event. 

Top tips for learning to play an instrument

While the benefits of learning to play an instrument are clear, it doesn’t make the process easy. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can make the process a little easier. 

Don’t over face yourself

Around 85% of students quit learning to play an instrument within two years, often because they feel burnout or as though they are not progressing quickly enough. In most cases, this isn’t down to a lack of skill but rather that you’re putting too much pressure on yourself. While you should try to practice consistently, don’t spend hours every day playing if you don’t feel like it. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is usually a good figure to aim for. 

Invest in the right accessories and tools

While you may have already got your hands on an instrument, investing in the right accessories and tools can be instrumental in your success (pun intended). For example, if you’re learning to play the guitar, buying a Loop Station gives you a chance to play back your music sessions so that you can sharpen your skills and develop a keener ear for any mistakes that you may be making. 

Follow online tutorials

Signing up for music classes is obviously one of the easiest ways to learn an instrument. However, it isn’t the only method, especially for those who are on a budget. In this case, there are plenty of free tutorials you can follow online, which will help you get to grips with the basics of the instruments or even learn your favorite song. 

Learn home to read music

Learning how to read music is not essential when it comes to playing an instrument, but it can be useful in speeding up the process. This is because it helps you to develop a stronger understanding of music as a whole, meaning you’ll gain a certain sense of intuition when playing about what notes should come next.

Don’t be afraid of playing in front of others

Your hobby can be as private as you’d like it to be, but when learning how to play an instrument, playing music for others could actually be a great way to improve your skills. This is because it encourages you to practice. Furthermore, if you sign up for a local band or orchestra, you’ll be able to make other friends in the music world. You could then start practicing with each other and sharing advice

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