Learning how to solder (and to solder very well) is much easier than learning to play the piano or the violin. It's also tool-using skill that changes the way

Learning how to solder (and to solder very well) is much easier than learning to play the piano or the violin. It's also tool-using skill that changes the way one thinks about stuff; it opens doors. These days I'm fairly comfortable and confident with ordering custom PCBs to support various hardware and software projects. This lets me build stuff that I would not have imagined without the ability to solder. I don't do component level repair at work or at home if it goes beyond changing out an obviously-bad electrolytic capacitor or something, but I have rescued many things quickly and inexpensively by swapping things like obviously-bad electrolytic caps. That saves me money, and by extension it also saves me time. I wouldn't have ever considered any of that if I didn't know how to solder. Bonuses: Unlike learning piano, it doesn't take six months to learn soldering. And unlike the piano itself, the soldering kit is inexpensive, portable, and low-maintenance.