8 Advantages you gain from Playing an Instrument

Music can stir up a strong emotion in anyone. Whether it's sad, happy, exuberant, reminiscing, forceful - music has an effect on all of us.

You'll find when you listen to music, there will be things you like and things you don't like, this is your unique taste and is individual to you.

Learning to play an instrument can help you express music that you really love and is very rewarding. Not only will you enjoy it (if you stick at it and it's the right instrument for you), but others will enjoy to listen to you.

To most people who play instruments, they would say it's one of their favourite hobbies which they apply themselves to.

I count myself lucky to have been given the opportunity to play an instrument (piano) and have lessons, but unfortunately for many, this is not the case.

Instruments are expensive and lessons are too (depending who you're with).

That's not to say you have to have lessons to learn an instrument, now with all the resources people have - learning by yourself is easier than it ever has been.

There are many benefits to playing a musical instrument that I never realised and many people don't know about them either.
These only really are true if you play an instrument on a regular basis, otherwise you can't benefit fully from this skill.

1. Develops intelligence 

Not only is music nice to listen to and to play, but some studies have shown that learning an instrument develops intelligence, promoting brain activity and an increase in IQ. 

This is because of your brain having to process and concentrate on many different things at once. 

For example: emotion and feeling, pressure of played notes, loudness and softness, the changing rhythm, articulation, movements of hands etc.. Each instrument has its own difficulties.

2. Sense of Achievement 

Learning to play an instrument (especially when you first start), can be frustrating. After a lot of hard work and practice, you'll see that your hard work has paid off. This is a reassuring, comforting and enjoyable experience, making progress and advancing towards your target - what a sense of achievement. 

3. Self-discipline and Motivation 

Learning to play an instrument isn't a simple thing to do and takes a lot of discipline, patience, practice and motivation, all of the which are increased profoundly as you progress.

The nature of playing an instrument is (I would say) almost 100% work. You need to practice for regular amounts of time, have to remain focused, have to work through mistakes and difficult passages, develop your own sound, and a lot, lot more, including the perfecting of a performance.

Basically, you wont be able to learn and play an instrument at a high level without discipline and motivation, both naturally gained through practice.

4. Fun 

One of the main reasons for learning an instrument is because it's fun. When you first start out it's brilliant and you can't practice enough, but once the charm of learning the lower level basics has worn off, you may become tired and bored of it. 

As you advance however, new opportunities and pieces to play will be available - bringing many more hours of pleasure.

5. Career opportunities 

As-well as having fun while playing, you can also make it your profession, with many different routes to explore.

Some examples would be: Concert performer, composer, playing in an orchestra, piano tuner, bow rehairer and restorer, school; college or university teacher, the list goes on.

6. Stress relieving

Among many other things that can reduce and relieve stress, music is one of them.

After a stressful day of dealing with stressful things, listening to soft; soothing and relaxing music will help you to unwind. 

Try playing some before you go to bed, so you can get a better nights sleep.

Music has a very powerful influence on our emotions, and so the right sort of music can help. Although if you pick a very powerful; loud and fast-paced piece of music, you may end up more stressed than before. :)

7. Teamwork 

For those who play in a band, orchestra or the like, the art of teamwork will be acquired. Teamwork is a great quality to have and a lot of employers look for it.  

In music, timing and co-ordination are a must - otherwise the piece wont come together and will sound only half (if not less than half) of what it could and should be, so teamwork is necessary. 

8. Memory capacitance 

Playing regular music improves a persons capability to retain information. 

Studies have shown music students to have greater evidence of memory training and progression than those who don't play instruments.