Fitness for Music Students!

What does fitness level have to do with music study?

Answer:

1. Fitness affects mood, mood affects desire, resilient desire compels and sustains years of happy effort. Who feels like practicing if you feel lumpy and lethargic? Not me. Pump up the endorphins through a healthy cardio workout and presto, you’ll feel like practicing.
2. Strong healthy bodies can take the stress of daily life with less wear and tear. Musicians are athletes. Strong bodies reduce the chance of injury. For more info see my other blog the aging musician.

Disclaimer: Go to the doctor first and see if you are fit enough for exercise without endangering life and limb. Your family needs you alive. Second, seek professional fitness advice. Third, it took years to get into the shape you are today. It will take time to get back in shape. Rush and you’ll injure yourself. Injure yourself, and presto back on the couch with the Doritos and Netflix.

Check out this abstract: "...The research suggests that physical fitness training leads to improved mood, self-concept, and work behavior; the evidence is less clear as to its effects on cognitive functioning, although it does appear to bolster cognitive performance during and after physical stress. Except for self-concept, personality traits are not affected by improvements in physical fitness..."
http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/amp/36/4/373/

Sounds good to me. See you at the gym.

​David Story

---