Anyone who took piano or violin lessons as a kid knows that learning an instrument can be difficult. All those scales and complicated fingering positions can seem like drudgery. But there are good reasons for sticking with music lessons. According to several studies, learning to play an instrument improves how the brain works. For example, one study out of McMaster University in Canada found that even a year or two of musical training is associated with better memory and attention. Learning to play involves motor and listening skills–especially if you’re learning to play music with other people. And those skills in turn involve attention, memory and the ability to control your actions.