The Benefits of Learning an Instrument as an Adult

You might love listening to music, and you might think that listening to your favourite tracks improves your life and gives your brain a boost, and that might be true, but I think it’s fair to say that learning to play a musical instrument can do so much more for you.

You might think that, as an adult, your time for learning how to play guitar like a rockstar or tinkle the ivories has passed, but it’s never too late to learn a new skill and there are a number of very real benefits that learning an instrument could bring you.

Here are some of the biggest benefits of learning an instrument as an adult:

Increase Your Appreciation of Music

Most musicians will tell you that, no matter how much enjoyment they got out of listening to music before, once they started to learn their craft, and once they knew just how much skill and dedication it takes to make music, their appreciation for their favourite artists went through the roof. So by buying a piano from Markson Pianos or a guitar from Dawsons right now. Book some lessons, and pretty soon you could increase your enjoyment of your favourite music exponentially.

Music is Exercise for Your Brain

According to numerous studies, playing a musical instrument uses more parts of your brain than pretty much anything else, which as you get older could help you to stay sharper and smarter for longer, especially if you do it on a regular basis.

Learning Can Boost Your Social Life

Learning a new instrument is a great way to meet new and interesting people, especially if you start performing. So, if your love life has gotten a bit stale, you’ve moved to a new area, and you’re looking to meet new people, or you simply want to increase your social circle, joining a group class or even better a band will ensure you’re never short of company.

Learning an Instrument Can Fight Depression

Anyone at any time can suffer from depression –  no one is immune – and if you are hit with what can be a very debilitating illness, it helps if there are things you can do, above and beyond the recommendations of your doctor, to help you get through it.

There has been some promising research which suggests that adults who take part in music therapy sessions when suffering from depression have fewer symptoms than their peers who only have counselling. This isn’t really surprising because just having a task to focus on, which keeps negative thoughts at bay and engages your brain can be a real help when times are tough.

Playing Music Can Boost Self-Esteem

Learning a new instrument is a great way to build confidence. When you’re putting the effort in, and you’re seeing results, even if they are only small at first, you feel proud of your accomplishments, and once you get a bit better, you can’t wait to show off your new skills. So, if you’re suffering from a lack of self-esteem or confidence issues, why not pick up that saxophone or buy that violin you’ve always wanted to play and get started?

Did you learn a musical instrument as an adult? What benefits has it given you?