Do you have a guitar that sits in the corner of your room, but you never pick it up? Maybe it was gifted to you years ago, or maybe you bought it with the intention of joining a band, but you never found the motivation to practice on your own. If this describes you, you’re not alone - but it’s never too late to start learning! Read on to discover 5 benefits of taking guitar lessons as an adult.
1 Takes Focus Away From Work
When’s the last time you started an activity for pure enjoyment, without the goal of being more productive? Today’s hustle culture encourages people to work all the time, but pursuing a hobby for pleasure and not productivity can improve your mental health, leaving you feeling recharged and ready to tackle the challenges that life throws at you.
2 Builds Community
It can be hard to make friends as an adult! It’s not as simple as it was on the playground, when you could walk up to someone and ask what their favorite color is. Joining a group guitar class can help you meet other people in your community who share your interest in music, and taking private lessons can build your skills to a point where you can attend local jam nights, and maybe even join a band!
3 Encourages Creativity
When we’re younger, creativity is woven into many of the activities we participate in daily, whether it’s coloring, playing make-believe, or attending mandatory music and art classes in school. Depending on your career, it can be hard to find designated time for creativity. Adult guitar lessons can provide a cathartic outlet for emotional expression, and as a result, boost your mood!
4 Helps You Keep A Routine
Learning a new skill means you have to set aside time to practice. This can be great motivation for creating and keeping a routine - for example, planning to practice for 30 minutes, three times a week. Taking lessons also means that you are held accountable for your progress, as opposed to learning on your own. Consistency in any routine can help boost your mood by getting you out of bed and moving, even on days when you don’t want to.
5 Teaches You Something New About Yourself
There is no better way to learn about yourself than through a new experience. Maybe picking up the guitar will teach you that you like a genre of music you never listened to before, or that you’re surprisingly good at repeating back a rhythm you hear, or that you’re more fearless than you thought, enough to get on stage and play in front of an audience! The possibilities are endless.
- Genna Projansky, bass guitar & guitar instructor