Here’s a riddle for you: “If you have me, you might take me for granted; if you don’t have me, you’ll miss me terribly. What am I?” Did you guess? Actually, there are no wrong answers here, but the one we are getting at is “health.”
We are bringing it up because today, April 7, is World Health Day. Of course, we should all take care of our physical and mental well-being each day of the year. Thankfully, it’s never too late (or too early) to start living healthy– as the famous quote, which has been attributed to various people, points out, “If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself!” What exactly does “living healthy” entail? It’s exercise, healthy diet, and doing things that are pleasurable and reduce your stress level. There are lots of activities that will accomplish this, but – for obvious reasons – we’d like to hone in on one. You must have guessed by now that we want to talk about music and its therapeutic effect on the body and soul.
First, let’s talk about how music can prevent all kinds of ailments or, in the very least, help us recover quicker. Scientific studies have shown that music:
And here is even more good news: there is a considerable body of evidence indicating that music therapy can help patients recover from or manage a number of illnesses, including cancer. It can also increase brain function in dementia patients, provide pain relief, and speed up the healing process.
You may be wondering how much music does it take (either through playing or listening) to feel the beneficial effects. We are not aware of anyone actually providing any metrics, but we do know that any exposure to music is better than none at all. So if you decide to take music lessons – no matter which instrument you choose – they will not only help you draw all the above-mentioned benefits, but also help you develop other skills. That’s because music training also boosts your (or your child’s) concentration, discipline, and other mental functions. Would you like an amazing teacher to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you music lessons? Just contact us and start boosting your health, stat!
