By Drake Johnson
Moving to college can be a life-altering experience. It’s about growing into yourself and
discovering who you are. While for many that means pursuing a major or indulging in the nightlife, to some, it means discovering what fulfills you.
I spent a lot of time figuring out who I am, and though I’m still on that journey, a change in direction took me back to my early days of playing the violin.
Musical instruments can be a core facet of fulfillment but are often forgotten by the time you enter college, forced to become a memory of high school marching band or, for many, a fleeting idea of something that never was. While this outlook on music is held and exercised by many, the truth about musical expression runs deeper than a high school hobby or forgotten dream.
Alice Bhurn, a sophomore studying psychology at MSU who recently joined the university’s concert orchestra said,“Music connects people, … it starts discussion, it allows me to meet people, it allows me to find friends. … It’s nice to have some sort of hobby that isn’t just straight up school – your classes, your homework.” The social aspect of music brings students together in a way beyond a shared struggle of school, instead connecting people through a shared interest in creating something beautiful.
Learning and understanding an instrument is not only socially beneficial, but scientifically
as well. A study comparing musicians’ and nonmusicians’ brains shows increased neuroplasticity, heightened motor functions and more activity in different parts of the brain than those of nonmusicians. These benefits transfer to other aspects of the college experience too, contributing to listening, reading and social skills.
If you’re reading this without prior musical knowledge, it’s never too late to learn! A common fear among those with no musical experience is that instruments are something only achievable during the early stages of life, but TED-Ed mentions people exposed to even short periods of music learning have been found to experience the same mental boosts listed previously.
Young adult brains aren’t fully developed, and they’re still ripe for music learning. I’ve recently started learning the electric guitar to play music written by Avenged Sevenfold and Jimi Hendrix, some of my favorite artists. The process hasn’t been easy, but seeing myself progressing toward something I love has made it worthwhile.
Having the ability to play an instrument can be emotionally freeing. For example, composing music allows a musician to share a part of themselves with the world; while on the other hand, learning songs created by a favorite artist is rewarding. Bhurn also said, “Playing music allows you to express yourself, allows you to feel certain things. I love music a lot, so being able to have that thing that I can go to, it brings me some sort of peace.”
Peace is something many of us are searching for in this day and age, and all hobbies contribute to this search. Psychologists have proven that engaging in enjoyable leisure activities improves psychological and physiological well-being. So, consider trying a piano in MSU’s Music Practice Building or attending a meeting at the Spartan’s Casual Music Club, embracing your musical side could be what you’ve been looking for.
Drake is a sophomore at Michigan State University who recently rediscovered his hobby of
playing the violin. When not practicing, he can usually be found listening to music or playing
Cities: Skylines and Stellaris.