Why You Should Play Music

We recently ran a post on the benefits of enrolling your child in music classes; however, we strongly feel that the benefits aren’t expressly for children. In fact, the older you are, the more beneficial playing music can be.

No matter your age, or instrument of choice, music should be a fun and enjoyable experience for all

Let’s make a distinction, first, between playing music and practicing music. When we mention playing music, we’re referring to the act of making music for enjoyment purposes. Practicing implies that one is going to sit down and perfect techniques and master his or her instrument. Unless you plan on becoming a professional musician, this path is most likely going to be the least enjoyable.

The NAMM Foundation has funded a lot of research that has yielded some surprising scientific results. One sponsored study, carried out by the University of Miani, showed that keyboard lessons in groups of senior citizens yielded an increase in Human Growth Hormones (HgH). Concurrently, their propensity for anxiety, depression and loneliness had dropped, while control groups remained the same.

Scientific evidence supporting the benefits of music are piling up. The reports are becoming harder to ignore.

Research by WebMd has led to an interesting scientific discovery; apparently, playing music for enjoyment has physical effects all the way down to the molecular level. When stressed, our brains flip a “switch” in each of our cells that release hormones to deal with stress. Overtime, these can be stuck in the “on” position, leading to burnout, anger, depression and a host of other physical ailments. Playing an instrument tends to reset these switches, allowing us to relax.

Barry Bittman, MD, CEO and medical director of Meadville Medical Center’s Mind-Body Wellness Center, in Meadville, Pa. says that one should think of making music not as an end product, rather as a tool for health and well-being.

Playing music and taking a few music lessons are beneficial for members of any age group.

If you haven’t played music before, and would like to learn how, we recommend you enroll in a couple months of lessons to understand the basic principles of playing music. After gaining an initial understanding, you can begin to make music for your own health and enjoyment. If you are in the Fairfield County, CT area, here are a few places where you can get started.

Stay tuned for our next update, when we discuss the correlations of music and athletics. The results will surprise you.