1.Entertainment
First of all, it’s just plain fun! With just a modest cash investment (big Internet retailers sell violins for as low as $60), you now have hours of entertainment in front of you. And once you feel comfortable enough, performing for others spreads joy.
2. Nights on the town
Learning any musical instrument will help you with your sense of rhythm, pitch, and overall musicality. Don’t be afraid of the dance floor anymore! Bonus: Because of how it’s structured, violin requires more ear training than something like piano or guitar, so your off-key karaoke will improve too.
3. Free therapy
We all need ways to express our inner angst or pure, unadulterated joy in order to be healthy and balanced people, and music is probably the most powerful method we have for doing so. The violin is a particularly apt instrument for this, as it imitates the human voice better than any other member of the orchestra. At the very least, it’s cheaper than an hour on the couch with the shrink, and you never need to make an appointment.
4. Yes you can!
Taking up a new hobby and learning a new skill is one of the fastest and most effective confidence boosters out there. Keeping your hands (and mind) busy is a great preventative measure to keep the blues at bay. You’ll find the courage to try other new things you’ve wanted to do for years: parasailing, skydiving, you name it!
5. Meet and greet
Playing the violin means you’ll need some supplies, from time to time: new strings, fresh rosin, sheet music. Becoming a regular at your local music store means you have the opportunity to build new relationships not only with the owners, but with other regular customers as well. This is doubly helpful if you’re new to the neighborhood and don’t know anyone yet.
6. Hero of the violin?
No longer relegated to dusty concert halls, the violin is fast becoming something of a rock star. Big bands like Yellowcard, the Dave Matthews Band, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, among others, feature outstanding violinists and violin soloists. And even if you don’t become rich and famous, you can still learn that amazing violin solo from Baba O’Riley of The Who.
7. Build muscle (mental)
Learning and playing a musical instrument of any kind has been linked to keeping the brain fit and flexible. The violin, with its focus on the left hand, the non-dominant hand for about 90% of the population, also specifically targets what is often the “weaker” half of the brain. Over time, daily violin practice builds new connections in the brain and strengthens and speeds up existing ones. And the benefits don’t end there: the manual and mental dexterity required to play the violin, if maintained into old age, also helps prevent senility and Alzheimer’s, keeping your wits sharp for the rest of your days.