Three Things We Love About Stringed Instruments
Stringed instruments are some of the most ubiquitous instruments across all genres of music. Whether you like classical or classic rock, fans of music can easily tell you one of their favorite songs — and the reason why. Stringed instruments are often celebrated for their ability to resemble the human voice. It’s no surprise why strings form the basis of our modern orchestra and have become so popular in school music programs over the years.
If you’re eager to learn an instrument, we suggest picking up a member of the string family — violin, viola, cello, and bass. Not only is there a vibrant community of musicians ready to welcome you, but there’s no better friendship than the one between a musician and their stringed instrument.
Those are just two of the things we love about stringed instruments, but there’s more to appreciate. Here are some of our favorites that may inspire you to pick up a violin, viola, or cello.
Our List
- Learning the Universal Language of Music
Music is a language in its own right. Every instrument has a “voice” that is uniquely expressive, and anyone can convey emotion, thought, and memory through music. Once you learn to view music as an extension of spoken language, your way of understanding and communicating with the world around you can begin to evolve.
- The Physical Benefits
Whether you’re a child or an adult, playing an instrument can help with the development of fine motor skills and strengthen neglected muscle groups in the body. Just like athletes, musicians need to have a keen awareness of their body as they engage in their craft. Posture, both of the torso and extremities, is crucial to producing your desired sound. Dexterity and coordination are also necessary to properly form notes on the strings. Playing a stringed instrument has been proven to be extremely beneficial to older adults who come back to an instrument later in life (usually in retirement). Bowing a stringed instrument raises your heart rate, improves muscle tone in your bowing arm, and enhances flexibility in your torso. All while making beautiful music!
- Always Improving Yourself
The human mind and body are always changing and adapting. Learning an instrument keeps your mind active and elastic, improving memory function, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. Researchers studying the progression of Alzheimer’s note that the part of the brain that processes music is more resistant to the traumatic effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Many patients who are no longer able to speak are nevertheless able to hum or sing without any problem by accessing this resilient region of the brain where music resides. It’s amazing to think that music can have such an impact on your cognitive abilities so late in life!
No Such Thing As "Too Late To Start"
Taking up an instrument as an adult may seem like an impossible task, especially if you never played as a child. But it’s never too late to learn a new skill. If you found any of your favorite things about stringed instruments on this list, then it’s a sign you should give it a try. Not sure how to get started? Find everything you need to start playing violin today at Johnson String Instrument.
