Saturday, April 2, 2022 by Susan Swartz | Education

The piano can be learned at any point in one's life, from preschool to retirement.  While playing piano as a child has a positive impact on the brain, taking piano lessons can be useful to everyone, regardless of age. 

Here are ten advantages of taking piano lessons, whether you're looking for piano lessons for your child or for yourself.

1. Better Math Skills

Performing music necessitates the use of arithmetic. To perform music properly, one must be able to count correctly and match certain notes to their unique time. When it comes to precisely understanding notes and lengths of time to play music, the brain has a lot of work to do. Learning music can make it much easier to apply fractions and ratios in mathematical situations.  

2. Increased Concentration

Music involves critical thinking skills in order to perform. A student learning piano has to focus on what they are reading and turn that into motions from their hands. This involves a great deal of concentration. As with most things, the more time you spend concentrating, the better you will be at it. Piano lessons can help to increase an individual’s ability to concentrate and problem solve.

3. Develop Appreciation of Music

When given the option, most people choose to listen to music styles that they are familiar with. There's no way to know if you enjoy different styles unless you've been exposed to them. Working with a piano teacher will expose you to a wide range of musical styles, from classical to jazz. This is also one of the most significant advantages of the piano in particular. While many other instruments have limited applications, the piano can be employed in a wide range of musical forms. Though many people associate the piano with classical music, pianos and keyboards are frequently employed in a variety of different genres of music, including rock and more contemporary melodies.

4. Cognitive Benefits

Studies have proven that learning to play the piano has numerous cognitive benefits. It helps to sharpen the mind and improve communication abilities. These advantages have been demonstrated to be long-lasting. Even if they no longer play, many adults demonstrate increased brain responses as a result of taking piano instruction as children. Though the benefits tend to be more pronounced in younger students due to their brains' increased suppleness, they can also benefit adults.

5. Higher Self-Esteem

Learning to play the piano is a significant achievement in and of itself. Continuing to improve at the piano is an even greater achievement. Taking piano lessons can help a person develop a stronger sense of self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities. Learning to play the piano is immensely rewarding as it necessitates a tremendous amount of dedication and effort.

6. Enhance Memory Function

The piano can help you remember things in a variety of ways. For starters, those who learn to play the piano are more inclined to play their favorite songs over and over again. They will automatically memorize the song in this manner, which will increase their capacity to memorize in general. Second, memorizing is essential in all learning. Taking piano lessons can help you maintain your mental sharpness and memory.

7. Motor Skill Dexterity

When you learn to play the piano, you are effectively learning how to do complex actions with both hands individually. In reading the notes, you employ hand-eye coordination to tell your hands what to do. Learning to play the piano necessitates very complex functions, because each hand works independently and at the same time. This can aid with a variety of other activities, such as typing.

8. Greater Patience

Taking the piano is a process - much like learning a foreign language.  Piano lessons provides a greater sense of success after practice. This encourages people of all ages to be patient.

9. Enhanced Social Skills

In order to learn and improve, an individual must take piano lessons and work closely with a piano teacher. This requires a high level of communication and social skill, which improves these abilities. Also, playing in an ensemble needs close collaboration and communication with other musicians as well as the teacher. Piano lessons can be a great way to meet new people.

10. Stop Bad Habits

Some people try to learn piano on their own, whether with the help of beginner's books or by ear. Unfortunately, unhealthy behaviors can form in these circumstances. It's much easier to learn how to play properly in the first place than it is to "unlearn" a bad habit after it's set. Taking piano lessons can help ensure that you are playing the piano in the correct form and in the correct manner.

There is a myriad of advantages to taking piano instruction.  Contact me to learn more about getting started on learning a new skill.