Classical Music Lovers Have Two Reasons to Celebrate
First, the soloists they adore will be around for a long time yet. And second, if they themselves play, there’s a good chance they’ll keep dementia at bay. Science has now confirmed that even starting an instrument in your 60s still offers real protection.
By contrast, the rock star lifestyle is no guarantor of longevity. We might suspect as much, but a statistician has now done the maths—and the evidence is striking. An analysis of 1,042 deceased musicians by Professor Les Mayhew showed that 83% died before reaching 70, whereas only 20% of the wider UK male population fail to reach that milestone.
Motörhead frontman Lemmy died just after Christmas 2015, following an adult lifetime of heavy alcohol and drug use. He had only recently turned 70. David Bowie and Alan Rickman both passed away in January 2016 at the age of 69. Bowie, of course, spent much of the 1970s deep in a haze of cocaine and continued smoking heavily until his mid-50s, when a near-fatal heart attack changed his course. Also in January, Glenn Frey of the American rock band The Eagles died at 67, following years of health problems linked to past substance abuse.
The Classical Advantage
The figures are astonishing. Maurizio Pollini, at 75, delivered performances described by critics as “playing like a deity”. Vladimir Horowitz was still giving masterful concerts at 83. Arthur Rubinstein performed publicly for 85 of his 95 years. Arturo Toscanini conducted complete Beethoven cycles well into his late 80s. Pablo Casals was composing at 94 and conducting at 96. These aren’t exceptions—they’re the norm in classical music.
What fuels this remarkable longevity? Casals himself offered a clue. At 93, he reflected:
“Age is a relative matter. If you continue to work and to absorb the beauty in the world around you, you find that age does not necessarily mean getting old. At least, not in the ordinary sense. I feel many things more intensely than ever before, and for me life grows more fascinating.”
When he heard of an orchestra in the Caucasus composed entirely of musicians over 100, Casals wasn’t surprised. Their secret, he believed, lay in attitude:
“In spite of their age, those musicians have not lost their zest for life. I believe that their ability to work is due in no small measure to the fact that they do work. Work helps prevent one from getting old. I, for one, cannot dream of retiring. Not now or ever.”
His philosophy was unequivocal:
“Retire? The word is alien and the idea inconceivable to me. The man who works and is never bored is never old. Work and interest in worthwhile things are the best remedy for age. Each day I am reborn. Each day I must begin again.”
The contrast with popular music could hardly be more stark. Where the rock world serves up a toxic cocktail of irregular hours, substances, and stress, classical musicians benefit from structure, discipline, and the deep emotional nourishment of musical expression.
The result? Careers that span decades, not years. And that’s as true today as ever.
In April of this year, the Argentine pianist Martha Argerich—who won the International Chopin Competition in 1965—gave a performance in Switzerland, her second home for decades. Considered by many the greatest living pianist, she continues to dazzle. Her stamina is astonishing—she gave 80 performances in 2024 alone.
So far, there’s been no sign of her fingers slowing down. (Some might say even if they did, she’d simply return to the level where most pianists begin their careers.)
Conductors, it seems, endure even longer. Charles Dutoit—Argerich’s former husband, as it happens—is still in demand across Europe. Yet he’s a mere stripling compared with Herbert Blomstedt, conductor laureate of the San Francisco Symphony, who is now 97. Remarkably, he was the 10th busiest conductor in the world in 2023.
The Brain Revolution
Much has been speculated about why musicians live so long—but science is now replacing speculation with hard evidence.
Conducting is a surprisingly good form of aerobic exercise. Music keeps the brain engaged, and it’s inherently social. Whether it’s playing in an orchestra, joining a choir, or performing chamber music, these shared experiences foster human connection in a way few other activities can.
But here’s where it gets truly exciting: recent research shows that playing an instrument throughout life is linked to better memory and executive function, with piano players showing the most notable cognitive gains. Brain scans tell the story—music activates vast networks in the brain, engaging motor systems, memory, attention, and emotional centres all at once.
And here’s the revolutionary twist: people over 60 who only began learning piano and kept at it for just six months still showed measurable improvements in working memory, motor coordination, and perceptual speed, compared to non-musical peers. Previously, it was assumed only lifelong musicians enjoyed these benefits. Now we know—there’s still time to join the party.
The 60-Plus Phenomenon: A Dramatic Boost to Your Brain
New studies confirm it: musical training in later life can lead to the same cognitive benefits seen in lifelong players. Engaging with music—at any age—is associated with better brain health in older adults.
Learning a musical skill strengthens and refines neural pathways. Neuroimaging shows heightened reward responses in the memory centres of the brain and improved white matter plasticity. The networks activated are widespread—covering executive function, memory, coordination, and language processing.
The Practice Prescription
The implications are profound. While gyms promise physical health and brain training apps sell cognitive sharpness, music delivers both—and adds joy, creativity, and connection to the mix.
Whether you’re 60, 70, or 80—whether you’ve never touched an instrument or last played decades ago—the message from science is clear: it’s time to make music. Your brain will thank you, your social life will thrive, and who knows—you might discover an inner virtuoso you never knew existed.
You don’t need to be the next Horowitz. Most study participants had played for five years or fewer, practising only 2–3 hours a week. That’s less time than many people spend watching television.
The question isn’t whether you’re too old to start.
The real question is: what are you waiting for?
