Why It’s Time To Face The Music and Pick Up That Instrument Again

What was once a school-time hobby or maybe a challenge to yourself during lockdown, has been put away for another time and left to gather dust. It may be broken, dented or just out of tune and it’s certainly not unusual.

Across the UK, there are millions of musical instruments sitting unused, kept for sentimental reasons or forgotten over time.

The Hidden Orchestra in Our Cupboards

It’s easy to assume that if an instrument hasn’t been played in years, it’s no longer usable. But in reality, many just need a little attention.

• Strings wear out
• Wood shifts slightly over time
• Keys stick or mechanisms stiffen
• Setups drift out of alignment

These aren’t end-of-life problems. They’re normal and they’re completely repairable. A simple service can bring an instrument back to life far more quickly (and affordably) than most people expect.

Why Picking Up Your Musical Instrument Again Is Worth It

There’s a reason why so many people return to music later in life. It’s not just an enjoyable thing to do, there are a host of community and health benefits too.

Research shows that playing an instrument can improve memory, learning and problem-solving skills, even for adults picking it up again. Engaging in music stimulates the brain, promoting the formation of new neural connections and enhancing cognitive function, which can help to improve memory, attention, language skills, and overall cognitive function in older adults (Zhang, Q., Park, A., & Suh, K.-H, 2024). In 2022, a review of studies published in BMC Neurology revealed that playing musical instruments was associated with a lowered risk of developing dementia (Arafa, A., et al., 2022).

All of this evidence suggests that regular musical practice can be a preventive healthcare measure by strengthening cognitive reserve and making the brain more resilient to age-related decline. (Creyos, 2024).

It’s also linked to reduced stress, increased confidence, and overall well-being. Music has the power to enhance social connection by bringing people together, fostering social bonds and creating a sense of community. By helping combat loneliness, group music activities can improve mental health and emotional well-being and strengthen feelings of social connection (Dingle et al., 2021).

And you don’t have to start from scratch. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you last played; you just need to start again.

Repair: The First Step Back

For many people, the biggest barrier to restarting isn’t motivation; it’s the condition of the instrument they’ve just found and knowing how to sort it out. The sound is slightly off and it just doesn’t feel quite right.

That’s where servicing and repair come in. A well-set-up instrument is easier to play, sounds better and makes the whole experience more enjoyable. Small repairs can make a huge difference:

• Tightening of guitar strings can completely transform playability
• Replacing worn pads restores tone on woodwind instruments
• Re-stringing and adjustment can revive a tired violin
• Tuning your piano ensures optimal sound quality & maintains proper pitch
• Structural repairs can bring seemingly “dead” instruments back to life

In many cases, the cost of repair and servicing is far less than replacing an instrument of equivalent quality and unlike buying new, repair supports skilled, local craftsmanship.

Supporting Craft in a Throwaway Culture

Instrument repair is a highly skilled craft. Luthiers and technicians spend years learning how to restore sound, structure and playability. But like many repair trades, it’s under pressure from a culture that prioritises replacement over restoration.

Choosing to repair your instrument supports a different kind of economy, one built on care, skill, and longevity.

Featured Repairer Ron from The British Music Service, who specialises in the repair and servicing of woodwind and brass instruments, has some tips to share for anyone wanting to get their instrument back in use…

“During Mend It May, We Are Repairs is encouraging players to dig out their brass and woodwind instruments and get them back into regular use. A few simple at-home habits – wiping down after playing, swabbing out moisture and keeping slides, valves, and corks lightly lubricated – make a huge difference to how an instrument feels day to day.

But nothing replaces a proper service: a technician can realign mechanisms, replace worn pads or corks, deep clean the instrument and restore its original playability.

This year, British Music Service are also launching a new Mouthpiece Restoration & Finishes service, offering shaft dent removal, buffing, silver plating and optional 24k gold or rose gold accents. It’s a brilliant way to breathe new life into a well-loved mouthpiece and get your instrument truly back to its best. Quote the code ‘WeAreRepairs10’ when contacting British Music Service for a 10% discount.“

From Cupboard to Community

But what if you don’t want to play again? What do you do with the instrument in your loft or cupboard? Well, across the UK, there’s growing demand for accessible instruments, especially in schools, community groups and among new learners.

Repairing and passing an instrument on can give it a completely new life and help bring joy, as well as all those health benefits listed above, to another person.

A donated and repaired instrument could:

• help someone learn
• spark creativity
• bring music back into someone’s life

Repair doesn’t just extend the life of an instrument; it passes it on. You can find some of the incredible initiatives helping to spread the joy of music in our Donate Directory.

Mend It May: A Simple Shift

So this Mend It May, take a moment to think about that instrument you haven’t touched in years. And ask yourself:

Can this be repaired?
Could I play this again?
And if not, could this be passed on to someone who needs it?

Because that instrument sitting quietly in the corner might just be the answer to the community that many of us are searching for.