Music

The Seven Facts That Prove Adults Are Great Piano Students

Piano Lesson

Have you ever heard William Beecher and John Bernstein’s performance? The bassoonist and pianist duo have taken the world by storm with their performances. The bassoonist hails from Long Island, so you might just catch a live performance soon. Finding jazz performances and R&B grooves on Long Island is easy. Music is always in the air and spotting a live event with internationally acclaimed musicians is always a possibility. After all, Long Island has been home to numerous celebrity musicians over the last couple of decades.

Maybe you have always wanted to learn a musical instrument but never found the time. Research shows that over 82% of adults who have never played an instrument wish that they did. On Long Island, the fraction of people wishing to learn music is considerably high due to the musical influence of the place. It is quite easy for an adult to pick up any instrument or start vocal training if he or she lives on LI. You will spot several music schools within a couple of miles, and you will always find popular music teacher listings online as well.

If you are still apprehensive about going for your first piano lesson, let us give you the seven reasons you should definitely do it.

Fact 1 – Not all children have the chance to learn the piano

Piano lessons were not affordable for all parents even a decade ago. There were few good schools, but the schedules were not as flexible as they are right now. Many children did not like these lessons as they seemed repetitive and boring. It is much easier for adults to learn to play since they have the interest and the right aptitude for it. They show faster improvements even without previous experience than children.

Fact 2 – Playing the piano can bust stress

Learning to play the piano can be a good stress-busting exercise. Reducing daily stress is something almost all adults struggle with. Life in New York City and around it can be quite stressful. Driving to and from work, managing work life and family, taking care of oneself can surmount the stress levels significantly. Taking piano lessons is definitely better than resorting to a handful of pills at the end of the day.

Fact 3 – You will feel healthier and more energetic

As soon as your stress level goes down, your body gains the ability to heal fast and boost its immune system. Research shows that learning to play the piano can reduce chances of cardiac diseases, delay the onset of multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s, increase blood circulation to all organs and improve the overall health of an individual. It reduces the progression of diseases that you might already have, including genetic ones.

Fact 4 – Learning to play comes easily to adults

Many people and child psychologists will tell you that children pick up music quickly. That is entirely true, but that does not mean your chance at learning to play the piano went away with your teens. Your brain still has tremendous plasticity, and you should be able to learn to play the piano just as well as you would have in your early teens. Adults have the advantage of improved cognitive abilities and the ability to grasp abstract concepts. They are more organized with their studies, most often than not will use stands for sheet music while practicing, and even plan their exercises so they could follow a routine. That should help you translate musical ideas and the notes you read into hand movements.

Fact 5 – It will contribute to your confidence

Learning to play the piano can build your confidence level. Whether you already have a successful business, or you have been working as a CEO of a famous IT firm, adults always need a boost of confidence and self-esteem from time to time. Your piano playing skills will provide that assurance in your lowest moment. Moreover, you can always perk up your spirits by playing your favorite song at any time of the day or during a party. It is imperative to find the right teacher for that to happen. Music schools need to understand your needs, inherent talent, your likes and dislikes to help you.

Fact 6 – Piano lessons will improve memory

Research shows that piano not only delays the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia, it also enhances the memory. You can think of it as the protective servicing and maintenance of the neural network that keeps the connections in place. Music can improve your neuroplasticity or your brain’s ability to adapt to changes in neural connections. It can be changes due to regular training, or changes due to the conversion of episodic memory to declarative memory. The overall improvement of mental and physical fitness can help enhance your memory power.

Fact 7 – Learning to play the piano will delay the aging process

It reduces stress, increases overall fitness and improves the state of being of an individual. These are all qualities that can slow aging significantly. There is nothing you will need more than a good dose of soulful music to wipe away that building fatigue. Moreover, playing the piano is a low-impact exercise for your fingers and hands. There is a fixed rhythm to the movements of the piano player. Research shows that it is excellent for joint health and preventing arthritis of the finger joints.

Playing the piano is a lot of things, but it is also superbly fun. You can take piano lessons because the instrument fascinates you, you want to become a professional musician someday, or you simply want to bust stress after working five days a week. Above all reasons, you should opt for learning the piano because it is fun. It is enjoyable for children, as it is for adults. Adults can understand the real value of each lesson and appreciate the process. We believe that adults have just as much right to learn, if not more than children. There is no age bar for learning music, and you should not let your age become a barrier on your musical journey.

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Danuta Smoluk is a teacher with over three decades of experience teaching both children and adults. She specializes in teaching the Polish language to English-speakers. She has a master's degree in primary and early childhood education from WSP Słupsk (currently Pomeranian University in Słupsk) and had her degree validated by University of Toronto. Aside from education, she also has an interest in real estate and home improvement. She has planned and supervised many house renovations. She loves interior design, cooking, and gardening.

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