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Tune up!
Learning or relearning a musical instrument can reap big rewards for adults
Eat your vegetables, exercise, get good sleep ... and learn an instrument? Another helpful way to keep your mind sharp, decrease stress and feel content is to strum a six-string, tickle the ivories, sing a tune or strike a snare. The secret to feeling young and happy, say the experts, is to learn and play a musical instrument, at any age.
“The best thing I get from playing guitar is self-condence,” says Costco member Bob Besharah, of Kemptville, Ontario, who’s been playing guitar for 65 years. “One of the biggest benefits is that I keep learning and challenging myself, which leads to [regular] stimulation of my brain and creativity.”
Costco member Allan Kerr, from Ottawa, can also testify to the virtues of learning music. “I began retaking weekly bagpipe lessons three years ago after first starting it as a 12-year-old but abandoning it,” he says. “The benefits for me are a feeling of presence and focus during practice that I carry to other areas of my life. The more I play, the more I enjoy it; practice is getting easier, and playing is more fun.”
The perks of playing
Experts agree that the advantages of starting music lessons or resuming an abandoned instrument are plentiful. “Learning and playing teach you discipline and structure. Songs have a certain structure to them that is easily identifiable as you continue the process of learning the instrument,” says Costco member Michael Wood, a music professor at Algonquin College in Ottawa.
Michael Powers, a Costco member and vice president of sales and marketing for Casio Canada, notes that playing a musical instrument encourages and stimulates multiple positive motor skills and brain functions. "Playing creates a link between hand-eye coordination and memory retention, creativity and expression," he continues. "It is a positive development tool in youth with a definite correlation to learning and improvement. The many additional features of a digital instrument also add to the fun factor aside from lessons."
Research suggests that musical training can work wonders for players young and old. The pluses include increased blood flow to the brain’s language centres, better focus and concentration, enhanced verbal memory, improved reading ability and better neural processing of sound and speech.
“Children benefit more from the developmental aspects of learning music, and adults tend to benefit more from the mental aspects. ... Learning an instrument at a younger age is often less taxing,” says Costco member Richard Formidoni of Casio America.
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Fine-tuning your preferences
When shopping for an instrument, opt for a reputable brand but don’t exceed your budget. A starter flute, acoustic guitar, ukulele or keyboard can often be had for less than $100.
“Before choosing a specific instrument, try them all. The least expensive may not be the best option for you, and the same goes for the most expensive,” suggests Wood.
Formidoni recommends considering an affordable instrument as a beginner. “Consider your goals, and spend accordingly. There is no need to dive right into a higher-end instrument at first,” he says.
Finding the right instructor
Try to select a teacher who has ample experience playing and teaching and a patient personality. The advantage of enlisting an experienced music teacher versus taking free lessons via YouTube is customized feedback and attention. “Yes, you can learn and improve via online video lessons, but having one-on-one musical instruction is invaluable, especially on a regular basis,” says Kerr.
Vancouver-based Costco member and music teacher Bulat Nasibullin adds, “When I was learning guitar and piano, I mostly took the lessons to learn music theory, which has stuck with me since then.”
THE INSTRUMENT FOR YOU
Richard Formidoni of Casio America recommends piano or keyboard as the ideal beginner instrument, as what you learn on piano can be applied to myriad other instruments. “Years ago, learning the piano was a luxury afforded only by the wealthy, but with modern affordable instruments like electronic keyboards, anyone can jump in,” he says.
Music teacher Bulat Nasibullin, meanwhile, nominates an acoustic guitar as a great starter instrument on a budget.
Above all, pick an instrument you are passionate about, recommends music professor Michael Wood. “Having a reason for picking up that instrument matters,” he says. Whatever you select, “choose something you can practice easily, and don’t give up.”—EJM
Costco Connection: A variety of musical instruments are available in Costco warehouses and at Costco.ca.
Erik J. Martin (martinspiration.com) is a Chicago-area-based freelance writer.