Annoying the Neighbours? 🎻 16 reasons to play a musical instrument...

What is the benefit to playing a musical instrument? Why do they play?

Master Violinmaker and restorer Olaf talks about the many different reasons people choose to begin their stringed instrument journey.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 The Love of Music
01:30 Friendship & Community
02:00 Parents
02:50 Learning Something New
03:15 Become a Performer
03:30 Mental Health
04:15 Study
05:00 To Annoy the Neighbours
05:45 Something to Stay Focused On
06:00 Relaxation
06:15 Hobby
06:25 Creative Outlet
06:50 Creating Music
07:10 Healing
08:00 Stay Young
08:50 Spiritual Music
09:20 Conclusion

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[Hasselblad]

I am 70 years old/ young and I began to get forgetful. You know when you go to another room in the house and forget what you needed. Also names were getting tough to remember. So two years ago I decided to learn piano because I heard it could help my memory. Well, the change is amazing. Both my short and long term memory have greatly improved. I noticed such improvements that I started to learn guitar and bass. My memory increased as well as my vitality. Most recently I’ve taken up the drums and flute with increased gains both mentally and physically. Next I plan on violin and cello. Music works for my life and I would STRONGLY recommend you try it if you are 60 plus. You have nothing to lose and so very much to gain.

[MarijkeViolin]

Funny to see you used a clip from my progress video, Olaf! 😄🎻

[romanyacik]

Peer pressure. I'm the resident classical music fan at my job. I was listening to Paganini's Caprices once, and my coworkers asked if I considered playing the violin. I have an odd sense of humor, and liked viola jokes, so I went with that instead. I'm early in this journey (I got my first viola about a month ago) and I'm happy with it so far.

[altolows]

I'm chemo for life. Teaching myself to play helps me overcome chemo brain and gives me such an interest that I forget I'm sick. To keep from annoying the neighbors my instrument is muted and also wears a pinafore thing to block the f holes. Not being sure of my future I focus on the present. I always loved sight reading so that's what I stick to. Eighteen different elementary method books to breeze through again and again is such fun. I'm making progress and enjoying life. I'm not sure about the house plants.

[cameronleach]

I started playing due to my love of film and game soundtracks. The Lord of the Rings have been my favourite films since I was a was able to stand. The violin in particular has so many phenomenal moments in those films (and many others) which is what made me fall in love with it. But I never actually started to learn it as a child. When life started to get stressful with finals and exams when I was 18, I finally decided “f**k it. I’m gonna do it”.

So for me it’s my love of music and the violin, which acts as a stress reliever and I also just love learning in general, and seeing my progress and improvement over time.

[BrianTimmonsTX]

I remember once Yo-Yo Ma was asked why he picked the cello. He said, “Because it’s the best.”

So not only is that my answer for why I play cello, it’s the entire reason I play music at all.

Because it’s the best.

[fuji]

I started learning violin about 9 months ago without prior musical background because I wanted some way to learn controlling my bodies in a finer way, instead of only explosive activities. A few months in, I was hooked and started learning more because I loved the music and I think it can help develop my listening skills as well!

[agatafurczyk]

So many amazing reasons to play an instrument! 💖

(And now I know why my Zamioculcas plant grows like crazy - although I attribute that mostly not to my own violin playing, but the music made by professionals (one in particular 😸) that both of us - me and the plant - listen to 😂)

Thank you, Olaf, for being one of the people who remind us that there are beautiful and healing things in this world!

[ramillematsoukis]

I took up ukulele after my husband’s death. NowI play in a quartet, and we play for Neighborly centers as well as retirement homes and private parties. It is great fun, keeps us on our toes, and spreads joy. Music brings everyone a higher quality of life.

[christinashelby]

This was really interesting! Thank you.

[lazychickenugget]

im sooo excited, the front cover looks great!!

[tomerdvir]

Hello Olaf, I've watched all your videos and have enjoyed them very much. I have a question: are the majority of violin toplates made from 1 or 2 plates? Is it normal to have 2 pieces of wood that make the toplate?

[wakingtheworld]

What a delightful video, Olaf. Re music and plants.... Talking to them & touching them helps (in the wild the wind & animals/insects would do that) but I don't think mine appreciated the early days of playing the violin.

[RiyaJoline]

I started to learn to play the violin last year. To fulfil my childhood-dream…
I have asian parents but they arent focusing on my musical side. They force me to learn math 😂😂 i wish they forced me to learn the violin. Its not easy but so much fun to learn the instrument. 😊 challenge accepted.

[ThomasLecoq-bdqj]

Good morning. I am 81 and recently took up violin. I'm having a problem learning because my collar bone is huge. I'm thin which doesn't help much. The problem is the the collar bone becomes a fulcrum so the violin is unstable, and I cannot hold it up with my chin. I have a Bon Musica shoulder rest which is the best so far, but I wonder if you have any other suggestions. It is impossible to bow properly when the angle of the violin changes.

[pmichael]

Great reasons! To increase the odds of getting funding for the effects of playing music to plants add "and climate change" to your proposed title.

[TheUncleRuckus]

You missed the most important reason, for the groupies! 👍
Or was that just me?! 😂

[molotulo]

I play music to makemy wife go out and let me have the house to myself because she is a Trump hater and i ❤️ love Donald Trump.