Rally’s got a guitar collecting dust in his closet — and maybe you’ve got something similar tucked away too. There’s a growing body of research linking playing musical instruments to better memory, sharper thinking, and less age-related cognitive decline. Whether you played something decades ago or have never touched an instrument in your life, this episode might just inspire you to get your brain rocking and rolling again.
Rally:
Hey beautiful people…welcome back to the Silver Beast Podcast. I’m your 70-year-old host, Rally Preston. You know, my wife wanted me to call this podcast, are you ready for this: ”For Mature Adults Only.” Oh, well…it’s catchy, honey, I tell her…but I don’t know…think that maybe sends the wrong message…sounds like it’s something R-rated.
And she says, that’s right, R for “Retired!” Get it? I love her, but yeah, she’s so innocent.
Okay, let’s get on with today’s episode, shall we? And it’s rated “G” – full-on “G”, not even “PG”… so don’t worry.
Okay, so way back in the corner of my closet is something I haven’t played in a long time.
And no, it’s not my CandyLand board game… or even the Operation game – think that one’s missing a few vital organs anyway.
I’m talking about my old guitar. It’s in a case in the closet back there right now. Just collecting dust bunnies. // Just playing to an audience of dust bunnies.
How about you? Got an old musical instrument tucked away somewhere? Haven’t touched it in a while?
Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of playing something, some musical instrument…
Ok. well this episode may be music to your ears…and especially for what’s between them.
So, researchers at the University of Exeter in England did this big study, over a thousand adults — and they found that playing a musical instrument, especially the piano, is linked to a better memory, and also, executive function…which just means more flexible thinking… so planning, problem solving, and so on.
Okay, cool so far, right?
Now check this next study out:
A research team at Kyoto University in Japan kept tabs on a group of older adults for over four years. Their average age was 73. And here’s what’s really interesting about them – none of these older adults had played a musical instrument before. All these seventy-somethings were picking one up for the very first time. OK.
So they had the whole group practicing an instrument of some kind for about four months.
After that, half the group stopped playing, stopped practicing, just dropped it altogether.
But, the other half kept going…they kept playing for a few years.
So the group that stopped playing after four months, the researchers had them come back in and they found they were experiencing typical age-related declines: so memory problems and brain shrinkage.
But the group that kept on making their own kind of music – they didn’t have the same decline. In fact, the brains of these senior musicians – all seventy plusers – showed increased activity…better cognitive function. Just from picking up a musical instrument they’d never played…and sticking with it.
So, you can see there’s something to this …but how does playing an instrument give you more brain power?
So it’s explained like this: when you’re strumming away, or tickling the ivories, or whatever – your brain gets real busy processing a lot of stuff all at once – there’s motor skills involved, uh your senses, your emotions, your thinking — all firing at the same time.
So your hands are doing one thing, your ears are doing another, your eyes are reading the music notes, or chords, or maybe just winging it…and your brain is keeping the rhythm going — and you’re remembering what pedal does what if you’re playing the piano.
So when you play music …you’ve got a heck of a lot going on there. It’s like a full-body workout for your brain.
And here’s the thing about our brains as we age you should know….
You’ve still got neuroplasticity going on — and that just means your brain can form new connections up there…whether you’re 65 or 85, doesn’t matter.
So learning to play a musical instrument…that’s a great example of neuroplasticity…it gets you improved attention, thinking skills, and mental health.
And one study even found playing music can improve verbal memory — so that’s where you get better at remembering what people say to you, or what you’ve read. And that started kicking in with just 10 weeks of playing a musical instrument. Pretty amazing, right?
Oh, and here’s one more thing about this…
For those of you who can’t really exercise – physically exercise – much anymore – well playing musical instruments makes for a great alternative. That’s what the research says.
So what about those of us who have no musical ability whatsoever. Tin ear, tone deaf, no singing voice, lousy rhythm, whatever.
Or, maybe you used to play something way back when…maybe you haven’t touched it since – forever…maybe since Tiny Tim was on The Tonight Show.
Well for all of you, here’s the thing. You don’t have to have any talent or be good at this. The aforementioned Tiny Tim for example.
But…you do have to keep trying for all these cognitive benefits to start ramping up.
Yeah, just keep at it, keep having fun with it…
Studies say older learners can generally catch up with the young ones, even if they have to use more brain power to do it. Which, what do you know? That’s the whole point!
And the musical options you have these days … there’s so many, it’s crazy.
There’s what? Piano. Guitar. Ukulele. The harmonica. Drums. The flute — all kinds of things to try. All pretty beginner-friendly. And you don’t need a Steinway concert piano to start – those electronic keyboards are pretty inexpensive these days.
And again, no musical experience required.
You don’t even have to read musical notes, know music theory, none of that…you can always work your way up to that later. Look at the Beatles…none of those blokes could read or write musical notation…they just made some noise together until it sounded good.
And look — if playing an instrument really isn’t your thing? Singing counts too. Singing leads to better brain health too, although part of that may come from the social benefits…you know, being part of a choir or group.
You know, I bet a lot of us…had a musical life once…
Maybe played saxophone in the school band like my kid did. I played the accordion as a kid.
But somewhere along the way…life happened. Kids. Work. Your instrument got jammed into a corner outta sight, outta mind. Yeah, that’s pretty much me.
But guess what, that musical part of your brain? It didn’t go anywhere. It’s still up there. So if you did it once upon a time, you can do it again.
What’s your motivation? Less age-related cognitive decline is the big one – plus it’s a blast to entertain friends, family, and most of all, yourself.
It’s not too late Silver Beasties.
Alright. Let’s see how this could play out. Here are four things you might want to try…
Number one: Go find whatever instrument you’ve got tucked away in your closet, garage, attic, whatever. Dust it off. See if it still works. Just pick it up. That’s enough for day one.
Number two: Start really small. You don’t need to commit to musical lessons five days a week. Even ten minutes a day is enough to start rewiring things upstairs as long as you keep at it. And instructors are everywhere, in studio and online lessons. Or you can do what Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Prince did – just pick one up and figure it out on your own.
Number three: Pick something new if you don’t have anything. Ukulele. Harmonica. Keyboard. A violin bow and a handsaw from your garage…just be careful with that one. There are free YouTube tutorials for all of it. It’s so easy to get started.
Number four: If instruments aren’t your thing, sing. Seriously. In the car. In the shower. Around the house. Your brain doesn’t care about your pitch. It just cares you’re doing something…that’s what the science says.
Alright, I hope this episode gets you thinking about trying a musical instrument …if nothing else, just for the pure joy of it…but better brain health is a nice bonus too.
You know, I’ve had that guitar sitting in my closet for a long time.
I think it might be time to go get it out.
I’ll never be a rockstar…but my brain could still be one.
Alright, this is Rally Preston. Thanks so much for hanging out with me today on the Silver Beast Podcast.
Keep playing – keep singing…and I’ll see you next time. Take care!