Benefits of Piano Lessons

Piano lessons help children do better in their school lessons. Studies have shown that children who take music lessons (and piano lessons especially) make higher test scores. Piano students, in particular, score higher in math than children who don’t take piano lessons.

Dr. Frances Rauscher (a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh) and Gordon Shaw (a physicist at of the University of California at Irvine) tested preschoolers who received piano lessons. They discovered that these preschoolers scored 34% higher than others in tests measuring spatial-temporal reasoning, the brain function used to understand math, science & engineering.

Learning how to play the piano takes dedication and hard work. Piano lessons help raise self esteem. Recitals are a great way for kids to showcase their talents and gain a boost in confidence. Piano lessons encourage children to stay positive when dealing with a difficult task. Children also learn patience, which helps them from becoming discouraged or frustrated when approaching tasks.

Piano lessons increase hand-eye coordination for children. Kids who play the piano have improved fine motor skills. When playing the piano, both hands must work independently of each other and sometimes move at different paces. These motions help increase dexterity and complex thought processes in children.

Piano lessons have also been known to help a child’s concentration. Reading music takes a lot of focus as children interpret notes, rhythm, tempo and speed and translate what they read into hand movements. This allows children to think critically and creatively, a skill useful for a lifetime.

Piano lessons help children become well-rounded. The benefits of piano lessons last a lifetime. When playing the piano, children are exposed to classical music they may have otherwise never heard. Children may develop an appreciation for composers such as Bach or Mozart that can stay with them for life. Also, lessons learned with the piano can be used later to help a child easily begin playing another instrument. Whether a child takes piano lessons for a short or long time, these benefits will add positively to their life.