Playing a musical instrument has many benefits and can bring joy to you and to everyone around you. The sense of satisfaction when accurately performing a piece that you have been working at is incredible, and like no other. Indeed, playing a musical instrument can be exhilarating, especially when in performance, and nothing can compare to an appreciative audience applauding you because you have put on a great show.
It can also be very honorable and gratifying to voluntarily play within your local community, putting a smile on some of your neighbors face's. Research has shown that both listening to music and playing a musical instrument can stimulate your brain and increase your memory. A study was done in which 22 children from age 3 to 4 years old were given either singing 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 (the ability to visualize spatial patterns and be able to mentally manipulate them in a time ordered sequence) 34% more than the other children. Not only that, but researchers said that this was a long-term effect. Spatial-temporal skills are widely applied in architecture, engineering, science, mathematics art and indeed in everyday life.
Learning how to play an instrument requires you to really learn how to be organized and to manage your time wisely. A good musician knows that the quality of practice is far more valuable than the quantity and in order for a musician to progress quicker, they will learn how to organize their practice time and plan different challenges to work on, making efficient use of time.
Indeed, good time management and organizational skills are an essential for many jobs these days, as well as in everyday life. With these skills under your belt, and on your CV, you can present yourself as somebody employable - not to mention that undertaking grades on guitar, as well as other instruments, can help you gain enough UCAS points to get into the UK's best universities.
Below: 7 Year Old Zoe Thomson Plays Sweet Child O' Mine!
Holding music in high esteem will have benefits. Keeping yourself motivated to practice an instrument will encourage you to achieve your goals in both music and other subjects. Confucius's statement that music can bring a unique sense of achievement and personal pleasure to everyone who tries it is as relavant today as it ever was!
Written by Will Gregory (Aged 16 - Exeter, UK)
