Local musician, the lovely Ben Goble, has several reasons why focus on learning music has so many benefits. Here he is…

As a music tutor I tend to have three main categories of client; children/teenagers, working adults and people who have retired. I have noticed that each of these groups can benefit from learning to sing or play a musical instrument in slightly different ways. 

Learning a musical instrument has long been associated with detectable cognitive benefits throughout one’s lifetime; including a heightened ability with auditory skills (such as learning new languages), maintaining fine motor skills in the face of diseases such as arthritis, as well as the long-term mental health benefits, notably reducing depression and anxiety in people who learn musical instruments. 

For children and teenagers, learning a musical instrument or how to sing is an immensely beneficial activity. Aside from attaining a lifelong skill and source of pleasure; they also learn the benefits of dedication, discipline, and determination. The benefits of learning music on cognitive development in children have been well-established; and as well as being an enjoyable and productive way to blow off steam after school (as opposed to say, sitting with an iPad for hours), the most valuable asset that a child can gain from learning any type of music I believe is confidence. 

Tackling pieces of ever-increasing difficulty and making lots of mistakes on the way teaches them not to give up in the face of a daunting obstacle and to trust in their ability to overcome challenges. The time that they finally turn out that first “perfect” performance where all the notes are played correctly, with the proper rhythm and at the right tempo is always a special moment, and truly one of the highlights of my job.  

Adults who have full-time work commitments may struggle to find as much practice time as those who lead less busy lives, but in my experience I’ve often found that this restriction on their time can lead them to be more consistent with their practice and subsequently achieve more than one might expect. The old adage “if you want a job done, give it to a busy person” certainly rings true in this context, and many of my clients have surprised themselves with their rate of progression. But, like children, adults with busy lives can also benefit from accomplishing more than just their day-to-day work goals, plus a dose of confidence once in a while.

For example, I often have working adults come to me wanting to have singing lessons. Shows like “The X Factor”, “Britain’s Got Talent”, and “The Voice” can often lead people to view singing as a competition, and for them to subsequently think that they “can’t” sing, or for their friends or family to feel justified in judging them and making disparaging comments to them when they do sing. 

As a singer, you ARE your instrument, and it doesn’t take much to knock your confidence down to zero. A joking comment here, a mocking laugh or even just a look can lead someone who is brave enough to put themselves out there for once to clam up and lose that thing that used to bring them so much pleasure, and the number of clients that I have had who come to me with stories like this saddens and astounds me. 

Taking some singing lessons can be an amazing way to regain some of that confidence and even if it’s just to sing once a week somewhere other than the car or the shower, it is something that I would recommend to anyone who feels like they need to rediscover a creative or emotional outlet that they may feel like they have lost along the way. Plus, it takes some of the pressure off at a karaoke night if you’ve got a couple of songs ready to go!

For those who are retired some can find it difficult to fill the days with activities, and finally getting around to learning an instrument or how to sing properly is a wonderful choice of how to spend your free time. Not only does it give you the same sense of accomplishment and confidence that I have already talked about, but engaging with music in this hands-on way can be immensely satisfying, and a brilliant way to keep your mind and fine motor skills sharp. It can also be a wonderful gift to be able to enjoy with your family, as music transcends generations and can be enjoyed by all ages. 

I could wax lyrical (no pun intended) about the countless benefits of having music in your life, but ultimately I think it can be summed up by this quote from the great Willie Nelson. “There is no difference anywhere in the world. People are people. They laugh, cry, feel, and love, and music seems to be the common denomination that brings us all together. Music cuts through all boundaries and goes right to the soul”.