THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING AND PLAYING MUSIC

Now, if you look on the web and type the question "Why should I take Music Lessons?" you're going to get a lot of people's opinions on what you should and shouldn't do.  I recommend that you leave those opinions on the web and evaluate the question for yourself.  After all, you know yourself or your kid better than the bloggers online.

Scientific studies have proven the positive benefits of Music and the impact that it has on peoples' lives.  Music improves your memory, improves your health, keeps you positive... it does all of these things and a whole lot more, if you give yourself the time and patience.  All of the benefits that I listed above require time.  It's not an immediate change.  You need to invest time into playing music in order to reap the healthy benefits.  Notice how I said "playing" not practicing.

Playing music is the same as practicing.  Practicing is extremely important. Repitition develops technique.  Technique accellerates the learning process.  Practicing is important for the shear fact that you get faster results when you are taking structured music lessons with an instructor.  But, practicing can be tedious and boring to some people.  Not wanting to practice is the number one reason kids stop wanting to take lessons.  But, I have a solution for all frustrated musicians and parents of musicians out there... that simply playing your instrument is the same as practice.  Just play your instruments and your musical knowledge still develops whether you're making a concerted effort or not.  If you or your child doesn't want to touch their instrument, then music is probably not for them.

WHY JUST PLAY THE INSTRUMENT IF YOUR NOT GOING TO PRACTICE?

Well... here are some reasons.

Plucking random notes eventually turn into melodies and musical motifs that are yours.

Playing music involves getting to know the instrument and discovering what you and it are capable of together.

Playing music is like learning to talk.  We learn to talk in order to communicate.  We start with crying which sounds horrible and terrifies people more than makes them smile.  Then we begin to babble (people then notice how cute we sound). Then we get to learn basic words (cute factor goes up exponentially from there).  And, finally we learn how to phrase our sentences and speak properly.  We then learn real big words as our vocabulary expands.

Music is exactly like that.  I'll use violin as an example.  Getting the violin to initially make noise sounds like you're killing a cat at first and terrifies people more than makes them smile.  Then you pick out Mary Had A Little Lamb (people then notice how cute we sound).  Then we learn some really intricate melodies (cute factor goes up exponentially from there).  And, finally, our technique allows us to play melodies and phrases on the instrument that sound fluid and beautiful and learn even more phrasing as our technique (vocabulary) expands.

Notice a similarity here?

LET'S START WITH KIDS

Parents... let's face it.  Your kids have better social lives than most of us adults.  With school, sports, extracurriculars, boys, girls, video games, Facebook, these kids have a full, albeit really FUN, schedule.  As I stated above, you know your child better than most people.  Ask yourself this question.  Does your kid want to learn an instrument?

If you can emphatically say "Yes.  My son or daughter wants to learn how to play music." then you should put your child in lessons.  If there's doubt, talk with your child first and make sure that they really want to do it.  If your child has no interest whatsoever, then don't waste your money and time.  If students are not interested, they won't put the time into it.  And time is important for developing musical skills.

YOU... THE ADULT MUSIC STUDENT

Now...  Let's remember back when we took lessons as kids ourselves.  Do you know that most adults won't take lessons because they remember how much they hated their lessons when they were kids.  Well, think about that for a moment.  You were a kid with the mindset of a kid.  Not a mature adult who has patience, is willing to learn, and wants to buy that cool Gibson Les Paul or Nashguitar S-57.  If the thought of learning an instrument or music has been nagging you, then you have the bug.

Do it!

You'll never know if you've got the ability until you put the effort into it. I know that our program has plenty of time slots available when most people are NOT working.  The excuse that you are too busy isn't going to work.

And SENIORS, it's NEVER too late to learn how to play.  Most students over 60 always say, "I've always wanted to learn how to play XXXXXX, but never had time with family and work."  Well, retirement allows for many activities including music lessons.  Why not get your adult kid (see above), tell him to find some time free from work and take lessons together.  Learning an instrument with family members is one of the most fun and enriching activities you can do together.  Remember those health benefits again? Music is healthy by promoting increased brain activity and coordination.  It reduces stress and anxiety and provides a wonderful outlet that, as I said above, you may never have had time for in the past.

Just give yourself the time to take advantage of the benefits of learning how to play music.  Take it from me.  At age 13, It was the best decision I made.  You'll never know until you do it.  So do it.

-Jon

Jonathan Varo is the Store Manager and Lesson Coordinator for Buchanan Music, holds a Bachelors Degree in Music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been an independent music educator and performer for over 20 years.