Introduction
The global musical performance integrates numerous musical instruments, singers, music groups, and musical directions. The ability to play an instrument makes a person a part of this worldwide art expression to inspire people across cultures. As viewed by the Playing for Change organization, “the true measure of any movement is what it gives back to the people” (Playing for Change: About us, 2020). Playing an instrument provides inspiration and hope for a better future, where people are happy and responsive to each other. Other benefits include improving social life, making the players creative, and giving a sense of achievement.
Discussion of Experience
People who play an instrument learn some new ways to express their feelings and emotions by creating images and translating a unique vision. Musical instruments make people more creative since the players become the main composers and put their stamps on the pieces of music. The type of an instrument and music does not matter if the player aims to touch the hearts of people. For example, a well-known song “Over the Rainbow” was played by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole, who used ukulele and translated a special message. In Hawaii, the energy is called mana, and it is all around people – in the sky, Earth, ocean, and inside every person (Montagne, 2011). Kamakawiwo’ole shares his mana through playing the ukulele, and the message is understood not only in his country but all over the world. In response to such melodies, other musicians create touching compositions as if echoing and multiplying inspiration.
Across human populations of different cultures, musical behavior is universal, which provides the basis for global connections. Even those cultures that have only traditional songs include some awareness of rhythm and melody. By listening to the music instruments played by various cultures, others can learn about their life, family values, and a broader special context (Aleshinskaya, 2016). For example, special instruments are used to accompany weddings or funerals as a means of cultural expression. In this way, playing instruments becomes a method of understanding cultures and creating a global, integrated world.
The improvement of social skills and relationships is another benefit of playing an instrument. It should also be stressed that people who play a musical instrument gather in groups to play together or share experiences. Lifelong friendships result from building social skills and characters while being engaged in musical activities. Musicians receive benefits of working in a team as they develop empathy, sympathy, and good citizenships skills. For example, the performance of a song requires each team member to wait for his or her turn to start their part, adjusting their sounds and movements to fit the overall goal of the performance. The sense of achievement is another advantage that is related to many ways that music provides to help people improve. When a sound is produced, or new movements are learned, the pride of accomplishment appears.
Playing a musical instrument makes a person more sociable, because while performing music, the performer learns to find contact with the audience, feel the nuances of intonation and emotions and guess the tone and pace of the composition. Playing a musical instrument teaches discipline, fosters patience, willpower, and perseverance, and gives a special vision of the world around. Music teaches not only to listen to but also to hear, not only to look, but also to see, and by seeing and hearing, to feel (Aleshinskaya, 2016). Consequently, the happiness of a person depends on what kind of eyes he or she sees and what emotions he or she experiences from it.
Speaking of the relation of playing an instrument to the art expression, one should state that it helps in relaxing and thinking more clearly. While putting thoughts in words or creating original sounds, a person broadens his or her horizons, becoming more open to change. At the same time, listening to the music, mainly, how other people play various instruments is useful to learn to express art through personal vision. These learning skills can be applied, furthermore, not only in the art expression area but also in the academic performance of students. In addition, there is a direct correlation between playing an instrument and cognitive functioning in adults. According to the recent study by Mansens et al. (2018), letter fluency, attention, and learning in general are positively impacted by making music. The authors suggest that playing instruments at least once every two weeks can serve as the protection from cognitive decline, while further research is needed.
Conclusion
To conclude, playing instruments is inextricably related to the social and cultural context of people. From a global perspective, it helps to understand various cultures by learning their traditions, values, and views. From a personal point, playing an instrument is an important way to express one’s feelings and emotions and understand those of others. In addition, musical instruments improve learning skills that can be applied not only in the art expression area but also in academic performance. Those adults who are engaged in playing an instrument are less likely to develop dementia.
References
Aleshinskaya, E. V. (2016). Communicating local culture through a global musical show. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 236, 146-152.
Mansens, D., Deeg, D. J. H., & Comijs, H. C. (2018). The association between singing and/or playing a musical instrument and cognitive functions in older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 22(8), 970-977.
Montagne, R. (2011). Israel Kamakawiwo’ole: The voice of Hawaii. NPR. Web.
Playing for Change: About us. (2020). Web.