Let Music Be Your Muse

Music is the background of our lives. It’s always there, ticking off the moments like a metronome following us around, our constant companion. Music is mathematical and precise, yet loose and flowing. It fits in well no matter the circumstance. It is said a muse is someone who inspires you to create and to grow, but does a muse have to be a person or can you let music be the muse in your life?

There is no question music has had an influence beyond causing us to tap our toes and bob our heads. There’s just something about it. It affects not just who we are – and our behavior from moment to moment, but also who we become because it has the power to help us grow.

Music and the Mind

Studies have shown that incorporating music lessons of some kind can improve academic scores and that it plays a role in brain development. Since we are constantly learning it would be an easy deduction that music’s role in our brain’s development is as continuous as we allow it to be. As we age, any help we can get is worth looking into.

Benefits Galore

Music can help you gain focus and strengthen memory; it can also help improve physical coordination and development. Music is relaxing. Music is healing. Music is one of the few things that lights up nearly the entire brain when one is engaged in it. Why not incorporate a class into your weekly schedule to help stimulate your mind and influence your soul?

Never Too Late to Learn

Whoever said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks forgot to mention that it isn’t necessarily true. If you have been intimidated to learn something new, don’t be. You could take guitar lessons or hire a vocal coach; learn the piano or even learn how to write a melody. Whether it’s a private lesson you pay for or one you find for free via an online tutorial, there is something for every budget. If you already sing or play an instrument, but haven’t done so in a while, get to practicing again!

It Pays to Participate

Engaging in music versus passively listening to it increases endorphins. It is the performance or participation, not the music itself that generates the high. Could this be because we are using so much of our brains at once? The endorphin rise is comparable to that of an athlete. In addition, the study gave credence to the idea that music was a critical factor in human bonding.

What’s Stopping You?

What role is music playing in your life? Is it something you love yet somehow got away from or is it something you never thought to investigate beyond the radio dial or attending local music happenings?

The benefits of music are immense and certainly far from being fully measured. One thing is certain: making music a part of your daily or weekly “exercise” is healthy for you mind, body, and soul. How can you incorporate it into your life now?