5 powerful reasons to learn the flute as an adult

Learning an instrument can be an incredible, life-changing experience. This can be especially true when we make this decision later in life (keep reading to find out why!). 

Today, we’ll uncover some fascinating and compelling reasons why you (or someone you know!) should learn the flute, no matter how old you are. 

1. Physical benefits

Did you know that learning and playing the flute can have many physical benefits? 

For one, it strengthens the respiratory system. Since playing the flute involves controlled breathing, it can increase lung capacity and improve breath control. This can be especially helpful for older adults. 

You see, as we age, our lung function naturally declines. This means that our diaphragm weakens and lung elasticity decreases. Playing the flute counters this by encouraging deep breathing and full lung expansion. (Pretty cool, huh?)

Playing the flute also promotes body awareness and teaches us to stand and sit better. Any good flute teacher will understand the huge impact that your body has on your playing. How you stand (or sit) impacts your breathing, your fingers, your tone and so much more! That’s why learning to use your body in an aligned and balanced way is critical to playing the flute. The wonderful thing is that this can be transferred to other parts of your life too. As you learn to move your body better in flute playing, you will become more aware of it and start to stand and sit better in your daily life.

Lastly, playing the flute also helps sharpen fine motor skills. It strengthens hand-eye coordination and improves dexterity—not just in your fingers, but also in your tongue, lips, jaw, and a whole range of abdominal muscles. These movements require precise control and coordination.

2. Cognitive boost

Along with all the physical benefits, playing the flute also has a huge impact on your brain. 

Playing the flute supports neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt, reorganize, and form new connections. By playing a single note, for example, your brain reads the music on the page and interprets it, then your body coordinates the muscles to produce the tone. Meanwhile, you are listening to the sound, allowing your brain to analyze the tone to determine its quality and pitch before the body makes any necessary adjustments. And that is just one note!  

In other words, playing music engages multiple parts of your brain. These include reading, interpretation, coordination, concentration, analysis, listening, memory and emotional expression!

As you can see, playing the flute is quite the workout for the brain. This is particularly significant because many of these skills tend to decline with age. However, playing a musical instrument can help slow that process. Several studies have found a link between musical activity in older adults and a reduced risk of cognitive decline (Arafa et al., 2022). That alone should be a great reason to play an instrument!

3. Breathing to destress

We’ve already mentioned how breathing on the flute can strengthen your respiratory system. But did you know that breathing on the flute can also be a way to destress? Let me explain…

When you breathe on the flute and exhale in a slow and purposeful way, your body naturally shifts from “fight or flight” mode into a more relaxed state. This means you are actually calming your nervous system just by breathing as you play the flute! 

When we are stressed, we often take very shallow breaths that feel like they are coming from higher up in our chest. Since playing the flute encourages deeper breathing, we reduce tension in our bodies and minds this way. 

In fact, it’s almost impossible to play the flute well while you’re tense or rushed. Playing the flute teaches you to slow down, breathe deeply and find ease in each phrase. 

4. The satisfaction of following your dreams

There is some interesting data out there to suggest that people who pursue their goals and dreams have a greater sense of meaning, well-being, and are generally happier with their lives. 

Fulfilling a long-lost dream can help you reconnect with parts of yourself that you may have lost or set aside. Often, we become so closely tied to the roles we’ve taken on—like a job title or a family role—that we forget there’s more to who we are.

Playing an instrument can help you untangle yourself from those labels. It reminds you that, beyond your responsibilities, you are also a creative and expressive individual. This rediscovery can strengthen your sense of self-worth and bring a deep sense of personal fulfillment.

I have watched this scenario play out in countless community members’ lives and witnessed so many gain a deep sense of satisfaction from playing the flute. I have also seen students go on to fulfil other dreams through their newfound confidence, such as completing a novel, joining a band or orchestra, being brave enough to play in church and even taking on paying gigs!

5. Improved mental health

The famous poet and thinker, Victor Hugo, famously said: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”

Throughout my years of teaching, I have seen how deeply powerful music can be in helping students deal with the challenges of life. When I was 18, we got the shocking news that my dad had cancer. If any of you have ever experienced those harrowing moments between the initial diagnosis and learning how severe the cancer is, you will understand the state of mind I was in. I remember taking out my flute and playing Bach. The numbness and shock dissolved into tears just streaming down my face as I played. Thankfully, my dad’s prognosis was good and 17 years later, he is still with us! But it is experiences like this that have led me to believe that music is naturally therapeutic. 

Apart from the body awareness, deep breathing and sense of fulfilment and satisfaction that all contribute to improved mental health in their own right, playing the flute also offers an emotional release that calms the nervous system. 

In fact, a 2016 study by Kaimal, Ray, & Muniz found that 45 minutes of creative activity (art sessions in this case) reduced the stress hormone cortisol significantly and studies done using music have yielded similar results (see references below for some more reading on this). 

Playing music every day is a way to express yourself in a lyrical, expressive and deeply personal way, helping you work through difficulties, express deep emotions and become more mentally grounded.

Become a lifelong learner!

When you play the flute, you’re essentially signing up to be a lifelong learner! 

You see, you’re never really “done” with learning the flute – there’s always a new piece to master, a technique to improve, or a new style of music to explore. And this constant progression fosters a mindset of lifelong learning. It means you’re growing in patience, keeping your curiosity alive and constantly growing as a person. 

Learning the flute doesn’t just mean you learn to play the instrument, it also teaches you how to learn. And that skill can often also spill over into many other areas of your life. 

Ready to start this adventure, or know someone who does? Click on the link below to find out more about learning programs. We have several levels available, including our latest beginner course, which will provide you with some great help getting started on this wonderful instrument called the flute.

References: 

Arafa, A., Teramoto, M., Maeda, S., Sakai, Y., Nosaka, S., Gao, Q., Kawachi, H., Kashima, R., Matsumoto, C., & Kokubo, Y. (2022). Playing a musical instrument and the risk of dementia among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. BMC Neurology, 22, Article 395. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02902-z

Grebosz-Haring, K., & Thun-Hohenstein, L. (2018). Effects of group singing versus group music listening on hospitalized children and adolescents with mental disorders: A pilot study. Heliyon, 4(12), e01014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e01014

Kaimal, G., Ray, K., & Muniz, J. (2016). Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art making. Art Therapy, 33(2), 74–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832