Banjo Is Good For the Brain
1. Engage yourself in the complex and novel:
Play the banjo… Practice, learn new songs, new styles - Doctor’s orders!
“Learning new information and skills across your entire lifespan helps to keep your brain strong even in the later years of life. Activities that have the highest value for brain health are those that are novel and complex to each particular person. With practice of an activity or skill, your synaptic density increases, and what was once novel and complex can easily become rote and passive. Therefore, continually learning new things will ensure your brain is always expanding and staying sharp!”
Need a banjo? We have lots to choose from. Check out all of our banjos here...
2. Exercise Regularly:
Ever carry a banjo around the festival grounds? Now THAT’S exercise!! And who can be “sad” playing a banjo?
“Exercise has the positive effect of enhancing successful aging. Exercise performed on a routine basis may not only reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease, but also may help to slow the course of an existing disease, such as Alzheimer's. Exercise can improve our energy levels, sense of well-being, sleep, and brain health. Engaging in regular exercise also reduces the risk of depression and anxiety.”
3. Socialize and Have Fun!
The banjo is the perfect vehicle for bringing folks together through jam sessions, festivals, workshops; what could be more fun.
“Friends provide opportunities to enable the sharing of experiences, new learning, challenges, emotions, trust, and understanding. Friendship also provides the necessary motivation towards activity and involvement. Engaging in new pursuits with friends often helps develop new life roles, which provide us with an opportunity to feel appreciated, enjoy life, laugh, and have fun.”
Click here for a calendar of festivals
Coming to the San Diego area? Come see how banjos are made here at the Deering factory...
4. Slow Down and Appreciate the Silence:
Playing slow is great for practice, gentle tunes are fun to play and relaxing...and silence? Well, you can’t always be playing the banjo!
“Our society is evolving at an increasing rate, leaving us with little time to relax and process our environment. Our brains require time to process information more deeply, in order to gain more benefit from our daily experiences. The implications of a fast-paced lifestyle are chronic stress and other negative effects on our health and well being. Reducing demands we place on ourselves is an important step towards stress reduction, and a more fulfilling life.”
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5. Do Not Retire from Life:
Learning to play the banjo is a great motivator. Sharing it with others is even more fun. Visit nursing homes, classrooms, church group and share your playing; everyone loves music!
“Maintaining a strong sense of purpose in life is an important contributor to longevity. Making a conscious decision to stay actively involved in your daily routine is beneficial to your lifelong health and well being. Positive attitude has been shown to play a significant role in success, as well as your ability to recover from illness. It is important to develop multiple skills and interests over your lifespan, as we have the ability to learn and develop new talents continually over time.”
Want a new book CD or DVD? Check out our selection here... BOOKS CD'S DVD'S
6. Maintain Strong Connections:
Playing music with someone develops a great bond. How else can you explain the increasing number of friends we can all point to as we share our love of the banjo?
“Our ability to communicate and interact with others is critical to maintaining strong connections. Isolation has been shown to reduce our overall health. Research demonstrates the importance of a social network in reducing the risk of dementia. Our ability to continually develop relations and sustain them across our lifespan represents significant health-promoting behaviors, such as stress reduction, new learning, and emotional expression.”
Social networking….hey, I love emails from our customers. Write us at info@deeringbanjos.com.
READY, SET GO!
Now is a great time to get started! Have fun and watch your brain “muscles” grow!
