Although the pros–pect of learning to play a musical instrument may seem daunting to busy professionals, it can be a stress-relieving and rewarding spare-time pursuit, music educators say.

“Music is a great way to learn to relax,” says Stephen Green, dean of the Royal Conservatory School in Toronto. “It gets your mind off what you were doing all day.”

But there’s more to playing a musical instrument than stress relief. Among other benefits, it can be confidence-boosting — particularly when you perform the skills you have learned. Stephen Couldridge, manager of the music education department at Toronto-based Yamaha Canada Music Ltd., says performing in front of a crowd can be an inspiring experience, especially for adults who have never been in front of an audience.

“It’s one thing to learn music and practise it,” he says. “But if you don’t share your talent with others, it’s kind of a shame.”

In addition, learning to play a musical instrument can be an enjoyable social activity. For instance, some music educators recommend group lessons rather than private lessons because students can support each other in a class environment. And being part of a group can motivate individuals to practise more often in preparation for classes. “When you come to a group,” Green says, “you meet a whole bunch of people who are like-minded, all wanting to learn an instrument together.”

Some adults also take up instruments as an activity to do with their children, particularly if a busy schedule limits the time they’re able to spend with their families.

For older adults, there are added benefits to learning to play a musical instrument. Recent studies show that making music can have a positive impact on the way seniors feel and can lead to a longer, healthier life. In addition, the Alzheimer Society of Canada recommends learning a musical instrument as one way of keeping the brain active and reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Learning to play an instrument involves plenty of challenges, however. “As we grow older it is a bit more difficult to pick up new things,” Couldridge says. “But it’s certainly not impossible.”

Learning a new skill can be especially challenging for professionals who are used to being able to complete any task at hand. “They’re used to being at the top of their game,” Green says. “All of a sudden, they have this thing in their hands and they can’t make it work.”

In addition, adults often set high expectations for themselves and tend to expect immediate results. Learning to play a musical instrument, however, takes time. As a result, Green says, it’s crucial for adults to be patient with themselves. He suggests setting very small, reasonable goals, such as focusing on one specific aspect of playing at a time.

But the key to learning to play an instrument lies largely in the dedication you put into it. And for many adults, the biggest challenge is finding the time to practise. Nevertheless, learning to play an instrument requires commitment and steady progress. As Couldridge puts it: “It’s not something that you can cram [for].”

The first few months are the most important in the learning process. Green encourages adults to take two lessons a week in this first stage, if possible, in order to establish a strong foundation.

In general, however, learning to play an instrument can come at any pace. Beginners can make progress with as little as 10 minutes of practice daily. Green recommends devoting a small amount of time to practise each day rather than a big chunk of time once a week.

For individuals with especially busy professional lives, the Royal Conservatory School suggests pursuing an activity that doesn’t require independent skill development, such as a choir or a drum circle, which do not demand regular practice outside of the group.

For those who have a bit more time to spare, educators suggest a piano or keyboard as a good starting point.

Physically, the piano is much more straightforward to learn than wind instruments or string instruments that involve a bow. In addition, results are achieved more rapidly on a piano, because it is possible for beginners to learn to play a melody as quickly as the first lesson. Another good option for beginners is the guitar, which also is fairly straightforward in the early stages.

@page_break@In contrast, Green says, learning certain wind instruments can take several lessons just to learn how to blow into the instrument properly.

When seeking a music teacher, Green cautions against simply selecting one at random from the Internet: “You could end up with a horrible experience that turns you off the instrument altogether.”

Instead, consider recommendations from friends or approach well-established music schools to find reputable teachers. Some teachers offer the first lesson free or at a discount, which lets you gauge their teaching style. IE