Learning how to read music and play piano are far from easy tasks. However, much determination and effort will allow learners to reap the numerous incredible benefits, all while teaching them applicable real-world skills to help navigate their life journeys. This article discusses 15 benefits and lifelong skills that are attainable from dedicated students willing to learn how to read music and play piano.
1. Learning The Language Of Music
Music is a powerful and affective way to communicate. Reading music is equally as difficult to learn as learning a foreign language. Beginner piano lessons are very tedious because the language of music is completely new to the student. The best way to overcome frustrations and develop into a strong piano player involves allocating the time to learn how to read music notation. Becoming a fluent reader of the music staff, consisting of the treble clef for higher sounding notes and the bass clef for lower sounding notes, will enable students to sight read with any sheet music. Just like all languages, it takes time, dedication, and lots of effort practicing to learn.
2. Sight Reading
Once a piano student becomes fluent in understanding how to quickly read music notes, the player will ultimately reach a point with their talent where they can sight read sheet music. For striving students, this presents an exciting educational threshold in their piano journey; a sight reader can play a new song with ease on their first or second try!
3. Self – Discipline
Every pianist understands the importance of establishing and maintaining self-discipline. A practice routine is critical to move forward with developing talent, even at the most advanced stages in piano playing. Although practicing is a tedious exercise, especially in the beginning, persistent student effort results in a bountiful reward once the mastering of a musical piece is accomplished.
4. Motivation Through Achievement
Consistent goal setting occurs every time a piano student learns a new song, from the moment they play their initial note to finally mastering the song. Throughout the process, simple and small victories help motivate students on daily and weekly bases. A goal-minded attitude teaches students to never give up, even amidst extremely difficult circumstances. It may take hundreds of times for a pianist to ultimately play a song with ease, but nevertheless the song will be mastered forever. Students experience pure euphoria once a song mastering goal is attained and many pianists say it is an irreplaceable feeling to reach these moments in life. Piano students are lucky enough to achieve these precious moments of gratitude on a daily basis, playing from song to song.
5. Self – Esteem
A healthy way to boost one's self-esteem and overall happiness is by mastering a piano song. Playing music is esthetically and physically pleasing to both the player and the listener. Even more satisfying though is a student’s realization of the worthiness from all the hard work displayed, creating a confidence it takes to reach the goal of mastering a song.
6. Developing Fast Reflexes
Thinking quickly, strengthening your memory, and your hands! Reading music requires coordinating many connections between our eyes, mind, hands, and even feet! A strong sight reader must quickly process information and tenaciously reiterate it; performing physical finger tricks to strike the correct keys at precisely the right time. The technique must be perfectly balanced for optimum results. Sounds like an athlete competing at the mental gymnastics Olympics!
7. Self – Reflection and Expression
Playing piano is a great way to connect deeper within yourself. Young students learn early in life to compartmentalize their thoughts by identifying them through the sounds of music. Choosing to play songs that strike a special memory or that represent a specific mood are healthy ways to channel inner beliefs and life stresses.
8. Healthy Distraction
Guiding life's circumstances through playing a song is one of the greatest diversions for any piano student and their listeners. It helps people forget about difficult circumstances or things that may have been bothersome before playing the tune. Finishing a song is like mentally hitting the reset button and provides a healthy attitude adjustment.
9. Self – Awareness Through Individuality
Respecting piano students’ song requests is important.
The desire to pick songs that they want to learn is a representation of independent thinking and provides students with a chance to express their unique personalities. Not every song along their musical journey is going to be
one that a student would choose or deem to be a “fun song,” as it's equally important to learn the fundamental skill building songs. Combining traditional lesson songs with
song requests from students delivers a healthy balance, resulting in those special song requests holding a valuable meaningful reward for them.
10. Identify Emotions
Music enhances our emotional intelligence and allows us to cope. It doesn't take a high level of expertise in order for a student to play passionately; even a simple song can be evoking. The powerful language of music allows us to connect and express our feelings with each other and ourselves.
11. Musical Healing
Good vibrations set us free! Music therapy is an all-aged practice used by many of us to manage and heal ourselves. Sound vibrations alter our brain waves to create a state of ease and harmony, producing a positive effect throughout our bodies, especially in our immune system. People suffering from anxiety and depression will benefit from the positive vibrations. Music also triggers memories, which is helpful for patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Stroke patients respond well to music therapy and even music theory to regenerate brain and muscle function. One of the greatest gifts a fluent musician can give is to play therapeutically for others, such as volunteering to play at a hospital or nursing home.
12. Healthy Stress
It's important to learn how to navigate our life, particularly during stressful periods of time. Learning how to stay calm and in control of our thoughts so we can make rational decisions is crucial to our successes.
Nothing can prepare someone for these challenges better than partaking in a piano recital. The jittery nerves, shaky fingers, being under the spotlight alone...”Did I practice enough?” Playing and striving for excellence, piano students are able to put their best foot forward; moving past stumbles of a few notes to continue on, and by the end the crowd cheers for them proudly. It's a nerve-wracking experience at times but feels good in the end. Learning to never let the audience see you sweat is an incredible attribute and skill to obtain, where exhibiting composure to graciously handle much more difficult obstacles in life than a simple piano recital being the ultimate goal.
13. Own Your Mistake
Striving for progression while learning to accept the wrong note played in a recital teaches all students a valuable life lesson. Musical mistakes happen from time to time. It's part of the learning experience and leads to growth. Composers will find that some of these musical mistakes produce some of our greatest accomplishments and genius ideas. Throughout the piano educational journey there will be many wrong notes played but the trick is to recognize the mistake so it can be fixed. Another valuable concept that carries over to other important parts of our lives.
14. Patience
Gracefully accepting mistakes and taking time to fix those mistakes inevitably leads to understanding how to be patient. With patience comes prosperity. Persevering by practicing piano on a weekly basis teaches us that while a song may be incredibly difficult in the beginning, after a week or two it becomes easy. Giving yourself the opportunity to overcome the obstacle results in the reward of patience. Understanding that in time good things will come is a helpful life skill to add to your mental repertoire.
15. Growth Mindset
The belief of learning how to play piano is something we cultivate through our musical efforts, by learning the language to help strengthen both our physical and mental well-beings. Students will never stop growing as piano players with the concept that they are in control of their musical abilities. There will always be a new song to play – another musical challenge to accept and obstacles to overcome. The underlying belief that you are in control of your own destiny allows us to grow, shine, emit and share positivity, and most importantly change our community. Change occurs one day at a time and one song at a time.
About Katie Ann
Composer of the album, Wedding Music, ASCAP member, Katie Ann, is a music producer and music artist who has successfully released many works of art through her publishing company, LK PRO. A certified member of Wedding Wire and Buffalo Bridal Association, Katie Ann is a singing pianist specializing performing weddings and other special events.
As an accomplished musician she offers voice and piano lessons to aspiring children and adults.
As an accomplished musician she offers voice and piano lessons to aspiring children and adults.