When we are young, most of us are encouraged to give a musical instrument a go. We have music classes at school, we try different things, and a few of us stick with it, taking our lessons seriously, gaining qualifications, and even joining bands and groups. For those of us that didn’t stick with our instrument of choice, or never had the opportunity to learn, it can seem as though the chance has passed us by. Few adults take up a new instrument with only 11% of people aged between 45 and 54 playing an instrument, and most of those having done so since their school days.
However, playing an instrument, like all other hobbies, has many advantages, and drumming in particular, has plenty of benefits. Here’s a look at some of the things that make drumming such a fantastic hobby, no matter how old you are.
Drumming is Great Stress Relief
Drumming is great for your mental health. It reduces stress and tension in your body and can even cut the risk of depression and other mental health issues. Learn how to play drums by following the 3 best drum practice routines for beginners and you’ve always got a great way to burn off some negative energy, focus your mind and let worries go while you enjoy the repetitive motion that drumming brings. Even better, Pirate offers 24-hour studios, giving you a safe and welcoming space to practice your hobby and really let go, or even somewhere you can put together a band or try more creative pursuits.
Drumming Can Help with Pain Management
Estimates suggest that around 50 million Americans are living with chronic pain. These people try anything they can to reduce pain and live their lives normally, but it’s hard. For most, there’s no one answer; instead, it’s a combination of pain relief methods that brings the best results. Drumming can be surprisingly beneficial when it comes to dealing with pain. Any creative hobby that makes you focus and gives you a way to enjoy yourself and burn off some tension can reduce pain, both by taking your mind off it and by loosening tight muscles and reducing inflammation.
Music is a Great Way to Meet People
It’s hard to make friends as an adult, especially if you’ve been in the same job for a while and your day-to-day life is fairly routine. You might have had the same friendship group for a long time and people moving, drifting apart, and gaining new responsibilities is normal. Adult life can be very lonely. Hobbies are a great way to meet new people and build new relationships and drumming is no different. You might meet people in lessons, at studios, in music shops, and even online talking about your new hobby.
Creative Hobbies Are Fun
If there’s one thing that a hobby needs to be, it’s fun. Life as a grown-up is serious. We have careers, responsibilities, and people that rely on us. We don’t always get the time to relax and do things just because they are fun. Drumming can be great fun, whether you are enjoying a 10-minute session, or a full hour in the studio.
Learning a New Hobby Keeps Your Mind Young
When you learn something new, you challenge your mind in a new way, using a different part of it and adapting to new skills. When you drum, you learn the theory, but you also learn how to use your body differently. You learn rhythm and timing as well as the beats of specific songs. Learning all of these things gives your mind a great workout which is crucial when it comes to fighting off the signs of ageing and reducing the risk of cognitive decline.
Drumming Can Improve Your Coordination
Hand-eye coordination is a key skill that can help in many different areas of life. But it’s not one that we ever actively work on improving. We tend to just assume that we either have good or bad coordination and that’s it. But it is something that you can improve and learning to drum is a great way to do it.
Drumming is for Everyone Regardless of Musical Taste
When it comes to music, taste is important. We all like different styles, genres, and sounds, but drumming is for everyone. Most music has drums, and even if it doesn’t, it has a beat that you can add drums to. Whatever you like, you can learn to drum. Drumming is also inclusive when it comes to age, gender, and background.
Musical Hobbies Boost Confidence
All hobbies can build confidence. When you learn a new skill, practice, and commit yourself to it, you improve. When you improve, you gain confidence and self-belief. You start to really enjoy yourself and notice improvements all of the time. Your confidence grows and you start to get a new joy from your hobby. Learning a musical instrument from scratch is a fantastic way to build confidence which can help you in many different areas of your life.
Drumming Improves Focus and Concentration
We’re not all great at concentrating. There are so many distractions around us, and it’s easy for our minds to wander. Most of us have even struggled to follow a TV show because the temptation of a quick scroll through our social media feeds is too strong. Drumming is a great way to improve your concentration and focus. When you are sitting at your drum kit, you are away from all other distractions, and you can easily get lost in what you are doing.
Drumming Regularly is Great Exercise
It might surprise you to learn that drumming is great exercise. You’ll burn calories and lift your heart rate, boosting your cardiovascular fitness, but you’ll also build muscle and strength in your forearms and shoulders. Drumming regularly can have a real impact on your strength and fitness.
Drumming is a fun hobby, but it can be much more than that. When you drum you make friends, gain new skills and it can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health.
