I’m always asked if the piano is worth learning. Is it possible to achieve anything? Is it a suitable hobby? Or is it something which children tend to endure rather like maths at school.
There are so many reasons why both adults and children benefit from the study of a musical instrument. Here are my top ten, to encourage you to learn the piano:
1. Music brings us all so much happiness; it really is very central to our lives. It’s important to be given the chance to make music because it can offer an emotional and creative outlet.
2. Playing an instrument is an excellent source of pleasure and fulfilment, and can provide a deep sense of satisfaction.
3. The piano provides both melody and harmony, therefore it can be played solo without any accompaniment. This is not the case with many other musical instruments, for example, like the clarinet or violin which only produce one line, usually the melody line, so an accompaniment is often required.
4. It is possible to make coherent sounds on the piano from the very beginning because it has ready-made pitches, you just depress a key and it makes a sound. This is unlike other instruments where it can take many months of study before a pleasant sound is produced.
5. Mastering the piano requires a tremendous amount of co-ordination – you really do have to multi-task! – and therefore, this can cultivate a multitude of useful mental skills. It really focuses the mind.
6. It has been proved that both children and adults who take part in musical activities are happier and more sociable than those who don’t.
7. The study of music is an extension of the learning process and children who excel at piano playing frequently do well at school too.
8. Playing the piano provides a ready-made opportunity to perform. Performing is a beneficial skill for everybody. If practised regularly, it builds confidence, which, as we all know, is crucial for success in all walks of life.
9. It can develop a passion and an interest in life.
10. It’s fun!
All you need to do now is motivate yourself to get playing. Good luck and have fun.
Publications
Melanie Spanswick has written and published a wide range of courses, anthologies, examination syllabuses, and text books, including Play it again: PIANO (published by Schott Music). This best-selling graded, progressive piano course contains a large selection of repertoire featuring a huge array of styles and genres, with copious practice tips and suggestions for every piece.
For more information, please visit the publications page, here.
Melanie Spanswick 
Great blog. I hardly ever play at all these days… you’ve reminded me of why I should!
Thank you Barbara! Yes, its always a good idea to keep playing – it so good for the mind!
An excellent post Mel. I will be using this in the future!
A very inspiring blog, Mel. I always wanted to learn the piano when I was little but never had the chance. Is it ever too late to learn?
If it helps Emma, I am learning at the age of 54. I hope that you give it a try!
Heck no, it’ll be the best thing that happened to you since chocolate
Emma, I wanted to let you know that I started taking lessons for piano at the age of 58. That was almost 3 yrs ago. I knew nothing at all about it (except I always wanted to learn), didn’t read sheet music, didn’t know one key from the next. Now here it is near 3 yrs later and I am at early intermediate level. And having the time of my life! Take that first step, it is NEVER too late. 🙂
Hi Emma,
So glad you enjoyed this blog post. Its absolutely never to late to learn the piano. It is a great hobby that will certainly inspire you and keep your brain active! Just make sure you get the right teacher as this is the most important thing really.
Two piano teachers in the city where I live have told me that I’m ‘awkward’. I started learning at 36, now I’m 42, have given up once before and now, after I’ve failed my grade 3 I’m thinking of throwing in the towel for good and sticking my piano on Ebay, forever holding a grudge against my parents who persistently told me no when I asked if I could go to piano lessons as a young boy.
The fact is that when you are on two lots of medication , including a bromide based antidepressant drug, everything takes so much longer to sink in, so you study harder, practice more rigourously and the enjoyment of learning the instrument just peters out. Yet the piano teachers I’ve dealt with in the past never seem to realise my predicament. I guess it’s because they’re used to teaching nice little middle-class kids with pushy parents and who are afraid to ask questions.
Is there no room for a therapeutic value to learning to play a musical instrument, and just like my prejudiced parents told me many years ago, is going to piano lessons just not even thought about if you happen to be from a lower-class background?? And should learning the piano be a cause for, or a relief from anxiety and stress?? (It should be the latter in my honest opinion).
pp69
Hope you didn’t sell your piano.
Many would say that playing any instrument is “a relief from anxiety and stress”.
Hope you didn’t sell your piano.
Many would agree with you that playing any instrument is “a relief from anxiety and stress”.
Excellent reasons, Mel! I couldn’t agree more 🙂
Thank you so much Chrissa 🙂
thank you Liza, your words made me decide to buy a digital piano and get back to playing after since I was in high school, some 20 years ago, a big thank you from Mexico! Laura
I am so glad you didn’t start with ‘because it’s good for your brain’. #1 for me is ‘Because it is so fun!’
Glad you find it fun Kathy and enjoy your piano playing!
Hi Mel
Your article hits the nail on the head so to speak for me! Having joined a ladies chorus earlier this year, I rediscoverd my love for singing and music. In September, I restarted piano lessons more than 3 decades after my last formal lesson whilst at school! I am totally loving it thanks to a wonderful teacher who is just brilliant with me and all her other adult pupils. It’s a ‘no brainer’ – just do it 🙂
That’s brilliant Helen – so glad you are enjoying your lessons. It’s great to hear about adults who take up the piano later in life – it is such a good hobby and everyone should have a go! 🙂
65% of my pupils are adults 🙂 and most of them are 50+. The joy of watching an adult get through an exam (had 67 year old do grade 4 theory yesterday) or playing at a soiree is superb.
I quite agree Ceinwen, they are so happy to be learning that it’s great watching their progress 🙂
I can experiment more with different ideas with adults – spicy scales – one against two etc until their brains are so stretched they scream STOP CEINWEN!! he he. NO ONE is too old regardless of ability, disability, age, gender, or mental health. I have adult pupils with depression, anxiety, stress and OCD – they are all honest with me which helps me teach to their strong points and strengthen their less strong points 🙂
Thank you…I am thrilled reading all your reasons for playing the piano. I agree 100%! I have been playing since I was a little girl, and I now have my own students, and I can just say; playing the piano gives so much joy and satisfaction!
Hi Violet, So glad you enjoyed reading my post. You’re right the piano can and does give so much satisfaction and joy! 🙂
Dude ppl should play piano because its only the best instrument and a way to communicate feelings that can’t be put in words
This site truly has all the information I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Thank you so much….I’m really glad you have found it helpful 🙂
It’s hard to come by educated people in this particular topic, however, you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Thank you, so glad you find my blog useful….you are right, there are many who write on this subject but are really amateurs!
Great post Mel and completely agree with all your points!
Thank you so much Rebecca 🙂
I’ve just retweeted you and linked to your article on my own blog. I make some very similar comments – take a look! 🙂
Thanks Rebecca….will take a look 🙂
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Thank you!
Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need
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I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where to start.
Do you have any points or suggestions? Many thanks
Hi PP69,
I am 35 now. I’ve been taking lessons for the past 8-9 months and fiddling with piano (digital) myself for the last 3-4 years. I didn’t read music and had no musical background; I just enjoy it. I did not have any lofty goals when I started. I just wanted to learn and make some decent music. Yes, there are frustrating times, but then I take breaks, for a few minutes, sometimes hours or days. Breaks really help; they give time to think, contemplate and rejuvenate. Like you, I need time to understand anything, but I keep pursuing. I learn about harmony, I watch videos of both instructions and recitals, and I take up anything one at a time. I love the learning process itself. It is challenging but I like the challenge. I have a 7-year old autistic son and 2 month old baby boy at home. I have a demanding job. I hardly get time but I make do whenever I can.
My parents were same as yours. But they don’t decide for me anymore and I am pursuing my dreams and interests now by myself.
I was hesitant to get a teacher as I thought I am too old to learn from a teacher. But my wife saw my immense interest in music and pushed me to go to a teacher. I thank her greatly for it. I am so lucky that my teacher is immensely talented and adept at inspiring his students. He is old but passionate. Please don’t loose heart. Shop for good teacher who inspires until you find one. My teacher when starting to teach a new piece, he starts by telling about the composer and the piece, then he gives superb advice on every nuance it requires and makes it easy for me. I fall between late elementary and early intermediate. All my teachers’ students are young ones. I am the only one over even 20. I am totally at home with him.
I’d say
1. Find a good teacher. Ask around and don’t stop till you find one with good attitude.
2. Don’t loose heart. Keep learning, learn from books and web resources, keep experimenting, keep playing and keep motivated. The idea is to have fun.
3. Loose big goals. Don’t try to leap in a short time. But do have achievable short goals (varies with each person). Play for yourself first and enjoy whatever you do instead of pleasing others (eventually after getting comfortable we can do this). respect your own effort
And enjoy every moment.
Melanie can give you better advice on the playing itself and about people learning from all age groups. But I only want to share about my life with music to motivate you (especially the fact that I am a big time quitter and I pursue piano for so long should help too :)).
Hope you never give up and make the music you love.
VJ.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished
to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
In any case I will be subscribing on your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
Thannks very nice blog!
Thank you 🙂
Thank you for posting the reasons .These motivate me to play piano.It is wonderful to play piano.I love music.Thanks for sharing
Thank you. Glad you liked the post 🙂
Excellent and very motivating post. We would like to publish it in our blog http://blog.ripbeat.com/ under your name and linked to this blog. May we?
Hi, Yes of course you may publish my post….thank you very much and really pleased you like it 🙂
so good to hear other oldies learning piano. I too have taken it up at age 57 and absolutely enjoying the process of learning. I dont have any specific goals although I am now able to play jazz songs and accompany my teacher playing saxophone after not quite two years
i am glad of it too
I like how you pointed out that learning the piano is beneficial since it hones your mental skills be requiring you to focus your mind on coordination. I’ve been thinking of enrolling my daughter in piano, so it’s good to know she can benefit from it mentally. Hopefully this benefit will transfer well into a school atmosphere for her too.
I never thought of piano as an excellent way to hone my twin’s ability to multi-task as you’ve mentioned. As of the moment, one of them is pleasing for a piano lesson, so maybe I’ll grant her request. Additionally, I’ll have my son join in too since he can use the extracurricular activity. I hope this would be a good investment for their future since there’s nothing that I would love more than for them to be happy. Thanks for sharing some reasons for my kids to learn the piano! Kudos to you!