Why adults should learn a musical instrument

Anna Sandner

9.6.2023

Translation: Megan Cornish

It’s worth learning an instrument early, but it’s never too late! Even in adulthood, it’s associated with positive effects for body and mind. Read on to find out how to find the right instrument for you and make learning easier.

As a child, I learned to play several musical instruments. I started in the traditional way with the recorder. When I was 10, I swapped it for the piano. Admittedly with moderate success, I took lessons consistently until my early twenties. I’ve also tried my hand at violin and flute over the years. All in the belief that if I don’t start when I’m young, I’ll never be able to learn again later. This is partly a misconception, as science now shows me.

Positive effects on mind and body – whatever your age

Learning a musical instrument delivers benefits on many levels: including enriching your life enormously. Practicing an instrument also has a positive effect on motor and auditory abilities. This can be seen directly in the brain: just as the muscles grow through strength training, the grey matter in the brain grows through making music.
This was shown by a study of professional musicians. The researchers found that the grey matter in the motor, auditory and visual-spatial regions was more pronounced in people who regularly play an instrument professionally in the comparison group of non-musicians.
Many other studies complement and underline the advantages: fine motor skills and coordination are practiced, hearing and concentration are improved, and learning a musical instrument can even help to delay dementia, even at an older age.

There are so many good reasons to learn an instrument – no matter how old you are.

Which is the instrument for you?

If that’s convinced you, you’re now spoiled for choice. So, which instrument should you go for? The possibilities are almost endless. And while children can usually instinctively choose which instrument they want to learn straight away, it’s often not that easy for adults. Here are a few tips on how to find the right instrument for you.

The first thing you should ask yourself is what pops into your head when you think of an instrument? This is the direct route back to your childhood self’s intuition and can give you a clue about what’s right for you.
Then you can get an overview of the possibilities. For example, if you thought of a violin when you heard the word «instrument», the whole range of stringed instruments could be of interest to you. There are six groups of instruments in total:

String instruments: Classical strings include the violin I mentioned earlier, along with the viola, violoncello and double bass. If you go for one of these, you need a little more perseverance than with some other instruments. You have to put in some work before you can let off steam musically. It takes some practice to get both the correct bow movement and the placement of your other hand right to hit the right note.
Incidentally, that was also why my string career ended relatively quickly. I missed the quick wins; I was too impatient for the violin.

Woodwind instruments: In addition to the recorder, these include the saxophone, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and flute. You might be thinking: «hang on, they’re not made of wood at all». But it’s not a typo. Instruments are classified in part by how the sound is produced – in this case, a reed creates the sound. Just as you first have to learn how to bow correctly with string instruments, the first challenge with wind instruments is to get a sound out of them. This can sometimes take a while. You should also keep in mind that playing can be physically challenging too.

Brass instruments: Again, wind instruments aren’t named after the material they’re made of, but the way the sound is produced. The trumpet, tuba, trombone and horn are played with a metal mouthpiece. You should like the dominant sound of these instruments, otherwise you won’t enjoy playing them.

Percussion instruments: The name says it all here. We’re talking about the xylophone, drums, cymbals or the combination of several of these elements – percussion. If you have a soft spot for rhythms and want to let off steam while making music, these instruments are perfect for you.

Keyboard instruments: Key instruments are also easy to identify because of their keyboards. The classic is definitely the piano, but there’s also the accordion, organ and keyboard. Keyboard instruments have the considerable advantage for beginners that the (correct, clean) note is already defined by the key. This enables quick success right at the beginning of the learning process and prevents frustration with practice. There are now also many online programmes and apps that make it easy to learn without a teacher.

Plucked instruments: This includes instruments that are usually plucked (although the strings could theoretically be bowed). The guitar and harp belong to this category, as well as the electric guitar, even if hardly anyone really plucks the strings. As with stringed instruments, you have to keep in mind that it takes time to hit the right notes. Guitars are easy to take around with you, and they create a nice atmosphere around a campfire on a warm summer evening, among other things.

Tips that make learning easier

Once you’ve decided on your favourite instrument, you’re good to go. Here are a few more tips that can make your life easier:

• Think realistically: Start with small, achievable goals and work your way up. This gives you a sense of accomplishment and keeps your motivation high.
• Take regular lessons: Qualified teachers can help you learn the right technique and keep you on track. They can also provide personalised feedback to speed up your progress.
• Practice regularly: Plan fixed practice times every day. Even if you only practice for a short amount of time each day, it’s important to maintain continuity.
• Find the right balance between challenge and fun: Choose pieces of music or exercises that challenge you but are also fun. This keeps motivation high and lets you progress faster.
• Build on existing musical knowledge: If you already have musical knowledge or experience, use it to your advantage. It can help you grasp new concepts and progress faster.
• Listen to a lot of music: Spend time listening to music being played on your instrument. This will help you train your ears and learn about different styles and techniques.
• Network with like-minded people: Look for opportunities to play or exchange ideas with other musicians. This can give you new perspectives and inspiration and help you learn faster.
• Be patient with yourself: Learning an instrument takes time and practice. Accept that there may be setbacks, but don’t give up. Be patient and proud of your progress no matter how small it may be.
• Use modern technology: There are many apps, online and other tutorials that can support practicing and learning an instrument. Use them to your advantage and find out which tools work best for you.
• Enjoy the process: Above all, learning to play an instrument should be fun. Find ways to keep yourself motivated as you practice and keep enjoying music.

Even if I don’t play anything actively at the moment, I’m still glad that I learned to play different instruments early on. That said, the research for this article has spurred me on to try something new again. This time, maybe it could be the guitar. Which instrument is your favourite and why? Let me know in the comments.

Anna Sandner

Editor

Anna.Sandner@galaxus.de

Science editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always outside - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.

These articles might also interest you