The guitar isn’t dead: How learning to play helps us live better lives

Musicians are playing the guitar now more than ever but in new, innovative ways in today’s diverse, popular music landscape. We are in a new generation of young people who are discovering the popular instrument and taking it to completely new levels than their predecessors. With the rise of streaming and sharing platforms, artists around the world have even more access to create and share music.

With all of this new technology and playing freedom, it is important to understand the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of playing an instrument. Research has revealed a ton of educational benefits to the guitar:

• Women continue to define the emerging guitar market. They make up roughly 50% of all beginner players.
• Many new players are picking up the guitar for the first time to gain life skills or as a way of self-improvement.
• Most people aren’t looking for a “rock god” status. They simply want to learn songs to play by themselves or socially.

Guitar players of today are more diverse than ever before. The growing diversity of players goes beyond gender. All cultures are in love with the guitar and many are learning. Today’s players have grown up in a different cultural surrounding and popular music reflects that.

Those who pick up the guitar for the first time to gain life skills or to better themselves find that playing an instrument can improve their overall well-being. Playing even five minutes a day can lead to a range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits.

While the majority of today’s players aren’t looking to become the next rock star, the health and social benefits of music are long-established. Music connects us. No matter what our language is, music is universal. We all look for that connection to other people whether they are next to us or on the other side of the earth. When we learn to play an instrument, any instrument, we are learning tolerance, acceptance and a way to be creative that appeals to the masses. So if you aren’t looking to be the next guitar hero, you are still connecting with others on so many levels.

Think about taking guitar lessons and see if learning to play the guitar is right for you. When you incorporate something new and creative into your life, you are enriching yourself and those around you. Everyone needs a hobby; something they love. The world is crazy enough and sometimes a little escapism is all we need to make everything better.

If you are in the Philadelphia area and are looking to learn but don’t quite know how to get started, contact the David Joel Guitar Studio. With one on one lessons, you will learn how to play guitar at your own pace with no pressure and no judgment.

Phone: (215) 831-8640

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