As someone who has been teaching music for more than 20 years, I have been fortunate to have taught students from every age group. The one constant I continue to see is the misconception by many adults that there’s a certain age limit by when a child needs to start learning music. The age varies, depending on the parent, but the average seems to be around age 12.
This imaginary age limit has prevented many adults and adolescents from taking music lessons because they believe it is too late for them to start learning, or that there would be no point in doing so. I’m here to tell you that this cannot be further from the truth.
While I did start learning classical piano at the age of 5, I’ve always strived to continue to learn and improve my skills, and I can honestly say that as an adult, I’ve learned just as much as I did when I was a little girl. That’s the wonder of music. There’s always room for improvement and the possibilities are endless.
Music is something that you can start learning at any age, as long as you have an open mind and are willing to embrace it. You’ll find that no matter the instrument, learning to play it and continuing to hone your skills can be just as rewarding for a teenager or adult as it would be for a child. And don’t worry about learning to appreciate it. Once you choose to learn an instrument that suits you, that’ll come naturally.
All of this is possible because music is an art form that can positively affect your life in ways that you would never even think of. I’ve witnessed firsthand how some of my older students have grown to love learning to play an instrument, even though they were reluctant to start. Many have even told me that it has carried over into their personal relationships and overall happiness. You don’t need to have a background in music or even to have a particular passion for it at first. Life is about taking chances and not limiting your mindset.
Music is about creativity. It’s about demonstrating commitment. And, most importantly, it’s about being rewarded for your efforts. It’s also about improving yourself as a person, mentally and physically. I can cite numerous studies that have shown that learning music helps with your overall productivity, memory and anxiety, not to mention improving sleep disorders in many cases.
Music may be my profession, but I play instruments for the pure joy that it has given me in life, allowing me to open up my mind in many ways and truly gain a sense of peace. There’s a certain simplistic beauty in it, even when playing a complicated instrument, that I have yet to discover anywhere else.
It’s a skill and a passion that will keep on rewarding you no matter where you are in life.
Oksana Kolesnikova is the founder of the Oksana School of Music in Beverly Hills and is a successful artist and entrepreneur. Learn more at www.oksanaschoolofmusic.com.