When it comes to learning a musical instrument, there are several factors that contribute to the student’s success. The first is finding a qualified music teacher who has the ability to translate important musical concepts in a way you can easily understand. (Click Here View Some of Our Instructors)
Another essential factor in the learning process is the student’s personal accountability, dedication, and having a natural curiosity about music.
However, the final but still very important requirement for learning to play an instrument is the instrument itself. With many options on the market today, it is easy to be overwhelmed and even confused by the choices available. The major consideration in many people’s minds is their desired budget. It can seem very logical and tempting to go as cheap as possible on the first purchase using the thought process of “this is just to see if this is something I/they will like!” However, that approach can often be detrimental and contribute to the student’s frustration in the initial learning process.
The saying about getting what you pay for definitely holds true in many aspects of purchasing a musical instrument. Cheap instruments are often difficult to play, have significant technical limitations, and very low reliability. These factors can combine to overwhelm the new student. The better option is to instead focus on finding an instrument that while inexpensive, can become a trusted tool to the new student.
Some factors that you should consider prioritizing:
- The quality of the materials
- The way it is assembled
- The delicacy and requirements of maintaining the instrument
- The comfort level of the instrument to you personally
- Resale value
You might find some very inexpensive instruments that satisfy your needs, but it is more likely that you would benefit from treating your first instrument purchase as an investment. This investment mindset makes it a lot easier to justify spending more, because you will remind yourself that you are giving you/your student a better chance at connecting with music by using an instrument that they can play reliably and with confidence.
The Benefits of Learning to Play a Musical Instrument
Children who learn to play a musical instrument have been proven more effective in strengthening their abstract reasoning skills and creative problem solving. But wait until you hear what the latest cognitive research is saying…
Recent studies by scientists show that playing an instrument might actually make you smarter! This is because playing music increases the release of the chemicals BDNF, CREB, and synapsin I, these are fancy science words that will help your brain grow big and strong.
Learning to play a musical instrument has been shown to increase productivity, develop creativity, and build confidence in social situations, including friendships, work environments, and in the classroom. The areas the body and brain use to develop musical comprehension strengthens the same part of the brain and body used for speech and verbal skills such as language as well as fine motor skills. In fact, studies show that even in elderly adults practicing a musical instrument fires a part of the brain that helps strengthen memory, concentration and mental dexterity at any age!