Is Learning an Instrument the Right Thing for You?

If you’re a music lover, the next step for you might be to learn how to play an instrument. There are certain pros and cons to consider first though.

Pros

You can keep your brain in good shape by learning an instrument. It’s a task that takes a lot of work and effort, but it certainly puts your brain through its paces. Some researchers even believe that it can stave off mental health problems and stop the brain declining as you age. It also teaches you a high level of self-discipline and concentration. It’s good for people who are overactive and need a hobby that will help them relax and focus better.

Playing music is a great way to relieve stress too. If you are suffering stress at work, the two best solutions are to get a puppy or play the piano. If getting a dog is too much hard work, take piano lessons! It’ll give you a healthy outlet for all that stress that builds up throughout the day when you’re in the office. Simply listening to someone else play music makes you less stressed. And the effect is even stronger when you’re creating the music yourself.

Finally, it’s a lot of fun. Us humans are creative creatures. It’s something we enjoy doing, so why not give it a go? If it’s not for you, then you haven’t lost much. But you could gain a lot. Personally, I find nothing more fun than strumming away on my guitar, so you might feel the same way too.

Cons

Firstly, it’s incredibly difficult to learn an instrument as an adult. It’s something that gets harder and harder as you get older. For kids, it’s much easier to pick up because their brains are still developing and picking up information. But adults tend to be set in their ways, and it takes more of an effort to get to grips with the instrument. Of course, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done, but it takes a lot of persistence.

That means that you will have a lot less free time to spend doing other things. You tend to get obsessed, and you’ll be spending every spare hour hammering away on that Yamaha P115. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, getting stuck in can be a lot of fun. But it also means you have less time to dedicate to your other hobbies and interests. It becomes even more tricky if you have family commitments to take care of. You can’t be disappearing and playing your instrument when there are kids to look after.

The final main disadvantage of learning to play a new instrument is the cost. Those things aren’t expensive. You could choose a cheaper instrument like a guitar. But if you want to take up a brass instrument, you’ll be spending a lot of money to get started. You can reduce the costs a little by teaching yourself rather than paying for lessons. This can make the task even more difficult and daunting though.

Now it’s up to you to weigh up the pros and cons above and decide whether it’s a good idea for you.