Six String Remedy:
The Surprising Benefits Learning to Play Guitar Offers Seniors
Felix Quiñonez Jr.
When we reach a certain age, we often find ourselves thinking about the things we never tried and wonder if it's simply too late. However, it is never too late to learn how to play the guitar, and studies show that doing so provides many health and social benefits for people in their later years
As we get older, our bodies go through changes, and we struggle with or cannot do many of the things we once took for granted. For example, it's common for many of us to experience some form of memory loss as we age.
We actively engage in various cognitive processes when playing the guitar, like the sensory and motor systems. This can improve the resiliency of the brain. And the benefits don't end there; learning to play the guitar can also help prevent hearing loss by keeping the brain's auditory cortex healthy.
In an article published by livescience.com, Suzanne Hanser, chair of the music therapy department at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, explained that "Research shows that making music can lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, reduce stress, and lessen anxiety and depression. There is also increasing evidence that making music enhances the immunological response, which enables us to fight viruses."
Fortunately, doing something as simple as picking up a guitar can help people improve memory. Although it's not a magical cure, learning to play the guitar is very beneficial for the brain. Like any other part of our body, the brain benefits from staying active. Taking guitar lessons provides the exercise needed to keep the brain in shape, so to speak. Learning to play the guitar keeps both sides of the brain active. This helps keep the mind sharp, and studies show that playing the guitar also improves the brain's grey matter, strengthening memory.
Playing the guitar requires learning and remembering chords and patterns. Doing so gives your brain a workout. More importantly, it can help slow down memory decline and even decrease the risk of dementia. Therapists often use music to help memory when treating older adults with dementia.
Studies have even shown that playing guitar is an effective way to manage pain from arthritis.
Les Paul was one of music's most influential pioneers. His name is familiar to people who have never even picked up a guitar. Aside from his countless contributions to the music world, he also played guitar with arthritis for more than five decades.
Learning to play the guitar can also offer social benefits. One of life's sad facts is that the older we get, the smaller our circles become. Life has a way of separating people. When we're still young and busy with our careers and starting families, it's easy to overlook that we see people less and less. Or we convince ourselves we'll always have more time to see them in the future.
But as we retire and our kids leave the nest, the void left by the friends who are no longer in our lives becomes more apparent. Frankly, it can get a bit lonely. This is especially true for those who've lost husbands or wives.
There's a reason we're called social animals; people need to socialize. Unfortunately, the older we get, the harder it is to meet new people and make friends. However, few things connect people the way music does. Learning to play the guitar can be just the bridge you need to meet new people.
So, if you've been thinking about taking up the guitar, now's the time. It's never too late to start a new chapter in your life or learn something new. Whether you've never picked up a guitar or are looking for a refresher course, Adam's personalized approach is just the thing you need to embark on your musical journey. Adam's classes will not only teach you how to play the guitar but give you the confidence to do so. Before you know it, you'll feel comfortable partaking in an open mic or jamming out with new friends.