Many of those who pick up a new instrument tend to stop in their first year. It could be due to a lack of encouragement or accessibility, inability to play the songs they wish to, being overwhelmed by mistakes and so on. But it’s highly rewarding to not give up and the reasons are plenty. Research shows that playing a musical instrument boosts mental health in 89% of adults.

So, what’s in it for you?

While there are numerous benefits to learning to play a musical instrument, here are a few key benefits.

It's a workout for your brain: Playing an instrument engages almost every part of the brain, especially the visual, auditory and motor areas. To play an instrument, one uses and processes information received from senses of vision, hearing and touch. Not to mention, memory and fine movements. It is interesting to note that the complex experience of musical practice results in positive structural and functional changes in the brain, including neurogenesis, or the formation of new neurons, ultimately leading to improvements in learning and memory. As you learn new movements like positioning your arms to hold the instrument while your fingers move in different patterns to get the notes right, you become more aware of your body and develop better coordination.

Dopamine up, cortisol down: Playing a musical instrument can trigger a spike of the “feel good” chemical dopamine in your brain and also lowers blood pressure. It can also serve as a therapeutic outlet for difficult emotions or stress, as playing an instrument can bring down stress levels and regulate moods.

Sense of achievement: It goes without saying that every time we learn something new, it takes our confidence a notch higher. It’s the same with learning an instrument. Apart from the ego boost, the process can also teach a lot about the power of perseverance, discipline and responsibility- values that are important in every other area of life. This also means that with the right attitude and dedication, you can accomplish many other things in life.  

How to stick to the process without giving up

Set realistic goals and stay motivated: One of the worst things we tend to do as we start learning something new is to expect to excel in no time, but unrealistic expectations only lead to disappointment and demotivation. While it’s inspiring to see experienced musicians play with gusto, it’s important to understand that what we see them do today is the result of years of consistent practice and perseverance. To make that happen, one should be willing to learn through mistakes and not get discouraged by them. Every time you miss a note, you learn something new. Don’t try to overwhelm yourself with the number of songs you want to learn in a month or the level of perfection you want to achieve. Practise little by little everyday, instead of spending long hours irregularly. Celebrate the little wins, and let the music flow.

Play what you like: The prospect of being able to play your favourite songs is always an exciting one.

The familiarity of the song could take the edge off the novelty of the instrument and make learning an enjoyable experience. This brings us to a familiar problem we face- finding the chords for the songs we’d like to play! There are also times when the chords we find may lack accuracy, leaving us at our wits end to figure out the right ones, and could even bring our spirited music learning experience to an uneasy standstill. But there’s a solution for this too. With an AI-enabled platform like Chordify, users can get the chords to any song they wish to play on their guitar, piano or ukulele by just uploading an audio file from YouTube, Deezer, SoundCloud or even a private collection. The algorithm recognizes chords from audio signals and automatically turns them into chords with accuracy. The best part is that it makes chords to even the most niche songs accessible to the user. This enables the user to simply focus on the music and save them the stress of  relentlessly hunting for chords.

Develop an appreciation for music: Playing an instrument is more than producing a desired audio output. It is also about connecting to the music, finding meaning in the notes, rhythm and harmony, understanding the sound behind the symbols and much more. While learning to play any instrument, taking the effort to understand and appreciate the nuances will make the experience all the more enriching. Gaining this depth will make the process of learning more intuitive and also helps develop a degree of affinity with the craft. It becomes less about memorising chords and more about channelling your passion for music.

Jam with friends and connect with peers: It’s undeniable that music transcends the barriers of language and culture to unite enthusiasts around the world. This is evident from the increasing popularity of international artists and songs today more than ever before. One of the most engaging activities you can try while learning an instrument is to jam with someone else. This not only makes the process fun but also makes it more relaxing and even inspiring to carry on learning. The thought of jamming with a bunch of musicians might be intimidating at first, but once you get used to practising with another person, the experience will certainly start to grow on you. You could jam with a friend who sings or has a musical instrument or even with your teacher to start with. There are even online communities that help connect aspiring instrumentalists, which is also a great way to learn together. What’s better than learning a musical instrument? Making new friends while you’re at it!

A little patience goes a long way

Music impacts the brain in a way that nothing else can. Sticking with the habit of practising your instrument can be quite rewarding in the long run. Apart from being able to play your favourite songs, the many cognitive benefits of playing an instrument far outweigh the initial troubles of forming the habit. By integrating information from multiple senses like vision, hearing and touch, playing an instrument stimulates the brain in a very powerful way. It's never too late to start. With the kind of resources we have available today, accessibility is not an issue anymore; learning to play a new instrument is just a matter of interest and patience.