The number of adults who wish they knew how to play the piano is more than ten times the number who actually do play. Yet, too many parents don’t encourage their children to take music lessons.
Most parents aren’t aware of how much more their children will get from piano lessons than just learning to play the piano. They don’t realize that, although most children won’t become professional musicians, every child will benefit in a variety of ways from time spent with the piano. Because they mistakenly believe that lessons will be enjoyable only to an exceptionally talented child, they deprive their children of an invaluable learning experience as well as the joy of making music.
Surveys by educators, government, and the music industry show that students develop social and academic strengths as their piano training progresses. These surveys find, too, that those who study music show more leadership skills, poise, vigor, and self-confidence than those who don’t.
Piano Playing helps a child develop a good personality and attitude. It strengthens the bond between parent and child. It is also a creative outlet that allows a child to share his accomplishments with family and friends.
Through the study of music, a child gains more self-esteem and more control over the intellectual, emotional, and physical aspects of life. These traits will remain with a child throughout his life, regardless of how long he plays the piano.
In a recent Good House- keeping survey, 74 percent of the mothers surveyed would like to make music a part of their child’s education; 63 percent selected the piano. This preference is not surprising since piano is the most popular musical instrument. Surveys by the American Music Conference show that 28 percent of U.S. households own a keyboard instrument and more than 18 million Americans play the piano. While instruments such as the ukulele, accordion and guitar have risen and fallen in popularity, the piano has remained a favorite instrument with performers, composers,
Students develop social and academic strength and amateur musicians for more than 200 years. Today the piano is the best choice for a child’s education.
Children learn best with the help of their parents. The relationship that develops around music can improve bond between parent and child. Parents can act as guides, teachers, or fellow explorers by learning more about music themselves. This caring and sharing improves the sense of belonging, responsibility to one’s self, and the ability to learn and to make decisions as the child imitates the parents’ attitudes.
“Learning music helps physical, mental, emotional, and social growth,” says Dr. Frank R. Wilson, a San Francisco neurologist. For several years Wilson has been studying the link between the brain and the ability to make music.
He has discovered that the study of music is effective in developing the mind and body and that everyone has the physical and mental ability to play a musical instrument. He started on the neurological trail of music after noticing the physical and mental evolution taking place in his daughter after she began music lessons. He even began taking lessons himself at age 40.
“My investigations point to a correlation between music study and muscular development, physical coordination, a sense of timing, mental concentration, the ability to hold up under stress, memory skills, and vocal, visual, and aural development,” says Dr. Wilson. “I believe that study can be started and enjoyed at an early age and that its value does not depend on the pursuit of a musical career.”
For most children, playing the piano becomes a form of recreation they will enjoy for a lifetime. Even the child who only takes lessons for two to three years and does not continue to play as an adult has achieved valuable skills. When a child shows more confidence in facing new experiences, an added willingness to stick with a job until it’s finished, an increased poise in social situation, parents see some of the indirect – but very important – benefits of music lessons.
As an adult, the piano student will have a fuller, more meaningful life because of the ability to communicate through music – either as a player or a listener. Music is a proven way to help a child excel – and the hidden benefits of piano playing are no longer a secret.
