I’ve often heard that learning to play an instrument is good for brain health and memory. I will probably read and write more about this in the future. Part of the theory is that playing music in a group helps to keep you focused which in turn exercises your brain. It has been posited by Roy Ernst, founder of New Horizons International, that as you age, playing an instrument is particularly good at helping to keep focus. With the overwhelming amount of information that is bombarded at you each day, distraction is a problem. Being able to stay focused on a task takes a considerable amount of mental energy. Playing music in a group not only forces focus on playing notes on a page, translating the information into articulated movements of you fingers on your instrument but also listening to others around you so that you can play when others are playing. If you have ever played in a group you will know that it really does take a considerable amount of energy and focus to play in a band and it often leaves me feeling invigorated. Like it has warmed up my brain to continue with challenging endeavors after. I often get more creative just after playing. So one of my New Year Resolutions is obviously to continue to play in the NHB and NHO but I also want to challenge myself musically and learn a little more about music theory. I want to know why I am playing the notes and how they fit into the larger sound of the group. I would also like to learn more about the style of music that we play and maybe about the composers that write the music. Now New Year Resolutions for me don’t always last much beyond the first day of the year, but learning more about music can be a lifelong journey so I figured even if I don’t become an expert on music theory, just going to class will force me and remind me to learn little by little over time.
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AuthorDaniel Zarka Archives
March 2019
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