Benefits of being an

instrumentalist
Ana Luz Jimnez Aguilar.
6th B.
Research Projects.
Problem

This research is originated because, as

Michael Matthews said, Playing a musical
instrument has many benefits and can
bring you joy and to everyone around
you, thefore it is necessary to do an
analysis based on these benefits and to
promote that people play a musical
instrument.
Questions

1. What are the benefits of playing a musical instrument?

2. Does playing a musical instrument help us in academic
performance?
3. What are the abilities that musicians have that non-
musicians dont have?
4. Does being a musician help us emotionally?
5. Does playing a musical instrument benefits a system in
our body?
6. Besides from mental skills does it help us socially?
7. What is the age recommended for starting to play a
musical instrument?
General objective

Analyze the different benefits that playing

a musical instrument entails in teachers
and students that play and/or teach a
musical instrument in the current program
of Esperanza Azteca Puebla, for
generating the social interest for the
practice of a musical instrument.
Specific objectives

To describe which is the greatest

benefit that an instrumentalist can
develop.
To analyze the best age for starting
the study of a musical instrument.
Justification
This research is important because it will make society notice
the different benefits that playing a musical instrument gives,
as Wetter et al, 2009 said, it helps you in academic
performance.
Besides the academic performance it gives you increases
in the capacity of your memory (Telegraph online
magazine, 2009, it betters mathematical ability (Friedman,
B. 1959), and it improves reading and comprehension skills.
(Psychology of music journal, 2009).
For this reasons it is important to make this research so the
different benefits and abilities developed by musicians can
be showed to society and they make consciousness and
consider to begin the practice of a musical instrument.
1. Playing a musical instrument has many benefits, some of them
will be mentioned next:
Increases the capacity of your memory (Telegraph online
magazine, 2009.)
Betters mathematical ability (Friedman, B. 1959)
Improves reading and comprehension skills. (Psychology of
music journal, 2009).
Besides from this we can mention even more benefits, like
increasing responsibility, discipline, perseverance, team social and
listening skills, and enhacement of different systems in the body.
2. Researchers used a descriptive, retrospective study to ascertain if
students involved in practicing music outperformed their
counterparts, who did not practice music, in school. Teachers of
two school centers in the suburbs of Bern, Switzerland submitted
annual reports of average grades for 134 students in grades three
through six. The teachers identified students who received music
training either at home or at school and researchers compared the
annual grades of this group of 53 children to the grades of the
remaining students who did not take music lessons. Results showed
that overall, and for all individual subjects except sports, students
who engage in music had higher average grades than students
who do not engage in music. (Wetter, O. E., Koerner, F., &
Schwaninger, A. 2009).
3. Its not that instrumentalist have abilities that non-
instrumentalist dont, but there are some abilities that
instrumentalist have more developed such as:
discipline, listening skills, concentration, perseverance
and coordination. (Michael Matthews, 2011).
4. Practicing a musical instrument promotes happiness,
forsters self-expressio and relieves stress, which affects
our emotions in a positive way. It also helps you on
your self-confidence because most of the times you
practice so that you can perform for others. (Michael
Matthews, 2011).
4. It doesnt matter if you are a wind, string or percussion
instrumentalist, one of the systems that is benefited is the
respiratory system. This occurs because air is one of the key
components in making wonderful-sounding music. When you are
playing and you want it to sound correctly and better you should
know how to breathe and how to take out the air. Also, breathing
exercises are highly recommended for musicians, and they can
really strengthen your respiratory system. (Michael Matthews,
2011).
5. The social part depends on whether you are part of a band or an
orchestra. This is because some of the best people join bands and
orchestras, and many times the friends you make here become
like family. Its very common for people to gain lifelong friendships
through musical activities like these. (Michael Matthews, 2011).
7. Informal activities with music should start soon after birth,
followed by more systematic classes around age three,
and lessons with the goal of learning the instrument
should start between six and nine. Keep in mind that
these are only guidelines; exceptions will undoubtedly
occur based on the child and/or teacher. Musical
experience at an early age is extremely important in a
childs developmental process. Like riding a bike or
learning a language, these skills can be learned later in
life, but they will never be natural in the way that is so
important for fluid musical performance. (Dr. Robert A.
Cutietta, 2013)
Methodology

This research is Descriptive: it shows the benefits of playing a musical

instrument.
Mix focus: cuantitative and cualitative.
Cuantitative: percentages
Cualitative: it is an specific case (benefits, age)
Sample: was a census (cualitative) and non-probabilistic (cuantitative).
Methodology
Cualitative
Items: 5 open questions
Who: teachers from Project
Esperanza Azteca 2015
It was made by myself.
Cuantitative
Items: 19 questions
Likert scale
Students instrumentalists from
Project Esperanza Azteca 2015.
It was made by myself.
Methodology

Population are the members from Esperanza Aztecas member: teachers

and students
Teachers: 25-65 years, 6 teachers interviewed, social status medium-high, 4
women 2 men
Students: 15-22 years, sample 52, social status low, medium and high, 32 women
and 20 men.
 Its better to begin the practice of a
musical instrument at a short age 56%

31%

12%

2%
0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider there
disagree are benefits.
Ages:

23%

19%
17% 17%

10%

4% 4%
2% 2% 2%

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
The practice of a musical instrument
develops abilities and benefits
63%

37%

0% 0% 0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
The benefits that music gives, if there
are any, get better with time
73%

15%
12%

0% 0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
The practice of a musical instrument
produces physical benefits

58%

31%

10%

2%
0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
The benefits of being an instrumentalist are,
besides from physical, emotional and social

52%

33%

15%

0% 0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
The benefits that music gives, if there are
any, last lifelong, even if the practice of the
musical instrument is left
29% 29%

23%

10% 10%

0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
To begin the practice of a musical
instrument when you are adult is more
difficult that doing it at a short age
33%

29%

21%

13%

4%

0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
Instrumentalists solve problems in an easier
way

52%

33%

13%

2%
0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
Playing a musical instrument improves
memory

44%

29%

21%

6%

0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
 Musical inteligence is as important as logics
(lingistic, mathematics, spacial, kinesthesyc,
interpersonal and intrapersonal)
67%

25%

8%

0% 0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider there
disagree are benefits.
The practice of a musical instrument offers
emotions of happinnes and confort (it
reduces stress and depression)
44%

33%

19%

4%
0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
The practice of a musical instrument
stimulates creativity and imagination
71%

25%

4%
0% 0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
Attention and concentration get better with
the practice of a musical instrument

83%

10% 8%
0% 0% 0%

Strongly disagree. Disagree Neither agree nor Agree Strongly agree. I don't consider
disagree there are benefits.
Kinesthetic abilites of an instrumentalist are
_________ in comparison to those of a non-
instrumentalist
50%

25% 25%

0% 0%

Below average Slightly below average. Average Slightly above average. Above average
The discipline of an instrumentalist is
_________ in comparison to the discipline of
a non-instrumentalist
67%

23%

10%

0% 0%

Below average Slightly below average. Average Slightly above average. Above average
The capacity of organization of an
instrumentalist is:
56%

27%

15%

2%
0%

Below average Slightly below average. Average Slightly above average. Above average
The coordination of an instrumentalist
is:
37%
35%

29%

0% 0%

Below average Slightly below average. Average Slightly above average. Above average
The security of an instrumentalist in
front of an audience is:

38%

33%

27%

2%
0%

Below average Slightly below average. Average Slightly above average. Above average
The self-confidence of an
instrumentalist is:
44%

29%
27%

0% 0%

Below average Slightly below average. Average Slightly above average. Above average
Cualitative questionaire: population

Helen Garca. Oscar Ramrez. Fabiola Porras.

Marcela Luis Octaviano

Susana Torres.
Cceres. Cubillas.

Conclusion.
Do you consider that music generates
benefits? Which ones?
Yes, () it generates many
Yes, economical, it makes brain conections () it helps
concentration better () Yes, economical, social and
cultural. in the motor development
learning and creativity. and attention () it helps
socialize.

Various, such as conections

between hemispheres,
Yes, it expands your mental
Motor abilites get better. analitic and equal thinking,
universo.
sense of belonging and
identity.

Playing a musical instrument offers various benefits that are

economic, cultural and intelectual; it also makes better some
abilities such as concentration, creativity, motricity.
Which is the age you consider the best one
for starting the practice of a musical
instrument?
() preferably 10
4 years old. 3 or 4 years old.
years old.

While younger it
Short age. Before the 10 years.
starts is better ()

We can conclude that it is recommended to begin the practice of

a musical instrument between the ages of 3 and 10, this will
depend on the instrument.
How do you think academic performance and abilities of
instrumentalists are in comparison to those of non-
instrumentalists?

Better, because playing a Better, because discipline

is more developed () Higher, because attention
musical instrument favors is better and it helps in the
mental processes. and also the ability of
solving problems faster. mathematics area.

A lot much better, Superior, because

They are larger and
() it expands your instrumentalists work
more developed.
mental universe. more their brains.

We conclude that instrumentalist have better academic

performance because they have some abilities more developed.
Which of all the benefits that music offers, if
there are any, you consider as the best
one?
Have the ability to express () Cultural breadth, () love for
beyond words. music and also the Alzheimers risk is reduced.
imagination.

Music therapy, () it promotes

Development of conections
comunication, learning,
Humbleness (). between both of the brain
movement expression and
hemispheres.
organization.

With this question we can conclude that because there exist so

many benefits we can not have a better one, they are all
important and have an special impact on the individual.
Which area of an instrumentalist is more
benefited (social, physical, emotional)

Cultural, social and In the following order:

Emotional. emotional, intelectual,
economical.
social and physical.

Physical, social Physical, social

Emotional.
and emotional. and emotional.

The area that is benefited the most is the emotional,

followed by the social, physical and intellectual.
Limitations
There was not enough time for this Project, I think that 6 months is not
enough for making a good research.
The cuantitative was supposed to be a census but it wasnt because not all
of the students attend regularly, so I had to make the questionaires to those
who I could find, so it became a non-probabilistic simple.
There were no standarized instruments that could be used for this topic.
Goals
With this research I could find many benefits of being an instrumentalist that
I didnt know, and this information was supported by the opinion from
instrumentalists of the Esperanza Azteca Project.
There are many benefits such as physical, emotional, social, intelectual and
economical ones.
One thing I could notice was that many instrumentalists (students and
teachers) agree that there are benefits but this will depend on the person.
Instrumentalists have some abilities more developed than non-
instrumentalist, which in some cases make them outstand in the society.
Many believe that practicing a musical instrument should be as important
as maths, sports, language and daily subjects at school.
Many instrumentalists mentioned that the benefits generated by playing a
musical instrument didnt remain if you stop leave the practice of the
musical instrument, and one hypothesis is that they mention that because
they havent left the instrument so they really dont know.
Conclusions

With this research the conclusion reached is that practicing a musical

instrument is not just an extracurricular activity of fun and own likings, but is
an activity that brings many good things such as a development of
physical and intellectual abilities, because playing a musical instrument not
just benefits in the cultural artistic way, but it also improves mathemathics,
kinesthetic, social and emotional areas.
""Music-making is linked to a number of health benefits for older adults,"
said Suzanne Hanser, chair of the music therapy department at the Berklee
College of Music in Boston. "Research shows that making music can lower
blood pressure, decrease heart rate, reduce stress, and lessen anxiety and
depression. There is also increasing evidence that making music enhances
the immunological response, which enables us to fight viruses," Hanser said.
Reccomendations

Based on this research it is recommended for people to begin at a short

age, this not just for making more orchestras or just giving people something
to do, but to make them enjoy and seize all the benefits that playing a
musical instrument brings.
Having more people that play a musical instrument make a better society,
because instrumentalists see things in different ways, they get out of the
box and have abilities for solving problems in other ways.
And as Confucius said Music produces a kind of pleasure which human
nature can not do without.
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