An idea central to the Recreational Music Making movement is that you are never too old to take up a musical instrument and that music is a great way to keep our minds fit and active. Now an Associated Press report points out that the idea of rekindling a pastime from childhood is carrying over into physical activities for adults as well.

Adults are participating in sports long dominated by children like never before. As they lead longer, healthier lives and search for ways to stay active, they are bored with dragging themselves to the gym and aerobic classes. Today, older Americans are learning to figure skate, doing gymnastics, and joining adult dodgeball, kickball, and flag football leagues.

One company, The Sports Network—which has 135 US health centers in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC—offers adult hip-hop dance, ballet, and “urban rebounding,” on miniature trampolines. These adults are rekindling their interest in something they used to do or have always wanted to do, an idea not lost on those Making Music readers who are picking up instruments they put away years ago or learning new ones.

This article appeared in Making Music Magazine (July/August 2006).