Learning to play a musical instrument may be the most potent prescription to improve your mental and physical health. Scientifically, listening and playing music have collective benefits on physical and mental health.
In fact, there is an ocean of medical studies that prove that music therapy even alleviates symptoms of depression. Conversely, research indicates that listening to thrill music renders the same pleasure as sex or consumption of delicious food.
For instance, learning to play the piano would improve your cognitive functions and align your physical gestures. The more inspiration you get, the more goodness you would want to bring to other people. Keeping that in mind, take a look at the following beneficial role of learning music on mental and physical health:
The Role of Music Learning on Your Physical Health
Improved Sleeping Cycle
Anxiety and stress are the mortal enemies of long and quality sleep. The disruption of your normal sleep cycle is due to the high level of stress. Fortunately, learning to play a musical instrument can create a sense of relaxation in various situations.
And before you know it, you will be able to sleep like a child. In fact, you can make your routine to play the piano for at least 30 minutes to normalize your sleep gradually.
Decreased Cardiovascular Disease Risk
It should not come as a surprise that listening to music speeds up the recovery process of patients suffering from heart diseases. Despite the genre of music, listening, or learning music results in endorphins production in the central brain. As a result, it significantly improves your vascular health.
Recovered heart patients who learn to play a musical instrument like the piano can maintain the flow of healthy blood vessels. A 30 minute of light practice on a musical instrument is equivalent to the physical exercise.
Helps Cancer Patients throughout Treatment
Contrary to misguided perception, music therapy (i.e., listening and playing) is not homeopathy. The skepticism, however, arises from incomplete or amateur music therapies. Ideally, when you wholeheartedly indulge in the comfort of listening and playing music, it offers a variety of benefits for cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Learning to play a musical instrument works as a coping mechanism among cancer patients who want more physical resilience to get through the treatment. Whether you are a kid or an adult, learning to play music has become fundamental to help cancer patients recover with grace.
Boosts Immune System
Technically, when you hear the sound of pleasant keynotes on a piano, it automatically increases your platelet production and stimulates lymphocytes. It is a cell protection mechanism against specific diseases.
In simple terms, when you listen to music, your body releases endorphins. In fact, the continuous release of endorphins in your body can reduce even severe pain in chronic diseases like osteoarthritis. Once you learn to play an instrument, you can lower your cortisol levels and stress hormone that weaken your immune system.
Reduced Blood Pressure
Several studies state that listening to Celtic or classical music for at least 30 minutes every day can decrease high blood pressure. Similarly, if you play the piano regularly, you can maintain your blood pressure.
Eases Headache
Listening or playing on a musical instrument leads to a de-stressing. It is a process of relaxation that temporarily or permanently get rid of your headaches or migraines. In the digitalization age, where headaches are common among individuals from all walks of life, music is the answer to ease your suffering.
Better Verbal and Visual Skills
Here’s the thing, when you learn to play music, it stimulates your brain. As a result, more brain stimulation or activity leads to improved communication skills. Primarily, children who regularly play piano show improved signs of verbal and visual communication.
The Role of Music Learning on Your Mental Health
Better Processing of Memory
You can activate many areas of your brain when you continue to listen and play music. Once your brain processes information better, you pick up communication cues faster. For instance, if you play, say, one of Mozart’s pieces on the piano, the left and right part of your brain activity will increase, which would improve the information retention and learning skills.
Increases Neural Communication
Listening or playing music works as an aid for people who have Parkinson’s, Autism, or Alzheimer’s disorder. You should think of playing music as a mental gymnastics activity for your brain. In fact, playing music does more than increase your neuronal communications – It improves the plasticity and elasticity of the human mind.
Reduces Anxiety Levels
When you listen to favorite or recognizable pieces of music, it reduces your anxiety levels. You do not necessarily have to have a specific music style or taste. Whether you like light old school rock or classical music, a single tune can bring down your anxiety. Once you listen and play your favorite songs, your stress-oriented hormone also drops.
Protects Your Brain Against Aging
Music can thwart pessimism that may be lurking in your deepest thoughts. Regular sessions on a musical instrument like the piano can increase your sense of optimism. Consequently, it becomes a self-sustaining protective mechanism for your brain against aging. It is also beneficial for individuals who suffer from mild or acute depression.
Final Thoughts
Listening or learning to play music has the power to improve your mood and reduce anxiety or pain. In fact, people often consider music as a way to express their emotional well-being. There is more than enough research that indicates that music is advantageous to your mental and physical health.
It is no secret that palliative and hospice care centers use music therapy to improve the conventional treatment process for several diseases and illnesses. Learning music works as a treatment to control anxiety, stress, and depression. Furthermore, the same music learning allows people to manage pain and improve physical functioning for degenerative neurologic conditions.
Nonetheless, you can put an end to your physical and mental exhaustion. You can, for instance, dive into engaging online piano lessons. Skoove is an incredible app to learn new hand techniques and receive professional guidance. You can choose your songs or browse through Skoove’s collection. In any case, don’t forget to have fun.
Online Piano Lessons: https://www.skoove.com/en
