The Benefits of Playing Guitar

The Benefits of Playing Guitar What Are the Advantages of Being a Guitarist? ChaptersPlaying the Guitar to Improve Your MemoryGetting Rid of Stress by Playing GuitarGaining Discipline by Learning to Play the GuitarLearning the Guitar for FunExpressing Your Emotions with the Guitar“You don't need any brains to listen to music.” - Luciano PavarottiThat said, music can work wonders for your brain.  Music can influence your perception of effort. A study by Southern Connecticut State University showed that basketball players who ran listening to music ran 5 minutes longer than those who didn’t (at 85 to 90% of their maximum heart rate ).Thus, if listening to music can come with such benefits, surely playing the guitar can, too. It doesn't matter whether you learn guitar on your own, with a guitar teacher, or on a guitar course.In this article, we’re going to look at the benefits of playing the guitar in music lessons or teaching yourself how to play the guitar. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsPlaying the Guitar to Improve Your MemoryWhatever style of music you choose, whether you play electric guitar or acoustic guitar, one thing’s for certain: you’re going to have to learn some guitar techniques.As your guitar playing improves, so will your memory. (Source: venturaartist)When you first start learning guitar, these techniques might include barre chords, chord progressions, pentatonic scales, arpeggios, and rhythm.Guitar lessons for beginners can include specialised lessons for blues gu itar, rock guitar, or classical guitar. Additionally, you'll learn about fingerpicking, basic guitar chords, fretting, and how to tune your guitar.Playing the guitar is a great way to stimulate your brain and your memory and beginners can start seeing the benefits from the moment they start playing a few melodies, licks, or a common guitar chord.All types of memory are engaged:Episodic Memory: when you listen to a song, it reminds you of another memory, of a person, or a specific time and place.Semantic Memory: you’ll develop knowledge-based memories of a particular topic, in this case, the guitar.Perceptual Memory: that which remembers what your senses experienced.Procedural Memory: this is the memory that remembers skills like how to read tablature, music theory, or tuning a guitar, for example.Working Memory: this is the part of memory which provides necessary information in order to complete certain tasks.When you learn to play guitar, you’ll also learn how to concentrate fo r longer. Thus, your concentration skills will be developed. In fact, when you practise a musical instrument, you need to fully concentrate on it. You can’t stop every 5 minutes to check your Facebook, read an email, or call a friend.You need a certain degree of discipline and you’ll soon be able to concentrate for a couple of hours without any problems. It’s great for when it comes to playing the guitar but also for your professional life. The more you can concentrate, the more quickly you’ll remember and the more you’ll remember. This will make learning much easier, resulting in more self-confidence and allowing you to work more effectively.The brain is an important muscle that we rarely flex. Just like any other muscle in our body, it needs regular training in order to remain effective. This is beneficial for children and teenagers, of course, but it’s also beneficial for adults as working on your memory will decrease the effects of ageing and reduce the risk of Alzhe imer’s!Another unsung benefit of playing the guitar is developing better listening skills: hearing rhythm and playing to a beat!Getting Rid of Stress by Playing GuitarStress is far too common in the 21st Century. Nearly half of all workers are stressed.Just like exercising, playing the guitar also releases endorphins. (Source: ThomasWolter)It seems that nobody is safe. An annoying colleague, traffic on the way to work, a doctor’s appointment, there are so many sources of stress in the modern age.  It almost seems inevitable.You need to find a way to avoid and manage your stress as it can be detrimental to your health: heart problems, weight gain, trouble sleeping, etc.  The guitar is a great remedy! Have a go at playing a Hendrix riff or playing some flamenco rhythms when you get in from work after a stressful day.  It’ll feel like a weight is lifted. Thus, with less stress, your mood will improve and so will the quality of your sleep.However, not all stress is bad. In fact, y ou’ll probably feel stressed before going on stage. This is the good type of stress. This will motivate you and encourage you to perform to the best of your abilities.  Good stress is temporary and can help you achieve a goal: putting on a good show in this case. However, it can be exhausting and you’ll need to recover afterwards. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsGaining Discipline by Learning to Play the GuitarUnlike the piano where p ressing the key will produce a nice sound, a budding guitarist needs to correctly press down on the fretboard and correctly strike the string in order to make a nice sound.Just like the violin, there’s a tough learning curve at the beginning.  However, by working a few minutes on it every day, you’ll soon start seeing results. You need to persevere and not give up after just two guitar lessons when you can’t immediately play what your guitar tutor showed you!Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re stagnating but you can’t give up.  Your brain needs time to assimilate new concepts and there are different stages of the learning process that you need to respect.  You need to keep your objectives in mind and remain disciplined in order to get the right results!Sometimes you just need someone else, like a private guitar tutor, to remind you of the progress you’re making. So why not look up guitar lessons and get started right away?Or, if your guitar teacher says you're ready to,   you could play guitar in a band: that takes discipline to a whole new level!Learning the Guitar for FunLike all musical instruments, it’s important that you enjoy yourself when playing the guitar.  If you don’t get any enjoyment out of playing the guitar, I don’t see any reason to continue doing it.Playing the guitar should cause your brain to secrete dopamine, the hormone that is produced when you do other enjoyable activities like meditation, exercise, or eating chocolate.Need we say more?Playing the guitar can also cause the release of the same endorphins that are produced when you do sport or enjoy certain activities that I won’t explicitly detail in this article.Thus, playing the guitar can bring a lot of pleasure which should feed your determination for improving your guitar playing.Endorphins are a stimulant for the body which acts similarly to a painkiller and also improves the body’s autoimmune response. Playing the guitar is therefore great for your physical an d mental health.  You can also increase your lung capacity by singing at the same time!With all these free hormones floating about, you’ll boost your self-confidence. The more confidence you have, the more you’ll work at it, and the more you’ll improve.Of all of the great reasons to play the guitar, this one has to be at the top of the list!Expressing Your Emotions with the Guitar“I write music with an exclamation point!” - Richard WagnerMusic is a great way to express your emotions. Whether you're sad, angry, or happy, the guitar will be your best friend.Whether you're anxious, stressed, happy, or feeling nostalgic, there's a song for that! (Source: shusnob)Similarly, the guitar can get rid of your daily stress and help you to express feelings that you can’t put into words.A bit like when writers feel liberated by writing down their painful emotions onto paper, a musician will feel much more at ease having played a few notes to express what they’re feeling.  Let your fingers freely roam the fretboard and let your guitar liberate your feelings. It’ll do you the world of good!Composing music is also a great way to express your creativity by writing music exactly that expresses exactly how you feel. Don’t hesitate to grab your guitar whether you feel angry, sad, or joyous!This expression might even make its way into your next live set!Become a Guitarist to Improves Your Social SkillsMusic is all about sharing. You share emotions with yourself, an audience, or other musicians.Being in a band will improve your playing and your confidence. (Source: Pexels)As a member of a band or group, you can develop your empathy towards others and improve your communication with them.In a group, everyone has a role to play and it’s important that each musician remain humble about their music and not get big-headed.  Sharing music with other musicians can help forge strong friendships and is also a lot of fun.Being in a group isn’t always a walk in the park, though. There will inevitably be tension and you’ll need to learn how to manage disagreements without hurting the other members of your band or splitting the group up.  You’ll learn to be tolerant of others and respect the work that each musician is doing.  You’ll learn to compromise, just like you have to in relationships.Whether you're just interested in strumming a few power chords to some pop punk, practising some strumming patterns and basic chords, learning how to read guitar tabs, or becoming the next great guitar player, with all these great benefits, you should learn how to play guitar as soon as possible.

What is it Like to Attend The CUNY College of Staten Island

What is it Like to Attend The CUNY College of Staten Island The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Maria graduated from The CUNY (City University of New York) College of Staten Island in 2012 with a degree in History. She is currently New York City tutor specializing in Phonics tutoring, Spanish tutoring, World History tutoring, and more. See what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Maria: The campus is set off of Victory Boulevard, which is one of the main streets in Staten Island. Therefore, there are many options to use public transportation from different areas of all five boroughs and a short drive from the NY/NJ border. There are two entrances into the college. There is the main entrance on Victory Boulevard, and the south entrance which is easily accessible by public transportation. A student can also ride their bike into campus, and secure it near the library. There are express buses that drive to the entrance of the college, a FREE shuttle that picks up students from the Staten Island Ferry and drops them off inside of the campus, an internal bus service within the campus grounds, and a bus that comes from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The campus is extremely safe with many public safety officers in almost every building, especially in the Campus Center, the administration buildings, and the library. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Maria: Professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants are readily available in person, with or without an appointment, and most conveniently by email. Most professors are available before and after class for any questions regarding course material and assignments. Advisors are available anytime throughout the year, and are extremely knowledgeable. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Maria: Dorms will make their grand debut beginning this coming fall semester (2013), therefore, I have no direct experience concerning dorm life. However, the establishment is going to be very spacious with suites that contain even up to 4 bedrooms. There are many opportunities for socialization, with two cafes and a restaurant available on campus. There are also many student activities such as clubs, a radio station on campus, student leadership development programs, study-abroad opportunities, and many other opportunities to travel the country and the world. The campus is smoke-free, eco-friendly, and even has a garden, a college newspaper and a journal. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Maria: I obtained a Bachelor's Degree in History, in which The College of Staten Island did a great job in supporting my academic career. I received academic advisement and counseling throughout the year, and many advisors and professors were readily available. The college has many programs from Associates Degree to Doctoral programs. They are well-known for their Education, Finance, Biology, Chemistry, Social Work, Accounting, History, Philosophy, Astronomy, African Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Nursing, and Media-Communications departments. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Maria: It was extremely easy for my to make friends my freshman year in college. Students are extremely approachable and your best tools to socialize are clubs and Greek Life on campus. Greek Life is active on campus. They even have clubs. They also participate in charity work and other fundraisers. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Maria: The Career Center is extremely helpful and helped me find a work-study program that best suited my needs and interests. There are also many employment opportunities available through the college such as the Teaching Scholars program, work-study program, and Liberty Partnership. The college also hires students as tutors. Many reputable companies from city jobs and other highly-recognized organizations recruit from job fairs which are held on campus. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges?Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Maria: The library, Campus Center, Green Dolphin Lounge, and Sleeping Dolphin Lounge are each unique in their own ways. The library has floors designated for different sound levels. The first floor is designated for normal socializing, all the way to the fourth floor, which is completely silent and regulated by public safety officers. The Campus Center is where all the clubs meet, and where Student Life offices and conference rooms are located. The Sleeping Dolphin Lounge is designated for those who need a power nap before, in between, or after classes, and the Green Dolphin Lounge provides refreshments, a spacious sitting area with tables and couches, along with a mini-cafe that is open when movies are being shown. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Maria: There is a mall, various shopping centers, and diverse restaurants located near the college. There are also bowling alleys, a public library, and Manhattan is about 30 minutes away via public transportation. New Jersey is also a ten-minute car ride away from the college. The Jersey Shore is about 30-45 minutes away (by car) from campus. In the surrounding area, there are also buses that ride to Atlantic City (casinos, boardwalk, etc.). VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Maria: The student body is made up of a few thousand students, taking classes throughout the day. As of right now, they are all commuter students, however, I do not know what their prospective student population will be once they open their dorms. Class sizes vary from 10 students in a class, to 150-200 students in a class. Class sizes vary depending on the academic level of the course, and if it is a lecture or not. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Maria: Every experience has been pleasant except for one. But the experience I loved the most was with my senior thesis professor who guided me and was an immense help when I was writing my final thesis. She helped me acquire resources and helped me in the beginning. She gave me the advice and confidence to help myself be able to complete my 35-page thesis at the end of the semester with confidence and efficiency. Check out Marias tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.