According to a survey done by Gallup, 54% of households have someone that can play a musical instrument. Research has found that learning an instrument is beneficial to your brain - it improves memory, recall and cognitive function. Music has also been shown to increase your resistance to neurodegeneration. Learning an instrument goes far beyond looking after your mind and body though - music is also an extremely important way to help you express your soul. Through playing, you can show your feelings through melody. It is an excellent form of self-therapy, allowing you to be creative through your own music or that of others. 

Expressing your mood

From the late 1700s through to the the early 1900s, the Romantic music movement flourished. Romantic music wasn’t all about love, however; it was about expressing your thoughts and feelings through melody and harmony. The music was heavily influenced by and intertwined with the art being produced at the time. The dense, flowing harmonies of French composer Debussy were like listening to Monet’s “Water Lilies” in music form. Chopin was filling the soundscape with an intense darkness, and Brahms with the tenderness of a delicate lullaby. When you learn an instrument, you too can express your mood through music. Even a simple, lyrical melody like “The Swan” by Saint-Saens is full of emotion. 

Therapy through song

When we talk about learning a musical instrument, this also includes singing. Your voice is a powerful instrument, and through it you can express your feelings. Doing an online singing course can help you to control your voice, improving tone, and learning breathing control and technique to support your muscles and vocal cords. In doing this, you will be able to sing better and keep in tune. Singing is a powerful form of therapy: you only need to listen to emotion-laden songs about love, heartbreak, loss and sheer happiness to understand how much singing can help the soul. It is also a wonderful way of sharing your feelings with those around you. 

A personal performance

One of the most important things to consider about learning a musical instrument is that it doesn’t have to be for a public concert on the stage. The music that you play can simply be about expressing yourself. Not all musicians are concert pianists - the most important thing is that you are playing for your own enjoyment - you are not under any pressure. Sometimes your soul wants to sing out loud, and sometimes it just wants to play a simple tune and allow the melody to linger for a while. When you are learning to play an instrument, you have the option of them both. Even the type of music that you like to listen to is a personal experience, and a song that means something to you might not mean as much someone else. The same is true of the music that you learn to play. 

Learning an instrument will give you a new form of expression that can set your soul free. You have complete creativity over the music that you play, and it can help you to express your true feelings and emotions. 

Sally Benson is a professional freelance writer with many years experience across many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.

This article is written exclusively for CrystalWind.ca.  © 2020 crystalwind.ca. All rights reserved. Do Not Copy.