MAKING MUSIC AGAIN AT 40, 50 OR 60+

Did you love playing a musical instrument when you were younger but somehow since then life has got in the way? Well, it’s time to get your guitar down from the loft, dust off your drum kit and peel the dust covers off your piano!

Learning to play a musical instrument is not only for youngsters - plenty of adults are re-discovering their love of music.

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For baby boomers at school during the 1960’s, a time when councils had a budget for orchestral instruments, the majority of primary school pupils learned to play a musical instrument even if it was just the recorder.

Many joined flourishing school bands and orchestras but, as often happens, life gets in the way; as those children grew up and began their adult lives, many musical instruments were stuffed in the back of wardrobes, under beds or relegated to the loft.

But there's a growing band of adults rediscovering their lost instruments and love of music making...

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MUSIC

There's a common belief that if you don't begin learning a musical instrument in your childhood, you've missed the chance. Thankfully, strong evidence - and real-life stories - are beginning to change that misconception.

One of the biggestmyths about ageing is that, the older we get, the harder it is to learn new things. This simply isn’t true; as proved by so many late-learners,people of any age can learn to play music and, given today’s longer lifespans, it’s a safe-bet that if you start playing an instrument in later life, you can keep on playing and progressing for decades, whichever instrument you choose.

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And it's not just about the music - playing a musical instrument in retirement, even a little, helps you stay mentally and physically agile.

Additionally, there have been many research studies that show playing an instrument can enhance emotional well-being, brain health, cognition and hearing function.

According to the research, most activities in life use only a few areas of the brain at a time. Playing a musical instrument, on the other hand, sets off a symphony of activity all over your brain.

So, If you want to keep your mind sharp as you get older, put down the TV remote control and pick up a set of drumsticks, a guitar pick or a violin bow instead!

"If anyone harbours an ambition to take up music, it really is never too late!" - Alistair Mcgowan: Chart-Topping Pianist

A brilliant example is BAFTA-winning impressionist Alistair McGowan. After years on our screens, McGowan reignited his passion for the piano in his late 40s, returning to the piano in 2014.
After playing for just two years as a child, McGowan originally gave up at the age of 9 and then, after learning for two years in his mid-thirties, having to give up again when his hit show The Big Impression came along.

Still keen to learn some of his favourite music, McGowan started to learn again for a third time in 2014 - eventually leading him to record his first classical piano album, Alistair McGowan: The Piano Album (Sony Classics) in 2017 - just three years after returning to music.

As Alistair says, “this demonstrates that if anyone harbours a secret ambition to take up music, that it really is never too late!”

HAPPY RETURNERS

When our own children start learning to play music, most of us remember our own music lessons with a sense of nostalgia - and for too many of us, regret in not having continued.
This can be the perfect time to dust off the guitar or get the old violin down from the attic. Or, for those of us who didn't get the opportunity to learn as a child, seeing your own kids play can prove the perfect springboard for also taking up an instrument.

In some cases, today's children may eventually put music on hold due to pressures of school and exams - but many parents continue learning regardless.

Music teachers regularly note that as adults, we generally have more patience and determination to learn than children do. And when it comes to musicality, adults - however rusty or out-of-rhythm we are - often bring more life experience and emotion into the music than children do.

Older returners invariably describe an incredible sense of re-discovery, a sense of release and forgotten joy when learning and playing. In retirement - and in charge of our time - there's nothing to stop us following our long-lost dreams of playing like the rock stars, guitar heroes or concert pianists we used to idolise as children and teenagers.

IMPROVE YOUR SOCIAL LIFE, GET A CONFIDENCE BOOST

Anna Patten, in her forties, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, England, learned the French Horn at school and continued to play at university and into her twenties.
But, with the demands of a busy job and her young family, the French Horn found its way to the loft. There it stayed, gathering dust for 18 years, until Anna spotted an advert recruiting for the local village brass & woodwind band.

She gathered up the courage to go along. “I couldn’t remember where the notes were. I was nervous as I didn’t know if I would be good enough. But I did a quick bit of practise at home and was amazed how quickly it all came back.

“An orchestral instrument like the French Horn is not something I would ordinarily play on my own at home; it's meant to be played as part of an ensemble. The orchestra meets once a month and it has been a revelation how much I enjoy it and how much fun we have, far more than I could have ever imagined.”

MEET NEW FRIENDS & SOCIAL GROUPS

As we get older, we often find ourselves lacking the social ties that we took for granted earlier in our lives.
Many of us have gone through a divorce or lost a partner and, once retired, it's normal to miss the social connections we had as young adults or in the world of work.

Learning an instrument can be a fantastic way to get out into the world and meet new people on your own terms.

Whilst your main interaction may only be with your teacher to begin with, after a while you'll find opportunities to meet other musicians who share a passion for your instrument or style of music.

MODERN TECHNOLOGY TO THE RESCUE

Instruments and technology have moved on a pace. Today’s instruments are often made from lighter materials, making them easier to hold and play and feature a huge variety of teaching tools and aids.
Anna comments “There have been amazing advancements since I was a child, there are even apps to tune your instrument.

YouTube is an incredible resource where you can play along and practice, there are hundreds of online courses to teach you anything from guitar to electronic music production.

Even the design of my music case is lighter and easier to carry.”

IT'S NOT TOO LATE - GO FOR IT!

Learning to play music is something we can do throughout our entire life - and there are important health benefits to learning, whatever our age.
Why not treat yourself to some music lessons or surprise someone with some music lessons.

Read this article on Yamaha Music Europe here.

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