It’s hard to find a person whose life doesn’t involve music on a daily basis. The rise of smartphones, iPods and computers ensures that we hear the stuff almost all the time. Music pervades all cultures, and we regard creative and talented musical artists with awe.

It’s likely that a number of you haven’t played an instrument since elementary school music class, but don’t let not majoring in music limit your musical endeavors. Data from the 2009 U.S. Census showed that about 8 percent of Americans play musical instruments on a regular basis, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be one of them.

I’m often surprised by the number of people who played an instrument at some point, whether they taught themselves guitar or played trumpet in their school’s band, and later gave up on it.

I have been playing bass clarinet — which is similar to the regular clarinet, but larger, an octave lower and much manlier than a soprano clarinet — since fourth grade. Sure, it’s not the most well-known or appreciated of instruments, but I’m a sucker for its sound, and it makes for a good conversation piece.

Despite having played in both the University’s orchestra and wind symphony and taken studio lessons all of my four years here, I’m not a music major. Sure, it can be a hassle sometimes, but it’s not as hard as you think to fit rehearsals into your schedule.

Continuing to play doesn’t only help you retain the skill; it has a number of other benefits. You’ll experience new composers and pieces, each with its own interesting (or not-so-interesting) parts, as well as revisit old favorites you may have played in high school, like Robert W. Smith’s musical interpretation of Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”

There’s also the community. Students who participated in musical groups at my high school were very close-knit, and I made a number of friends by playing an instrument. There was no fear of being labeled a “band geek” either, as football players and scholars alike were involved in the music program.

The atmosphere is similar in university ensembles, in which students across all majors, who have all sorts of different hobbies, play. Everyone’s friendly and there’s no fear of judgment, even from the conductors — as long as you have your part down.

But playing in ensembles on campus isn’t the only way to keep music a part of your life. You can find the more “classical” instruments (like clarinets, saxophones and violins) as well as guitars and drum kits that you can rent or buy at a number of music stores. eBay is also a wonderful place for getting a cheap, used instrument.

The Internet also provides a number of musical resources. YouTube has tutorials for both new players and hardened veterans, and sites such as Reddit provide places to reach out to other players across the globe.

All I’m saying is that it’s never too late to start playing, and if you’ve already started, it’s not that hard to keep doing it. Binghamton’s orchestra and wind symphony are always looking for new players, and the commencement band is a nice way to make a quick buck and keep your chops in check. Whether you want to take part in a large ensemble, groove alone on the piano or start up a rock band, just try to keep music in your life.