What's amazing is that people who practiced instruments extensively still experienced these benefits even though they stopped playing in their later years. So, in essence, playing instruments as a child for several years could bring a host of cognitive benefits that last a lifetime.A major lesson was confronting failure and getting into the habit of admitting mistakes. Huang also encouraged students to persevere because success does not come overnight. Huang also stressed the importance of knowing when to strategically retreat and seek a different path to success.