Play Your Instrument

Psalm 33:2,3 says, Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to him with a ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song to him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.

Our Sunday School lesson was taken from Psalms today. Just my opinion here, but I am glad for a switch from the study of end times and tribulation to the Psalms for the next three months. Our teacher helped us to consider the definition and function of worship. A lot of relatable conversation was created with what she had studied to share with us. One of the verses in the text instructed us to sing and to play our instrument.

I am grateful to my mom for making sure that our family had no excuse and every opportunity to learn an instrument. We always had a piano at home which she kept tuned by a blind man from Rice Lake. She also played it, every day, and taught us what she knew as soon as we wanted to know. Mom played all the hymns from our hymnals. She learned the songs we didn’t know from them by playing them. She played her old school songs from grade school. She listened closely to the new Gospel Echoes group and learned to play So Remind Me, Remind Me, Dear Lord, by ear because it was new and pretty. We had music every day. She has never had lessons other than music theory from grade school She’s in her 80’s and still playing songs and learning new ones, too.

Our own school had music theory from the A Capella perspective which I took home and applied to my own piano playing. But we had no orchestral opportunities from school. No formal lessons. If you wanted to pick up an instrument and learn to play it, that was considered great; but you were on your own about it. I think when my youngest siblings were ready for instruments they were able to get lessons and one of them even had voice lessons. Thus we progressed in our music endeavors.

Here’s why you should play your instrument if you have one. First of all, it is good for your brain to apply your eyes to the music notes and your hands to the keyboard. Lots of good things are happening while making connections of reading notes, listening to sound and working it out with ones hands. Add in reading the timing and the dynamics and it starts to get real. Add in reading and understanding the lyrics, if its a song with words, that you’re playing; it begins to take on a life of its own. Go ahead and sing those words while playing your songs. This requires focus and intention.

Which brings me to my second reason for playing your instrument. It’s good for your heart. If you want to get good with your playing, you have to do it a lot. And sitting down to your instrument requires a certain calmness and steadiness of your body to stay with it long enough for the good to happen.

Then last but not least, it’s good for your soul and your worship. with the practice and routine comes a great habit of dropping anxiety and entering the prayer closet with your instrument. You can pray with it and praise with it and hear God speaking His words through the music and lyrics. Taking responsibility to sit there a bit every day is a great discipline. And then, please share the fun. Get family or friends around to sing and play together.

Oh yes, another thing on my bucket list to do is to play for Bear while he sings a couple of his favorite hymns. The one time we did this was one of those unforgettable experiences that I treasure gratefully. If one of you sees him, please tell him for me, okay?

The good that has come to me in the last year with the resolution to play my instrument as daily as life allows are these. I am able to skip a lot of self loathing and second guessing that comes with the hard parts of life. Laying it down for a time to play piano not only rests my struggle, it clears my mind. Better solutions and better trust in God solace me. Frankly, I believe that the Psalmists are not just making a fun suggestion for us. Music is good for us. I’m also getting better with my playing. It’s easier to do and more enjoyable again.

It’s a way to worship. It is a way to encourage each other as Christians. It calms our nerves and clears our heads. Why not dig out that dusty guitar and get back at it? It’s a perfectly good reason to lay down your phone and do something decent and profitable. Save your brain, your sanity, and maybe even grab some solace and clarity. Please catch the urgency of needing to slow down.

If you don’t have an instrument, you can sing or listen to good music and get the same benefits. Please understand me. I know playing an instrument is not for everyone. But those of you who know, know!