In today's society, especially in schools, people discourage kids from pursuing their dream in music by telling them; "you will never make it", "it's too hard", or "there is no money to be made." Any musician can recite all of these adages for you by heart, and many aspiring performers have found themselves packing away their instrument for good in exchange for a "stable career." But by perpetuating this idea of music as a waste of time and money, it deprives people of learning a skill with a lifetime of benefits.
But not everyone has to be a professional musician to experience these benefits, let's take a look at some of the life-altering properties an education in music can provide for someone.
Developmental success!
Music helps the brain develop by increasing memory and learning capabilities. Music, especially in the minds of children, has a much greater impact because they are at a point in their lives where their brain is developing at an astonishing rate in which music helps boost their learning capabilities. As you get older, the brain loses its capability to learn new things, therefore, making it harder for you to learn music. However, just like how music benefits kids in developing the brain, music also helps the elderly by keeping their brain active so that they retain as much as possible.
A healing artform
You might not think music has many applications outside of the listening rooms, but for many years music has been used as a way of therapy. in ways such as developing motor skills, strengthening cognitive functioning, improving mental health, and relieving stress on the body.
Learning music is one of the few tasks that utilize the full extent of your brain, making it a perfect exercise to keep your brain active and sharp. By learning and maintaining the ability to play music you are exercising the brain, thereby allowing you to maintain motor functions that are often lost as we age.
Euphoria
People have used music as a medium to by-pass the language barrier by being expressing one's feelings without words. It's a universal language spoken on all corners of the globe and is something uniquely human that connects us all together.
Have you ever experienced a chill running through your body when a certain song comes on the radio, or a song you haven't heard in what seems like forever? This experience is called "Musical Fission" and the intensity of the "chills" depends on the individuals' personality and mood!
Depending on the person, music can have a variety of different effects; a certain song might be emotional to one person whereas another might enjoy it for the melody. If you've ever found yourself in a bad mood, listening to music might just be what you need to bring you out of that slump with a quick pick-me-up. With its influential properties, many cultures have often used music as a tool for meditation as well. The next time you find yourself putting on a playlist when your sad, just remember that it's the power of music at work!
Who can Learn?
While most performers get into music at an early age, there is no such thing as an age limit when it comes to getting into music.
It can prove to be a difficult task at first, learning an instrument takes a lot of hard work and patience. But as time passes you'll begin to see the fruits of your efforts as your playing starts to improve. One of the most rewarding things about learning an instrument is seeing that growth first hand
Schoolchildren and older folks alike can find themselves frustrated when first learning an instrument, but DON'T GIVE UP!! The start of learning something new is always going to be the hardest part regardless of age. But isn't it wonderful to have something that connects people of all generations?
Learning something new
With so many instruments and such a wide array of disciplines, getting into music can seem like a daunting task. At the South Florida Conservatory of Music, you can work one on one with a private teacher to tailor a lesson plan that suits your needs.
Whether you haven't played in years and want to get back into it, or are just getting started, we want to be there to help you! Our staff is trained to provide lessons in a number of instruments, click one below to find out more:
If you're unsure of where to begin, stop by and pay us a visit! Our teachers and staff are always willing to answer any questions or concerns you might have about learning music. It may seem daunting at first, but we're happy to help you at every stop along the way!