Learning to play a musical instrument is up there with learning French: sure, it’d be nice, but it generally stays on your “should do” list under a pile of life admin and missed gym sessions.
But much like what barre classes did for the repressed ballerinas among us, drop-in music gyms are here to bridge the gap between going full-blown pro and just dabbling for the joy of it.
Enter: The Music Gym, offering up adults-only music classes in Melbourne, Australia’s Galleria center so you can fit in a class during a lunch break or before or after work.
The brainchild of Catherine Prifti, a music teacher of 21 years, the concept came about after she noticed that while many adults have a strong interest in learning and performing music, expensive instruments and costly private lessons stopped many from actually acting on it.
“I am so happy we have been able to realize this concept. There are so many people who will directly benefit from the ability to learn and practice music, whether it’s their dream to perform for a special occasion or just for general enjoyment and mental health,” says Prifti.
“Our space is like an urban oasis, an escape from the office grind for the busy worker who may not enjoy the gym or any other traditional stress relievers.”
And there’s no better time as we see a shift in focus from mainly caring for our physical well-being to also considering the importance of keeping your brain in check, too. Music has been credited to be an extremely positive social activity for adults to engage in, particularly among office workers and employees. It offers the opportunity to network with others and boost productivity while singing and listening to music have been proven to reduce stress levels.
Research has found that undertaking the new skill of learning an instrument can help to improve the mind due to its association with enhancing verbal ability and also improving motor coordination. It can also help with improved sociability, especially in the group class environment.
Beyond the mental aspects, singing is also credited with having physical benefits for the body. Researchers have associated singing with improved recovery from stroke and heart attacks, while it can also generally assist in working major muscle groups in the upper body, improving the efficiency of your cardiovascular system and encouraging more oxygen flow in the body, leading to increased alertness.
The Music Gym will offer voice, piano and guitar lessons, at affordable casual-session, 10-pack, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month subscription rates. You never know, it could even be the career change you’re looking for.