The Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument 学习乐器的好处

Its difficult not to admire the talent of a skilled musician. Whether it be a pianist， flautist or cellist， these individuals have shown dedication and passion over a long period of time to reach the highest levels of performance. But they say its never too late to learn. So what are the benefits， for both children and adults， of learning a musical instrument？

很难不佩服一位技艺高超的音乐家的才华。无论是钢琴家、长笛手还是大提琴手，这些人在很长一段时间内都表现出了奉献精神和激情，以达到最高的表演水平。但他们说学习永远不晚。那么，学习一门乐器对孩子和成人都有什么好处呢？

Learning to play a musical instrument when growing up can improve hearing in adulthood. According to a study by Dr Nina Kraus， Professor of Neurobiology at Northwestern University in Illinois， US， children who played musical instruments were better at recognizing different frequencies. This improved hearing skill carried over into later life with adults who had once played an instrument able to discern sounds of different pitches more easily. And it could also have some academic benefits too. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia found that students who engaged in music-related activities during Grades 7—12 scored significantly higher in science， English and maths.

在成长阶段学习一门乐器可以提高成年后的听力。根据美国伊利诺伊州西北大学神经生物学教授尼娜·克劳斯博士的一项研究，演奏乐器的孩子更善于识别不同的频率。这种提高的听力技能一直延续到后来的生活中，那些曾经演奏过乐器的成年人能够更容易地分辨不同音高的聲音。它也可能有一些学业上的好处。不列颠哥伦比亚大学进行的一项研究发现，在7—12年级期间参加音乐相关活动的学生在科学、英语和数学方面的得分明显更高。

And there are not just benefits to children. Whether you choose to play the piano， strum a guitar or learn a drumbeat， you could end up joining a band or orchestra. This in turn could improve your social life， meeting other bandmates who are like-minded in their love of a good tune. Learning an instrument can also give you a sense of achievement. Nailing that perfect chord is one way， but what if you got together with a bunch of friends and entered into a battle of the bands—and won？

这不仅对孩子们有好处。无论你选择弹钢琴、弹吉他还是学习打鼓，你最终都可能加入某个流行音乐乐队或某个管弦乐队。这反过来可以改善你的社交生活，结识其他志同道合的乐队成员。学习一门乐器也能给你一种成就感。找到完美的和弦是一种方法，但如果你和一群朋友聚在一起，参加一场乐队之战，而且赢了呢？

So， whether youre looking to destress playing out some chords， or improve your grades at school， maybe taking up an instrument could help you.

所以，无论你是想通过演奏和弦来减压，还是想提高你的学习成绩，也许学一门乐器会对你有帮助。

Word Bank

dedication /'ded?'ke??n/ n. 献身；奉献

Her dedication to her work was admirable.

passion /'p??n/ n. 激情；酷爱

Her passion for dancing never cooled down over the years.