Why lessons are important - especially during difficult times

Music is one of the most powerful art forms out there. If you have ever played a specific song to

help you get ready in the morning, focus on your work, or pump you up at the gym, then you

already know that music can boost your mood in a matter of minutes.

Music touches us on a deep, emotional level, and many of us instinctively turn to music to help

us get through difficult times. While listening to music is extremely enjoyable, you can reap

even more benefits from making music yourself. Whether you are going through a difficult

period of your personal life, weathering a financial downturn, or navigating the stress of the 24-

hour news cycle, music lessons can be an invaluable creative outlet.

The Benefits of Music Lessons During Difficult Times

Music lessons are always beneficial, but during difficult times, they can be vital

lifelines—helping you stay grounded and optimistic while giving you the motivation to make

things better, both for yourself and your community.

It may be tempting to view music lessons as a luxury, but their numerous benefits show that

they are a worthy investment, even when you are low on time, money, and/or energy.

Hone Transferable Skills

Music lessons aren’t just about learning how to use your instrument, read sheet music, or

understand music theory. They also teach valuable skills that can enhance your life outside of

the music studio.

Music lessons build transferable skills like:

 Critical thinking

 Communication

 Time management

 Concentration

 Problem-solving

 Confidence

 Self-discipline

 Perseverance

 Attention to detail

Above all, music lessons help you develop a growth mindset. That means that you don’t let

setbacks or mistakes get you down. Instead, you know that failure is part of the learning

process, and you roll with the punches. Especially when you are struggling in other areas of

your life, music lessons can teach you how to persevere through adversity and achieve your

goals.

Boost Your Self-Esteem

Learning something new always provides a sense of accomplishment, so when you are feeling

down about yourself, turn to music lessons to boost your self-esteem. Nothing feels better than

finally mastering a tricky technical concept or a difficult passage! When you work hard to

overcome a musical challenge, it supercharges your confidence—giving you the motivation and

courage you need to tackle other problems in your life.

Express Yourself Creatively

For as long as humans have existed, we have looked for creative outlets. From prehistoric cave

paintings to the Mona Lisa to TikTok, we have always needed a way to express our imagination.

Engaging in a creative activity, like music lessons, can help you work through difficult emotions,

escape from outside pressures, and express your feelings in a meaningful way. Whether you are

playing through your favorite song to cope with grief or sharing a piece with a friend, music is

the perfect creative outlet.

Train Your Brain

Your brain needs exercise to stay in shape, and music lessons are like a brain gym! Playing

music involves a lot of high-level brain activity, like reading notes on a page and translating

them into action, and as you work to memorize pieces, your brain works even harder. A 2014

neurological study demonstrated that musicians’ brains respond to stimuli quicker than those

of non-musicians, which results in improved mental faculties and motor skills.

Music lessons are a healthy brain habit for everyone, from children to adults to seniors! A 2011

study found that playing music can help prevent and manage Alzheimer’s disease and other

age-related forms of cognitive decline.

When you take regular music lessons, you keep your brain active and healthy. However, just

like you won’t be able to lift as much weight after a long break from the gym, the cognitive

benefits you see from playing music will decrease without continued practice. That means that

consistent music lessons are a critical to your long-term brain health.

Improve Your Mental Health

Music lessons don’t just strengthen your brain; they also improve your mental health. Playing

music has been clinically proven to lower cortisol levels, resulting in less stress and anxiety, as

well as mitigate depression. In fact, music has been shown to be more effective at reducing

stress than other artistic pursuits, like calligraphy and ceramics. That means that if you are

struggling with stress—or if you just want to build some strong mental health habits—music

lessons are one of the best ways to improve your outlook!

Build Community

During tough times, your friends, family, and neighbors become an even more important

source of support, and playing music can help you expand and strengthen your community.

When you take music lessons, you build connections with your music teacher, their students,

and other local musicians. You can meet new people through your music studio’s performance

opportunities, and you can also jam with your friends or join a local orchestra. Music brings

people together!

Have Fun

Finally, music lessons are fun! Especially when you are in a difficult period of your life, anything

that brings you joy is worth investing in. The fun you have making music isn’t frivolous; it’s a

critical survival tool that helps you stay positive and motivated enough to overcome challenges.

Plus, there is no better medicine than a good laugh!

Nurture Your Inner Artist with Crowne Music

At Crowne Music, we fully understand the power of music, and we want to share it with as

many people as possible! We are proud to offer high quality music lessons in a wide variety of

instruments, including voice, piano, string instruments, woodwinds, brass, and drums. Our

expert staff works flexible hours across multiple York County locations to accommodate even

the busiest schedules. From engaging group classes for kids to personalized music lessons for

adults to our world-class opera training program for emerging professionals, Crowne Music has

something for everyone!

Crowne Music is committed to offering the best music lessons in York, PA, inspired by our love

for our local community. We pride ourselves on cultivating a safe, supportive learning

environment, and our personalized approach to teaching ensures that every student’s needs

are met.

Contact us today to learn more about how music lessons can improve your life!