{"id":5501,"date":"2017-04-26T16:59:19","date_gmt":"2017-04-26T16:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=5501"},"modified":"2017-05-29T13:01:46","modified_gmt":"2017-05-29T13:01:46","slug":"put-a-little-music-in-your-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/spring-summer-2017\/put-a-little-music-in-your-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Put a Little Music in Your Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

W<\/span>hat is it about music that touches our soul, evokes emotions from happiness to sadness, gets us toe-tapping and exhilarated? We asked three people who share their thoughts on why you should make music a part of your life no matter what your age. Here are their responses.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Deposit Photos<\/p><\/div>\n

6 Awesome Benefits of Playing Music<\/h3>\n

By Vincent Hill<\/p><\/p>\n

How nice it is to listen to music. Any beat, any genre, can give you a great feeling and bring joy to your life. Other than the usual advantages that listening to music can provide, there are other benefits that you might not know. These rewards especially come when you actually play an instrument and create the music yourself.<\/p>\n

Here are six reasons why you might consider learning to play an instrument, no matter what your age:<\/p>\n

1. Helps in Increasing Concentration<\/h4>\n

You can improve the strength of your brain by playing different musical instruments. As you play any instrument, you will find yourself focusing and concentrating as you practice. As you learn different pieces, you will be fine-tuning your ability to concentrate. This may help you with other activities in your life.<\/p>\n

2. Generates a Sense of Achievement<\/h4>\n

As you play a musical instrument, the achievement that you feel after learning a piece of music is enormously satisfying.<\/p>\n

3. Strengthens Respiratory System<\/h4>\n

Wind instruments\u2014like the flute, trumpet, etc.\u2014can help improve your respiratory system. The regular use of your lungs to play these instruments can help strengthen your respiratory system.<\/p>\n

4. Sharpens Your Memory<\/h4>\n

As you play any musical instrument, your brain works hard memorizing notes, keeping to the beat, and following the tempo. All of this helps you sharpen your memory.<\/p>\n

Memorizing the notes to complete a music piece helps you sharpen your memory even more.<\/p>\n

5. Enhances Your Social Skills<\/h4>\n

Playing an instrument is a great way to become more social. You can play with others who play the same instrument or as part of a group. Or, you can play in front of an audience.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s said that people who play different musical instruments tend to be highly sociable. Playing in front of an audience, large or small, helps build your confidence and ability to communicate with others.<\/p>\n

6. Promotes Happiness Around You<\/h4>\n

Listening to good music is relaxing and good food for the soul. When you play an instrument for others, you are sharing this happiness.<\/p>\n

If you have never played, or put an instrument aside a long time ago, why not try to play? Music can be your best escape to this very busy life.<\/p>\n

Vincent Hill is a person who loves music and dance. He keeps himself updated about the recent music and dance trends and likes sharing his views through writing. He is currently working with Music Scanner<\/a>.<\/h5>\n
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Photo: Deposit Photos<\/p><\/div>\n

Why It\u2019s Never Too Late to Play Music and Why it\u2019s Important<\/h4>\n

By Vincent James<\/p><\/p>\n

Playing music as we get older definitely plays an important part in staying healthy. Whether we\u2019re playing guitar, piano, accordion, or almost any instrument, the mind and muscle coordination required helps keep our brains active, which spills over into other areas of our life.<\/p>\n

The old saying is \u201ca body in motion tends to stay in motion,\u201d and I say that\u2019s true for our minds, as well. Learning\u2014or continuing\u2014to play an instrument in our midlife helps keep our minds active, and the focus we gain\u2014not to mention the joy\u2014will benefit us in our workplaces and in our family interactions.<\/p>\n

There is also the therapeutic benefits of playing music at any age but especially as we age. As adults, we often have so many responsibilities we are handling at any given time. Playing music is a relatively inexpensive escape that takes us away from everyday life for a little while.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re just starting out playing an instrument as an adult, it can seem like a challenge. But if you stick with it, your confidence and ability will grow. Before too long, you\u2019ll be amazed at what you can play.<\/p>\n

My one guitar student didn\u2019t pick up the guitar until he was 80 years young.<\/p>\n

When I meet people in their 40s and 50s who tell me they always wish they had played an instrument, I wholeheartedly encourage them to carve out a little time in their busy lives to start.<\/p>\n

The March\u00a0\u201cTeach Music America<\/a>\u201d Week, is\u00a0a perfect opportunity for adults to reach out to local music schools and sign up for a complimentary intro lesson.<\/p>\n

Even beyond that week, there are many music schools that will make this free offer, or something similar, so new students can get a glimpse of how they can pretty quickly start learning to play an instrument. Who knows, they may eventually start to hit the stage at open mic nights and coffeehouses where they\u2019ll experience a brand-new high that happens when playing music for an audience.<\/p>\n

Vincent James is the founder of Keep Music Alive<\/a>, which celebrated the 3rd Annual \u201cTeach Music America Week\u201d from Monday, March 20th to Sunday, March 26th, 2017 and has a participation of over 500 music schools around the United States.<\/h5>\n
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Photo: Deposit Photos, Ponomarenko<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The Importance of Music Therapy<\/h4>\n

By Apryl Allen<\/p><\/p>\n

Being a musician, I\u2019ve always turned to music during difficult periods throughout my life. So, it was only natural for me, when I was unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer, to incorporate it within my healing process.<\/p>\n

Being Native American, a Medicine Man recommended I name my cancer. He suggested I talk to it, sing to it, and\u2014when it came time for surgery\u2014tell it to leave my body and never return.<\/p>\n

It was a fantastic visualization for me, and I quickly incorporated it into my healing process. There were many unexpected and unanticipated benefits, like these:<\/p>\n