May 24th, 2009 by admin

The marvelous musical instrument that is the piano is appreciated by all – and below we have put together just 10 of the many reasons for learning to play it, and play it well and its really not as difficult as you might think. It’s one of the best things that you could possibly do for yourself. Whatever your reason for wanting to learn, even if you have the slightest inclination to play, then there really is no reason not to!

1) Right now, learning to play the piano is incredibly easy! There really are no obstacles in your way. Consider professional teachers, online tutorials, or you can even learn now by watching a DVD! All of the advancements in multi-media and communication simply add to this.

2) Cost. The cost of learning to play has also gone down considerably over recent years. For the cost of a good meal in a restaurant, you can buy a really good standard instruction DVD or a tutorial book. Personally, I prefer the DVD route, as you can learn to play at your own leisure – you can pause to make a cup of tea whenever you want, and you can learn at your own pace. Think of the DVD as your own private teacher at your beck and call 24 hours a day! Also, you’ll find that the vast majority of the good standard course books are these days accompanied with their own audio cd, which is always a help.

3) It’s a wonderful gift to give someone. It’s a real treat to be able to share music with those around you – loved ones such as grandchildren, children or that very special someone.

4) The music! Got a favorite song? Play the piano and you can hear it any time you want! How many times have you listened to a song you particularly liked and then thought to yourself – I wish I could play that? What, exactly is it that is stopping you from doing so? A quick visit to your local library will present you with sheet music for all levels of expertise. You can even go online and print off sheet music – some websites even let you listen to the music online as you play, so you can get a real feel for the song.

5) Entertainment! For hundreds of years the music of the piano has brought people together – imagine if you could initiate a sing-song with your family! There’s really nothing better for that bonding experience. To take it a level further, get them to join in – there is a great deal of music that can be played by two people at once – believe me when I say it really is a special experience for all the family.

6) You get a lifetime guarantee – it’s very much like riding a bike – when you know, you know! The difference is that if you are ninety years of age, a quick trip on a bicycle may seem like a bit of a challenge! Not so the piano. In fact, your expertise can only increase with age – the more you play, the more you learn.

7) Versatility. The piano itself is a massively versatile instrument – one of the few instruments that you can play simultaneous notes on without to much difficulty. This is often why the piano is chosen as the instrument of choice for composers – it’s like having your own mini-orchestra.

You will find yourself understanding how music is put together, and this in itself will give you a much better idea of what exactly the composer was trying to get across. When you play an instrument such as the piano, you will find you have a much better understanding of the music you hear every day. You may even surprise yourself by thinking up better ways to play, or even to improve it!

9) Other instruments (such as the violin or the guitar) take a degree of flexibility and exertion. The piano, however, requires none of these. Its physically easy! The physical toll on the body is minimal – and many people, like we mentioned earlier, continue playing into their nineties!

10) The tradition! Since it first appeared on the musical scene over 250 years ago, the piano has influenced just about every genre and style of music, and has even prompted the rise of many. Any musical concert you go to, of practically any genre, has a keyboard somewhere on the stage.

The above list is only a very few of the countless reasons why you should learn to play the piano – there are many many more – I’m sure that you could even think of a few more yourself! Learning the piano is a wonderfully gratifying experience, and when you learn properly you won’t regret it. It really is one of the best things you could ever do for yourself.

Copyright 2009 Lauren Paltrow (Stage Pianist)