Growing Through Music: The Lasting Benefits of Learning an Instrument

When my family moved to Chico in 2022, one of the first places we discovered was The Music Connection. What began as piano lessons gradually became an important part of our lives. Over the past few years, it has become a home away from home – a place where we’re greeted with familiar faces and people who genuinely care about fostering a welcoming community where music is at the heart of everything they do.

Sally MacMillan’s spouse Bruce is most comfortable behind the scenes, helping people find their dream instrument.
Photos by Kate Hiller

A Place Where Music Feels Like Home

The Music Connection is a local music center where people of all ages can learn, explore and enjoy music. More than a place to buy instruments or take lessons, it nurtures people through a shared love of music – a place where passion is encouraged and appreciation for music is passed from one generation to the next.

True to its “Ridiculously Local” slogan, The Music Connection has cultivated a thriving music culture with locations in Chico and Redding, creating spaces where musicians of all ages can connect through music.

One of the people who embodies that spirit is Sunny Herrera. His enthusiasm for music – and for the people discovering it – is contagious. He loves helping children choose their very first instrument and says one of the most rewarding parts of his job is watching young musicians flourish throughout their musical journey. During quieter moments, you might even hear him pick up a guitar and sing, creating an atmosphere that reminds you that music isn’t simply what they do – it’s part of who they are.

More Than a Music Store

As a full-service music store, The Music Connection offers instruments, accessories, sheet music, books, professional instruction, repairs and instrument rentals. Rentals make it easy for families to try a new instrument without a large up-front investment. If a child discovers it isn’t the right fit, families can simply return it and explore something else. We recently took advantage of the rental program when my son decided to learn the violin. Renting also allowed us to exchange instruments as he grew rather than purchasing new sizes along the way.

Of all her duties at The Music Connection, Sally MacMillan still finds the greatest joy watching her girls practice. Her daughter, Mary, is pictured here with Sally and teacher Justin, who is originally from Australia and has taught piano for twenty years.

When Music Becomes a Lifeline

Our appreciation for The Music Connection grew even deeper after the 2024 Park Fire. Like many families, we found ourselves living in temporary housing without room for a piano. The Music Connection generously opened their doors and allowed my son to practice on their pianos when they weren’t being used for lessons. That simple act meant far more than providing a piano.

The months following the fire brought enormous changes to our lives. Music became one of the few constants. While my son wasn’t interested in traditional therapy, he returned to the piano day after day. It became a place where he could process emotions without words, focus his mind and experience moments of peace and joy during an otherwise difficult season. Watching him reminded me that music has a unique ability to comfort, heal and restore in ways that are often difficult to explain.

Lessons That Last a Lifetime

Research shows that learning an instrument offers benefits far beyond musical ability. It strengthens attention, memory, creativity, coordination, executive functioning and emotional regulation while teaching children how to work through challenges, one practice session at a time.

Music Connection owner Sally MacMillan has spent years watching young musicians develop and she’s seen those benefits firsthand. “Music is so creative that it fills the gaps we didn’t even know our children had. For one child, it provides discipline and structure. For another, it offers calm, self-expression and a place to relax. It meets children where they are.”

Most parents enroll their children in music lessons simply to give them the opportunity to explore a new interest, discover a hobby they might love or experience the joy of making music. Those are wonderful reasons to begin. Drawing on both her experience as a music educator and as a mother raising three children, Sally says, “I’m not trying to raise great musicians. I’m trying to raise good humans and music plays a very important part in that.”

Yet perhaps the greatest gift isn’t the ability to play an instrument. It’s the person a child becomes along the way. In a world filled with instant gratification, music teaches that meaningful growth takes time. Through each lesson and every practice session, children develop patience, perseverance, discipline, confidence, resilience and the understanding that mastery comes through consistent effort. Along the way, they also discover creativity, self-expression, healing, joy and people with whom they can share it. Whether a child plays for one year or a lifetime, the lessons they learn often extend far beyond the music itself.