SPILLS OF RANDOMNESSS # 6 - Students Should Be Required to Play an Instrument

I love music. There is probably not a part of my life that is not affected by music. It is emotionally connecting and intellectually enhancing. In other words, it is really good for you, and playing an instrument is a really good way to connect to music and enhance brain performance, which brings us to the whole point here. It is evident that all students should be required to play at least one instrument.

For example, playing an instrument can help your comprehension and processing, due to the emotional connections we have to the music. Playing an instrument can also be mentally challenging, such as if you were to play a wind instrument, where you can not see the keys you are playing, or piano, where you have to play two different things at once. The University of Montreal agrees, according to a new study they are doing. "As people get older, for example, we know their reaction times get slower," lead researcher Landy says, "So if we know that playing a musical instrument increases reaction times, then playing an instrument will be better for them." So, basically, if you play an instrument, you won't be so quick to lose your mind when you get older.

Furthermore, playing an instrument can increase resilience to loss of hearing. While playing an instrument, you need to listen to notes and learn to discern certain notes from others, which requires a sharp sense of hearing. A 2013 study showed that people with only moderate musical training preserved sharp processing of speech sounds. It was also able to increase resilience to age-related decline in hearing. Being able to play an instrument can enable you to hear better and for a longer period of your life. Basically, it will take longer for you to become an old, decrepit bean.

Admittedly, instruments are hard to learn and can take a lot of time away from doing other things, but children would probably just be sitting around on the couch and eating things that are unhealthy for them anyway, and the challenge of learning to play an instrument is good for your brain.

You will enhance your brain performance and become much smarter if you play an instrument and there is no reason why students should not be required to play an instrument like they are required to take other classes.