William Congreve wrote, "Music has charms to soothe the savage breast." I'd add a corollary: "Playing music soothes the entire body." Many people take music lessons and find that it increases stress.

Let’s say you really want to learn how to play your favorite song by ear: tablatures are annoying and sheet music is expensive. You bust out your guitar / keyboard / cello, and start picking the MP3 ...

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Chris Lituma, West Virginia University (THE CONVERSATION) Waking up to the dawn chorus ...