How often have you stood in a hotel lobby, hooked by the pianist, or watched a clip of an awesome electric guitarist shredding it out on stage and made a resolution to pick up an instrument?
Well, congratulations! After years of stringing yourself with the promise of picking up an instrument, you’re finally taking the plunge!
But alas, with the paradox of choice, which instrument should you pick?
“Does it even matter which instrument I pick?”
“Can I pick up more than one at a time?”
“What factors should I consider before buying an instrument?”.
You might be feeling overwhelmed with so many questions and factors to consider.
So if you’re unsure, let us help you make a sound choice and strike the right chord!
The Benefits of Learning Music
Once you start to learn a new instrument, the excitement and novelty might wear off quickly. But fret not, here are some benefits to learning music, to keep you motivated!
Learning Music At Any Age Benefits The Brain.
Scientists at the University of Beijing revealed that musical training can improve language skills, and could even offer more benefits than additional language classes!
Furthermore, in another study, students with musical training displayed heightened skills in reading, speaking, and brain functions.
And those skills followed them through to adulthood too!
Neural Plasticity Through Learning An Instrument
However, learning an instrument as an adult has its benefits too!
Neural plasticity is a function where your brain adapts as a response to learning and external stimuli. Learning an instrument could increase your IQ, even in adulthood!
A study with musical instrument learners and non-learners showed the learners had a 10% increase in their IQ.
The Holistic Benefits
Learning an instrument offers many holistic benefits for your soul, personal fulfilment and social life too!
When you’re practising your instrument, you’ve made time for yourself. This is a pocket of peace in your day where you can unwind and detach from your regular stresses.
Picking up a new skill also aids your personal growth and increases self-fulfilment.
Why? Because you learning something new and that “something new” gives you another topic to talk about and socialise over, with strangers.
So learning a new instrument could give you a better social life and more friends. Who knew?
Should You Even Be Picking Up A New Instrument?
However, should you be picking up a new instrument now? This isn’t usually considered by most, and fast forward 3 months later, their new guitar is sitting in the corner, collecting dust.
Is This The Right Time?
Are you 3 months away from your O’ Level Examinations or about to enlist soon?
Then put off learning an instrument until your situation is more ideal. After all, it is a new skill that requires time and commitment to it.
Do You Have The Time To Commit?
Experts advise practising your instrument for AT LEAST 30-60 minutes a day, 5 days a week!
And it’ll take about 20 hours of deliberate practice to gain proficiency in a skill and a few years to get to early intermediacy in a musical instrument.
Are you willing to commit that much time, effort, and patience?
What About The Finances?
Thirdly, are you in the right situation to be picking up a new instrument now? Right now, it might seem like all you’ll have to purchase is your instrument and an entry-level music book.
However, whether you intend to go serious or not, soon, you might find yourself having to shell out cash for your newfound passion.
This could be for a better model of your instrument, classes, equipment, or subscriptions for music platforms such as Trala, UltimateGuitar or MuseScore.
Keep in mind too, that instruments aren’t cheap! A beginner violin or electric keyboard on the lower end already costs at least $150.
Remembering Those Around You
Additionally, what is your living situation like? In the beginning, your instrument is more likely to produce noise rather than music.
Even as you progress, you’ll be playing bars and songs repeatedly to get it right. Are your family members supportive enough to be willing to hear the same few bars multiple times a week?
Also, remember that your Singaporean neighbours will not shy away from filing a noise complaint!
What About Yourself?
Are you someone who sticks through plans even when the going gets tough, or someone who throws in the towel the moment an inconvenience arises?
Anyone who plays an instrument will tell you that learning an instrument can be as frustrating as it is fulfilling.
Practical AND Theory
Lastly, most non-learners think music consists of just note-reading and playing the instrument, and are blissfully unaware of music theory.
This is a field of concepts about the elements of music, and anyone who plays an instrument MUST learn it to truly master their craft.
However, many struggle with theory as it consists of quick thinking, memorisation, basic mathematics, and visualising sound.
Although, ultimately, it is no harder than any other field of concept to learn.
Which Instrument Should I Pick?
Interestingly, there is a correlation between a preference for a certain musical instrument and personality. So if you feel gravitated towards a specific instrument, there’s probably a reason why, and you should go for it!
However, internal motivations could also affect your choice of instrument to pick up.
If You Have Limitations
For example, those with time and space constraints could consider smaller instruments like the ukuleles and harmonicas. They’re also quick and easy to learn, making them popular amongst the elderly as well.
For The Social Butterflies
If you want to impress people easily and socialise with other fans and players of the instrument, then learning the piano is a great choice and is also in the middle when it comes to difficulty.
For The Charismatic Showman
If you’re a person who does not shy away from the spotlight and loves being the centre of attention (nothing wrong with that!), then an instrument like the electric guitar, drums, or harp would make you the centre of attention immediately.
For The Empaths
Lastly, for deeper souls who don’t mind feeling blue, a saxophone, your voice (hey, it’s an instrument too!), violin, or cello might turn out to be your lifelong companion.
Conclusion
This article isn’t meant to discourage anyone from learning an instrument, as there are countless benefits for your mind and soul.
It is meant to shine a light on the commonly overlooked cons of learning a new instrument.
So consider the points in this article to decide whether learning a new instrument will be the ‘treble’ or ‘bass’ for a richer life. It could also help you pick your new instrument!
There is an instrument for everyone out there, even if it might not be what you’re expecting, but music knows no bounds on touching one’s soul, so rock on!
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