Music is known to have a lot of beneficial effects on human health and mind. There are many scientific researches that backs this statement effectively. Not only does it give a sense of pleasure, but it also acts as a stress reliever and helps you focus on your work better. For some, music is an elixir of life and rightly so. It sets the correct rhythm, and you can go about with your work in a sorted manner. Music is present almost everywhere around us. However, the main way of creating music is through musical instruments. These can be either stringed or non-stringed.
When manipulated in a certain way, these instruments produce sounds that are melodious, harmonious, and soothing at the same time. Learning to play a musical instrument, especially from a young age, can have a lot of benefits, both mentally and physically. If you are wondering what these benefits are, this article intends to clear that doubt itself.
Stress relief
There is no denying the fact that the modern lifestyle is full of stress and hassle. Music is a potent escapade from it. It can lower down your stress hormone, cortisone level, and make you feel relaxed. All the bad energy around can be channelized into positivity, and your heart rate and blood pressure are normalized. Thus, you feel more comfortable and at ease after listening to the music of your choice or playing an instrument itself.
Mindfulness
It means not harping too much on the past or the future and concentrating entirely on improving the present. Meditation has always been considered as an essential way to attain mindfulness. Music has also proven to be suitable in this respect. When you learn to play a musical instrument, you have to put your complete concentration on it. You can forget about your past and stop worrying about your future and practice mindfulness along with it.
Screen Time reduction
A lot of people spend most of their time in front of a screen these days, whether it be a laptop, a mobile phone, a tablet or a personal computer. This compulsion is mostly work-related, but it can be due to personal use as well. Playing a musical instrument can act as a pleasant respite from this situation. The amount of screen time will also reduce considerably, and your eyes will get the much-needed rest.
Socializing
When you join a class to learn to play a musical instrument or take music lessons, you meet a lot of other people who have similar interests as you. If you are planning to play in a band, your relationship with the other band members is of utmost importance as well. Since you will be spending a majority of time with others, there is a lot of scope for socializing. Like-minded people can inspire you to do better and help you achieve new heights, which would not have been possible otherwise. You make many new friends in the process as well.
Improves Respiratory System
This is applicable when you are learning to play instruments that need proper breathing techniques. A few examples of such instruments include the flute, trumpets, and saxophone. You need to blow into these instruments in a particular manner to get the sound of your choice. Since this requires you to regulate your breathing accordingly, your respiratory system and the muscles play a role in it.
Moreover, your breathing capacity and stamina are also enhanced as you have to inhale, hold, and exhale your breath over a long period.
Cognitive performance
To play a musical instrument correctly, you need to have a good cognitive ability and coordination of both hands. You also have to remember which strings to pull or which key to press to get a particular sound. Thus, it is a good exercise for your memory as well. Music is known to benefit people who have Alzheimer’s disease as well as stroke and dementia.
Immune System
Just like your mood is elevated, and your stress reduces on singing and playing musical instruments. Similarly, your immune protein levels also go up. The overall immunological system gets a boost, and your body can deal with infections from various sources of pathogens.
Exercise
People who do not get much time to work out or exercise and go to the gym can compensate for it by playing a musical instrument. For example, playing the drums continuously needs a lot of strength in the upper body. Even instruments like the piano and guitar need you to use your arms appropriately. When your muscles build-up, your stamina increases, and there is a marked improvement in your posture as well.
Better focus
You cannot learn to play an instrument properly unless you focus on it entirely. You need to remember specific notes and rhythms and execute the nuances so that the music of your desire is produced. Thus, there is a marked improvement in your focussing ability as well.
There is enough evidence to support the theory that music can give you complete relaxation, and the points mentioned above only prove how.