It’s difficult not to admire the talent of a skilled musician. Whether it be a pianist or cellist, these individuals have shown dedication and passion over a long period of time to reach the highest levels of performance. But they say it’s never too late to learn. So what are the benefits, for both children and adults, in learning a musical instrument?

Learning to play a musical instrument when growing up can improve hearing in adulthood. According to a study by Dr Nina Kraus at Northwestern University in Illinois, US, children who played musical instruments were better at recognizing different frequencies. This improved hearing skill carried over into later life with adults who had once played an instrument able to discern (分辨)sounds of different pitches more easily. And it could also have some academic benefits too. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia found that students who engaged in music-related activities during grades 7-12 scored significantly higher in science, English and maths.

And there are not just benefits to children. Whether you choose to play the piano, pick or strum a guitar or learn a drumbeat, you could end up joining a band or orchestra. This in turn could improve your social life, meeting other bandmates who are likeminded in their love of a good tune. Learning an instrument can also give you a sense of achievement. Nailing that perfect chord (和弦)is one way, but what if you got together with a bunch of friends and entered into a battle of the bands-and won?

So, whether you’re looking to de-stress playing out some chords, or improve your grades at school, maybe taking up an instrument could help you.

The music in you

Any party goer can tap her heel to an unfamiliar song without realizing it. Yet when asked on site, she might reply: “Music? I don’t know anything about that.”

Maybe you’ve heard a variation on this theme: “I don’t have a musical bone in my body.” Most of us make music publicly just a few times a year, when it’s someone’s birthday and the cake comes out. Privately, it’s a different story. We belt out tunes in the shower and create rhythm tracks on our steering wheel. But when we think about musical expertise, we tend to imagine professionals who specialize in performance, people we’d pay to hear. As for the rest of us, our bumbling private efforts, rather than illustrating that we share an irresistible urge to make music, seem only to demonstrate that we don’t enjoy essential musical capacity.

But the more psychologists investigate musicality, the more it seems that nearly all of us are musical experts, in quite a surprising sense. A lot of the most interesting and substantial elements of musicality are things that we all share. We aren’t talking about instinctive, inborn universals here. Our musical knowledge is the product of long experience; maybe not years spent over an instrument, but a lifetime spent absorbing music from the open window of every passing car.

In fact, for all its remarkable power, music is in good company. Many of our feelings are governed by a similar rule. We don’t know how we come to like certain food more than others. We don’t know why we fall in love. Yet in the very act of making these choices we reveal the effects of a host of instinctive mental processes. The fact that we respond to music so naturally and normally actually speaks to its strength and universality.

Do you ever notice the music playing when you enter a store? No? Often it is very difficult to point out. It is similar to the music you listen to, but it is not the same. The music played in stores is changed to be more relaxing and to give you more mental energy. This style of music is called “elevator music”.

Elevator music is also referred to as Muzak. Muzak is very commonly listened to in the USA. About 1/3 of Americans will listen to Muzak for about 15minutes a day in order to relax themselves. The music is played and contains short pauses. The most common time to hear elevator music played is between ten and eleven in the morning, and three to four in the afternoon. This is when most people are the most tired and could use the extra energy.

Elevator music is often played public places because it is designed to make people feel less lonely and refreshes their brain. It has been proven that Muzak does what it is supposed to do. Studies have shown that tired office workers have more energy when Muzak is played in the background of the office. In addition, factory workers produce 13% more and shoppers buy 38% more groceries in supermarket when listening to Muzak.

Some people do not like Muzak. They say it’s boring to hear the same songs all the time, but other people enjoy hearing Muzak in public places. They say it helps them relax and feel calm. Often you may recognize the songs being played. That is because many of the songs have been bought from the musicians or songwriters. Some of them do not like their music to be used for Muzak but others are happy when their songs are chosen. The top musicians that allow their music to turn into Muzak music can make up to 4 million US dollars a year. One way or another, Muzak affects everyone.