It’s safe to say that learning how to play the instrument is no small feat. Regardless of what you’re learning to play, instruments can be complicated to understand. Harmonicas are certainly one of the easier instruments to learn how to play, but this doesn’t mean that it is a piece of cake either.
As with any other instrument, it takes time and dedication to master the harmonica. So, is all that time and dedication worth learning to play the harmonica? If you are curious to know the answer, keep reading.
Seven Reasons to Learn to Play the Harmonica
Learning how to play any instrument has dozens of benefits, so at the end of the day, it’s certainly worth it to have those skills. The harmonica in particular is a fun and interesting instrument that has been entertaining people for years.
If you are looking for solid reasons to dedicate your time to learning how to play the harmonica, keep reading.
1. Health Benefits
Believe it or not, but learning how to play the harmonica — or any instrument at all — comes with a slew of health benefits. Instruments are known for their calming effects both on the body and mind and have even been known to improve blood pressure levels. Instruments can also be therapeutic and can help relieve anxiety, stress, and depression.
2. Improve Your Cognitive Abilities
If you are older than 65, listen up. Studies have shown that playing an instrument, particularly the harmonica, has been proven to have a positive impact on the parts of the brain that control your hearing, memory, and coordination. In fact, musicians have been proven to outperform non-musicians when it comes to their cognitive abilities. Better yet, learning to play the harmonica has been linked to an increase in your IQ levels.
3. Have Better Memory
If you are one of those people who can’t seem to remember where they left their keys or wallet, you might want to consider taking up the harmonica. It has been discovered that playing the harmonica allows the mind to remain active and alert, which in turn helps to shape and sharpens one’s memory. When you have a better memory, you are able to perform other tasks much more easily. For example, you will find it much easier to learn a foreign language once you’ve mastered the art of the harmonica.
4. Improve Your Organizational Skills
Learning how to play the harmonica requires you to have extreme organizational and time management skills. Playing an instrument is not something to be taken lightly and if you really want to be good at it, you have to put in the work.
You will have to learn how to be self-disciplined especially when it comes to your lessons and your practices. If you are letting either of those things fall by the wayside, chances are you won’t make it very far on your quest to learn how to play the harmonica.
5. Improve Your Respiratory System
This might seem like a strange reason to pick up the harmonica, but you will be impressed by the effects it has on respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. As a matter of fact, researchers believe that one of the reasons why the harmonica is so beneficial to your health is because it trains your body how to breathe properly. When you inhale and exhale, you are improving your breathing skills by increasing the way that your lungs can take in and store oxygen.
6. You Learn Discipline
As mentioned previously, it takes a lot of discipline and determination to pick up the harmonica. Learning how to play any instrument requires a constant dedication to it, regardless of how busy you may be. If you don’t put in the work, you won’t make it very far. Starting to play the harmonica will surely instill a sense of self-discipline and responsibility in you that you will hold on to for the rest of your life, but especially when it comes to learning how to play the harmonica.
7. It’s Portable
One of the best things about learning to play the harmonica is the fact that it’s portable and small and can go anywhere you go. Unlike other instruments, you won’t have to haul around a harmonica because it fits right into your pocket. This is particularly useful if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have some spare time that you can dedicate to practicing.
Conclusion
All in all, it’s safe to say that yes, the harmonica, as well as any other instrument, is truly worth learning how to play. There are dozens of benefits to playing an instrument and it gives you the opportunity to be creative at the same time.
