Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument

Technology has presented us with some incredible things in the past 40+ years. Some of the things has to do with an increased understanding of our own brain. We now can see specific brain activity as we are doing something and some of what we have found out is how playing a musical instrument can enrich our lives. As we play the piano or another instrument, we are utilizing about 70% of our brain. It makes sense, since we must read the music (visual), hear what we're playing (aural), exercise hand/eye and hand/finger coordination - all in a specific rhythm or amount of time.

As children learn music, their brains can make more neuron cell connections, thus they gain more thinking power. Adults (our neuron connections are already made), can help to keep their connections by playing a musical instrument. In addition, there are many other reasons to keep learning and playing music:

• Music study enhances, fine motor control, use of symbol systems, concentration memory, perseverance, visual and aural discrimination, organizational skills, and goal setting.
• Music study encourages abstract thought and stimulates right-brain activities— synthesis, creativity, intuition, and innovation.
  
• Music study develops attention span and concentration level.
• Playing music can greatly improve stress levels
• Playing music can reverse the DNA switches that turn on the human stress response and trigger biological processes that lead to many diseases.

The bottom line is MAKE MORE MUSIC - NOW!