Play a musical instrument!
Read below the benefits of playing musical instruments such as: wind instruments, string instruments, percussion instruments, keyboard instruments, etc.
Luiz Gonzaga
Teacher and Musician
Oct. 19, 2025 Updated 3:17 p.m.
Research conducted by the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology in Poland followed 24 women during a six-month period of piano learning. The neurological monitoring results showed that, after a certain period, the young women's brain activity decreased, indicating that their brains had optimized their movements. André Frazão Helene, a professor at the Institute of Biosciences at USP, explains which areas of the brain are most used when learning a new instrument and elucidates the health benefits of practicing.
According to the professor, playing a musical instrument stimulates the brain areas responsible for motor actions, such as the primary and secondary motor cortex, as well as those responsible for the automation of movements, such as the basal ganglia. He also explains that the return of motor action involves activity in the auditory areas, that is, the primary and secondary auditory cortex.
Another study published in The Telegraph, along with several others in the scientific community, has shown that playing a musical instrument improves memory capacity. According to the study, by playing, musicians stimulate important areas of the brain that are not stimulated by people who don't play an instrument, these regions are responsible for memorizing information.
1 - Makes you more productive
This type of practice directly affects the brain's Executive Function. This is the area responsible for task execution, decision-making, problem-solving, and related functions. People who play a musical instrument regularly and with discipline can improve these functions and, as a result, become more productive.
2 - Teaches you to be persevering
Mastering the art of playing a musical instrument takes time and effort, which truly teaches patience and perseverance. Most people can't play every song perfectly the first time.In fact, most musicians have to practice difficult parts of songs many times before they can play them correctly.
3 - Increases motor coordination
Playing musical instruments, especially those that involve a greater number of joint movements, such as drums, guitar, and piano, also improves motor coordination. In fact, this practice is highly recommended for the treatment of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Music is also good for your health!
4 - Improve your reading and comprehension skills
An article published in the journal Psychology of Music indicates that children exposed to a music education program, involving training in rhythmic, tonal, and progressively complex practical skills, exhibit superior cognitive performance in reading and comprehension compared to their peers who did not participate in the program. This is because music involves constant reading and comprehension. When you see black and white notes on a page, you need to recognize the name of the note and translate it into a hand position. At the same time, you need to recognize the rhythms in which these notes are located to produce them in the correct pattern.
5 - Combats age-related cognitive decline
As we age, it's common for our cognitive abilities to suffer. As a result, adults and the elderly tend to forget information, fail to think quickly, or even struggle with everyday tasks. Playing a musical instrument can stimulate brain regions linked to cognitive abilities, preventing or reducing their loss.
6 - Time to express yourself and relieve stress
The instrument is yours, and you can play whatever you want on it! The more dedication you put into studying it, the greater the possibilities for how you'll be able to play it. Music is an art, and just as an artist can paint their emotions on a canvas, a musician can play an emotionally charged piece. This has been shown to relieve stress and can be a great form of therapy. In fact, music therapy has also been helpful in treating children and adolescents with autism, depression, and other disorders.
7 - Exercises
And speaking of exercise, did you know that playing an instrument leads to increased physical activity? Whether it's piano, guitar, or a wind instrument, you're using your arms, shoulders, and back muscles to play and/or hold your instrument. It also helps with your posture, which is great for building the muscles around your spine to ensure it stays in place.
8 - Stimulates well-being hormones
Last but not least, playing a musical instrument also stimulates the production of feel-good hormones, such as serotonin. It's through these hormones that you can experience feelings of well-being, pleasure, and happiness. Because of all these benefits, this type of practice also improves quality of life. After all, it helps both the physical and mental aspects of human beings, promoting multiple evolution and development. And you, which musical instrument would you like to learn to play to enjoy all these advantages in your daily life?
