Before I get into all the benefits of playing music, which will be in a post coming soon, I want to clear up a misconception. You don’t have to be good at something to do it and get the benefits of it. So there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to not exercise your brain by playing music. And yes, I’m going to take a hardline, controversial stand on this! 

I am clearly not an athletic person and I never have been. Does that mean I should stop moving? Of course not! Exercise is so important for our health. I remember trying to run cross country in elementary school but I was consistently in last place. I tried volleyball. I was good at the school level but hated the attitude of the coach. At the club level, I consistently made stupid mistakes for some reason. And don’t get me started on what happened 10 years ago when I tried to join an adult rec team! 

So what did that all teach me? To stop trying? Of course not! I learned what I can and can’t do. I learned my strengths and weaknesses. 

I love going for walks even though some days it may not seem like it. I love going for quiet kayak jaunts down the river. I generally don’t feel the spiritualness of yoga but I know that I always feel better after doing it. Even in the winter, when the weather and my joints are good, I love stomping around a park in my snowshoes. Do I do all of this consistently? No, obviously. But I still try and enjoy trying. And something is better than nothing

This brings me back to music. The benefits of playing music are huge. Every part of the brain lights up when you play music. You workout your brain so hard in a way that nothing else does. So as far as I’m concerned, there are no excuses for not playing music.

“Well I tried learning to play this instrument and I really didn’t like it…” NO! That is not an excuse! Find another instrument! 

“I’m just not a musical person” NO! That is not the point of playing music.

“I don’t want to perform” Fine, don’t! No should be forcing you.

“My kid didn’t like their teacher.” Then find another one!

It’s normal to find excuses when we think we are bad at something or we think it takes too much work. But that doesn’t mean that we should just give up.

I’m trying again for what seems like the 100th time to learn French. I suck at languages! So why am I trying yet again? Why not exercise my brain while learning to communicate with a whole new group of people? There are so many resources that weren't available the last time I tried French and they don’t involve sitting in a classroom where everyone can listen to you fumble your words.. But now, I’ve gone as far as I can go online and need to actually start talking to a real person. 

Sometimes, it’s not us. Sometimes we just need to find the right thing. With music, this can be simply to find the right instrument, find the right teacher, or generally find the right environment. Some people are meant to play violin or saxophone in their living room whereas others find comfort playing trumpet or guitar in a band. Some people find instruments that produce single tones like clarinet more their style. But others find comfort in a rhythm instrument like guitar or ukulele. And let’s not forget the power of the voice. Whether you sing in the shower or in a choir, singing connects our brain and body in such an emotional way it’s amazing

The point is that there are so many options for exercising your brain via music that it doesn’t make sense to me when people just throw up their arms and quit because they’re “not good at music.” Take a break, by all means. We can all use pauses in our hobbies and activities. It’s actually really good to do that occasionally and one day I’ll explain why and how it works. But there are no good excuses for quitting outright. Music is essential at any age.

This is now the part where I put in a plug for my teaching but honestly, I don’t care whether or not you choose the ukulele or even if you go for another teacher. I just want to see everyone playing music. Or even singing. Just play that funky music!

Having said all that, if you do want to learn this happy little instrument from me, I’ll be starting up fall lessons on September 15th and this year, I’m offering a special promotion. If you pay for 5 lessons up front, you get the 6th for free. It’s a great way to start up your journey into the ukulele and music in general. I teach people of all ages from kids to older adults and people of all experience levels so shoot me an email at patricia@gakis.ca