The Importance of Learning New Skills

By: Atharva Deshpande

Macmillan dictionary: https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/tabla

Since I was a child, every single time I spoke with my grandfather, he asked me if I had practiced playing the tabla. The tabla is a musical instrument that originates from the Indian subcontinent. I started learning how to play the tabla when I was around 8 or 9 and took lessons for a couple of years.

Although I did enjoy playing; attending lessons and taking time out of my day to practice was not fun for me. My attention span wasn’t long enough to sit in one place for a long period of time. Regardless, whenever my grandfather called me, I would tell him that I had practiced playing the tabla. Over time, it almost became a joke because we both knew that I hadn’t practiced.

My grandfather loved listening to the tabla. When he was younger, his family didn’t have one, so he would play on a makeshift tabla using the bottom of containers, or he would simply play on a table. He really wanted me to learn; especially because I had the means to not only have a tabla but was also able to take lessons. He always emphasized the need to learn specific skills and says that you’ll never know when they can come in handy.

Although I didn’t continue to play any musical instruments, I really valued the root message that my grandfather told me. I understand the need to diversify and continue to learn new skills and not just focus on one aspect of your life such as school or work. Learning new skills can allow you to remain active and form connections with people regarding your shared interests. It can also allow you to distract yourself from any issues you are facing and go have fun doing something you enjoy. If you excel at your skill, it can also turn into a fun way to make some money through either helping others learn, or performing for others.