The benefits of music and dance
Doesn’t matter whether you’ve got two left feet and aren’t set to be New Zealand’s Next Top Musician any time soon – everyone can benefit from taking up dance or an instrument and here’s why.
1. Relieves stress
Focusing on a positive activity like dance or music helps reduce stress levels, which can help bring your blood pressure and heart rate down to a healthy level. It’s also been shown to help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
2. Supercharges your memory
Playing music or following a choreographed dance piece gives just about every part of your brain a thorough workout. And when your brain gets a workout, it helps improve mental performance and memory, even staving off dementia and Alzheimer’s.
3. Keeps you young
Ever notice how young children seem to be able to do acrobatics without being taught? As we age, we increasingly lose mobility, flexibility and balance but it doesn’t have to be this way. Dance is a fantastic way to stay subtle, flexible, maintain your balance and keep you young at heart.
4. Helps you breathe properly
Most of us breathe don’t breathe correctly but singing or playing a wind instrument forces us to breathe the way we should – deeply, while use our diaphragm. This leads to stronger lungs and a stronger respiratory system.
5. Great way to make friends
Social life used to revolve around fun activities like dances and making music together. Unfortunately, modern life has moved away from these fun gettogethers and urban living has left many of us feeling isolated. Music and dance classes are a great way to make new friends in a fun, upbeat environment.
6. Gives a sense of achievement
Nothing boosts your selfconfidence like learning an instrument from scratch or remembering choreography. Taking up music or dance can help you get rid of stage fright or selfdoubt, leading to a more accomplished, self-confident you. And what better gift is there to give yourself in 2019? HOW TO CHOOSE AN INSTRUMENT
So you’re ready for the new, musically accomplished version of yourself.
But how do you pick an instrument? Here are some proven tricks to find your perfect fit.
1. What’s your budget?
Like most hobbies, music can get expensive. This is one reason the ukulele is so popular – you can pick one up for less than $40. A good concert piano, on the other hand, will set you back as much as a house in Dunedin.
2. Who’s will you play with?
You might enjoy the thought of draping yourself on a chair in your attic room to play the the cello all by yourself, but if you’re hoping to play with other people, you might want to think about where you’d fit in. Choose something that will allow you to join an existing ensemble or band in your area.
3. What music do you enjoy?
Unless you’ve got an idea for the world’s next great musical fusion trend, you’re not going to want to take up the saxophone if you hate jazz or the oboe if you’re not into classical music. If you’re a beginner, stick to an instrument that fits the kind of music you enjoy – you’re not going to be motivated to practice otherwise.
4. How much time do you have?
Most of us have day jobs and aren’t looking to be the world’s next best sitar or double contrabass flute player. Keep this in mind when choosing an instrument – something like the guitar or uke that’s relatively easy to find, learn and keep up with short amounts of daily practice might be the best fit for you.
5. Where will you practice?
An inner-city apartment or flat with lots of roommates might not be the best space to unleash your inner Ringo on a drum kit but if you live out in the wops, we suggest you go for it