Music is an art and truly brings you a feeling of serenity in addition to a physical learning experience. The act of playing a percussion instrument gives both the mind and body tons of benefits. Easily accessible, a fun way to create rhythms, and an excellent way to exhibit self-express yourself through music, playing a percussion instrument is one of the exciting hobbies to embark.
Here is Health Fitness Revolution’s top 10 health benefits of playing a percussion instrument:
• Exercise – The repetitive movement of playing the drums combined with the endurance can constitute as a great workout. You can play percussion sitting or standing but either way your hands, fingers, arms, and feet are in constant movement and are receiving a crazy workout!
• Increased coordination – Playing percussion instruments assists both kids and adults with their coordination and motor skills. Playing the drums utilizes the hands, fingers, arms, and feet. It requires simultaneous movement and perfect timing which improves rhythmic coordination and can even foster ambidextrousness.
• Improved ambidextrousness – Dexterity is a physical skill known for precision movements, but being ambidextrous – being equally competent in both your left and right hand, regardless of whichever is the dominant hand – is a rare but very useful trait. Playing percussion over time improves ambidexterity therefore as you age your hands and fingers will increase in speed and range of movement.
• Improves immune system – A 2001 study published in the scientific journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine proved that participants who were involved in drumming experienced higher levels of natural killer cells, which provide the body with an accelerated immune response. This can help you fights diseases, keeping you healthier and more fit to pound on the drums!
• Relieves stress – With percussion you can play as you please. If you want to move fast or slow it’s up to you. Once the creation of music begins you are in sync with your beat and allowing you to release your pent-up worries; in this moment, it’s just you and your instrument.
• Promotes sociability – Playing percussion can be done individually as well as in groups. It brings people together through a common ground of unique music making. Groups can inspire oneself to put more effort in. Everyone beating on the drums, each creating their own melody, brings everyone together.
• Enables self-expression – Drumming is an avenue to expressing one’s true self. Finding your own rhythm and beat opens you up to a new perspective. By creating music with your own two hands allows you to aesthetically releasing your memories and experiences unique to you.
• Enhances mood – Any type of music-making is a fun learning experience. When creating a beat it’s a natural mood enhancer because it’s spontaneous and energizing. The vibrations are entertaining and bring about positive energy.
• Increases brain development– Children who start playing instruments at a young age are known to have better verbal memory and reading ability. Playing an instrument over time is a continuous learning experience.
• Therapeutic for addiction – Studies have proved the effect of drumming in addiction recovery patients enhances brainwaves and quicken the road to recovery. The act of drumming is truly healing, it allows you to journey pass addictions and enable you to immerse yourself into the beats of your music.
Check out the top 10 health benefits of playing a brass instrument, or for more of our top 10 health benefits articles, click here.
