| 1. Entertainment | | | | sky-diving, whatever! |
| First of all, it's just plain fun! With just a modest | | | | 5. Meet and Greet |
| cash investment (large Internet retailers carry | | | | Playing the violin means you'll need some supplies, |
| violins as cheaply as sixty dollars), you now have | | | | from time to time: new strings, fresh rosin, sheet |
| hours of entertainment in front of you. And once | | | | music. Becoming a regular at your local music |
| you're comfortable enough, performing for others | | | | store means you have the opportunity to build |
| spreads the joy around. | | | | new relationships not only with the owners, but |
| 2. Nights on the Town | | | | other regular customers as well. This is doubly |
| Learning any musical instrument will help with your | | | | helpful if you're new to the neighborhood and |
| sense of rhythm, tone, and overall musicality. Be | | | | don't yet know anyone. |
| afraid of the dance floor no more! Bonus: because | | | | 6. Violin Hero? |
| of how it's structured, the violin is more | | | | No longer relegated to dusty concert halls, the |
| ear-training intensive than something like piano or | | | | violin is fast becoming something of a rock star. |
| guitar, so your off-tune karaoke will improve as | | | | Big name bands like Yellowcard, Dave Matthews |
| well. | | | | Band, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra-among |
| 3. Free Therapy | | | | others-all feature prominent violinists and violin |
| We all need ways of expressing our inner angst | | | | solos. And even if you don't become rich and |
| or pure, unadulterated joy to be balanced, healthy | | | | famous, you can still learn that awesome violin |
| people, and music probably the most powerful | | | | solo from The Who's Baba O'Riley. |
| method we have to do so. The violin is a | | | | 7. Building (Mental) Muscle |
| particularly apt instrument for this, since it mimics | | | | Learning and playing a musical instrument of any |
| the human voice better than any other member | | | | kind has been linked to keeping your brain fit and |
| of the orchestra. At the very least, it's cheaper | | | | flexible. The violin, with its focus on the left |
| than an hour on the couch with the psychiatrist, | | | | hand-the non-dominant hand for about 90% of |
| and you never need to make an appointment. | | | | the population-also focuses specifically on what is |
| 4. Yes, You Can! | | | | often the "weaker" half of the brain. Over time, |
| Taking up a new hobby and learning a new skill is | | | | daily violin practice builds new connections in the |
| one of the quickest, most effective | | | | brain and makes pre-existing ones stronger and |
| confidence-boosters around. Keeping your hands | | | | faster. And the benefits don't stop there: the |
| (and mind) occupied is a great preventive | | | | manual and mental dexterity required to play the |
| measure to keep the blues at bay. You'll find | | | | violin, if kept up through old age, also helps to |
| yourself with the courage to try other new things | | | | prevent senility and Alzheimer's, keeping your wits |
| you've been meaning to do for years: parasailing, | | | | sharp for the rest of your days. |