Make Your 2023 Hum With Guitar Lessons!
Written by Stephanie
March 7, 2023
It was the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy who once wrote: “Music is the shorthand of emotion.” There are indeed few things that can define and elevate our emotions, lift our spirits and make our imagination soar like music can. Little wonder that music is often called ‘the universal language’.
Learning a musical instrument can be one of the most rewarding experiences in anyone’s life. It’s a mastery that can set you apart from others (what bragging rights to know how to play something, right!) and that’s why we at Yip are suggesting you perhaps take guitar lessons.
Guitar lessons, you say? Yes, guitar lessons! Read on to know more…
Why Learning Guitar Is Your Best Bet
The great thing about learning guitar is that it’s relatively easier compared to other musical instruments. It’s certainly easier compared to popular instruments such as piano or violin. One reason is because you don’t necessarily need to know how to read music in order to play the guitar, unless you’re wanting to play classical or jazz guitar. That’s already a choice reason, right!
You wouldn’t believe how many famous guitarists didn’t know how to read music, including legends such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Even Elvis Presley and members of The Beatles didn’t read music but instead learned how to play songs on guitar ‘by ear’. It’s all about being able to simply read what are known as ‘chord cues’ on sheet music, if needed.
The guitar is also a forgiving musical instrument, which is why so many people choose it as their first (and sometimes only) instrument to learn. Even a total novice guitarist fiddling away certainly sounds better than any clunking piano or screeching violin!
Music Is Universal, Music Is Good For Us
Did you know that music dates back at least 40,000 years? We know that because the oldest musical instruments in the world discovered to date were flutes made of bone and mammoth ivory. They were dated at over 40,000 years old. It’s even been suggested that our earliest ancestors had the physiology to be able to sing. That means music may have been around over 530,000 years ago!
No wonder humans have always loved music – it’s incredibly good for both body and mind! Here are just a few of the benefits of having music in your life:
- It’s great for the heart, as it lowers blood pressure;
- It elevates your mood due to a boost in the production of the hormone dopamine;
- It reduces stress by triggering biochemical stress reducers throughout the body;
- It can reduce depression in the same way that exercise does;
- It can relieve the symptoms of pain; and
- It’s good for the brain, with studies showing that listening to music can even relieve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia
Music is also fantastic for regulating serotonin and cortisol levels in our bodies, which makes us happier and less stressed. Not bad!
The Importance of Acquiring a New Skill
“We’re meant to grow, stretch, extend and expand”. Those are the words of Dennis Buttimer, an American life and wellness coach. He believes that learning new skills not only improves your self-confidence and well-being, but it’s also a journey of ‘self discovery’. You learn things about yourself you never knew you possessed. Learning how to play the guitar could do just that for you.
There are good reasons why it’s always a great idea to learn a new skill.
Firstly, it gives you motivation. You may be feeling like your life or career is in a rut and acquiring a new skill can give you a sense of new purpose and drive. Secondly, it can boost your confidence. The more you learn your new skill, the more confidence you build in yourself and abilities.
Another great reason for taking on a new skill is that it’s great for the brain. We need to remember that the brain is a very elastic organ. We used to think that the brain was only malleable until adolescence but know we know that it can be reshaped your entire life! In fact, as you learn new things, so you actually thicken the brain’s prefrontal cortex. Yip, learning new things makes you physically smarter!
Master Your Time With Yip Lessons
So, maybe you’re psyched to take some guitar lessons now! If so, be sure to look through available guitar classes in the Music category on Yip. Just remember that, although classes and tutors may change, we’ll almost certainly always have a guitar instructor on our platform, such is its popularity!
The great thing about being a Yipee, whatever class you take, is that it’s a great opportunity for you to master your time as you focus on a new skill. Committing to online classes means putting aside time just for you. It’s also a terrific opportunity for you to meet fellow students from around the world – and all in the comfort of your own home or any other space!
Oh, and we thought we’d add a little about SEO too. SEO, which stands for search engine optimisation, is the way in which a website or profile has better visibility in search engines such as Google or Bing. It’s all about ranking in organic search results and will be important if you ever want to become a Yiper or have an online business. In fact, you very possibly used SEO in order to find Yip!
Music transcends language, culture and national boundaries. A person in Tibet can appreciate music from Portugal solely because of the harmonies and the emotions the music can evoke. Learning to play the guitar on Yip will be an excellent way to be a part of the ancient, wonderful musical tradition that makes us human. Get strumming!
