Is Playing The Piano Good For Your Health?
Throughout the years, music has been shown to be good for the mind and body. There are books like The Mozart Effect that tell expectant mothers that classical music is good for their babies. Some people listen to classical music to relax, and others practice an instrument regularly for the sheer enjoyment of it.
You might also know students who are working very hard on advanced literature, and they might tell you that playing an instrument is very hard on you. The simple fact is that playing the piano (or any other musical instruments) is good for you no matter how difficult your current crop of repertoire is.
If you’re interested in experiencing the benefits listed below, contact me regarding piano lessons in Westchester County, NY. I can help you learn new music, learn how to improvise, or practice reading - I’m happy to help you reach your goals.
How Is Playing The Piano Good For Mental Health?
Throughout the past century, playing a musical instrument has been shown to be good for you on multiple levels. Playing the piano benefits you or your child in several ways.
Stress Relief
Studies show that people who play the piano can relax, experience less overall anxiety, and feel more positive overall. Along with the stress relief you might feel, playing the piano has also been shown to reduce your heart rate and lower your blood pressure.
Confidence
Kids and adults who play piano are going to be more confident. You may not feel like you excel at anything in particular, but playing the piano let’s you say “I can do this” with a great deal of confidence. In other words, you can say you play piano with your chest.
Improves ADHD
Students who have ADHD (and even adults) can play piano as a form of therapy. Yes, therapists believe that playing a musical instrument is a good way to tackle ADHD because it helps the musician concentrate and focus on a singular task.
Multi-Tasking
Someone who learns to play piano knows how to multi-task because they learn to focus their attention on several aspects of playing at the same time. (Yes, making your two hands do two completely different things is very difficult.)
Neuroplasticity
If you were in band, orchestra, or chorus in high school or college and your child is now signing up for piano lessons, you might remember your director telling everyone that brain scans show that a musician’s brain is far more active than a non-musician. This is true, but the real testament to the power of playing piano is neuroplasticity.
Because your brain gets so much stimulation, it is able to adapt much more easily. Yes, you can do better in school, solve problems more effectively, and adapt to situations that other people cannot grasp.
Can Playing The Piano Make You Smarter?
Well, no. Scientifically, it does not automatically make you smarter (we think some people imagine a cartoon where all the knowledge is transferred to your brain via osmosis the moment your hands touch the keyboard.) That is not the case. However, you are more adaptable and more open to constructive criticism. That doesn’t make you smarter, but all these things make you a better learner. That’s all you can ask for.
Does Playing The Piano Make Arthritis Better Or Worse?
Playing the piano with poor technique will, ultimately, make arthritis worse. If you have arthritis, it might be difficult to continue playing the piano - speak to your doctor or a specialist about how to protect your joints if you want to continue playing.
If you have spoken to your doctor and have a treatment plan, you might want to ask how often you can play piano so that you can adjust your practice schedule and protect your physical health.
Good technique (including good posture, the absence of excess tension, and a neutral wrist position), should prevent arthritis from occurring or getting worse as you practice. Make sure you stop to shake out your arms, stretch, and rest while you practice!
Piano Playing Should NOT Cause Any Pain
Yes, you heard it here first. Playing the piano should not be painful. You might know someone who plays the piano and they have arm, wrist, or finger issues. You might have heard your kid tell you that their arms hurt after practicing. The issue here, more than anything else, is that proper technique and posture can prevent discomfort.
For example, hand position should allow you to curve your fingers and hands almost like you are holding a baseball. Remind yourself, “we’re not winning any baseball games like this,” when your hands start to slouch. You need to sit up straight and ensure that your spine is straight. If you hunch over, you will have shoulder and neck pain that will make its way to your arms and hands.
For reference, your spine is perpendicular to the floor, your forearms are roughly parallel to the floor, and you are not awkwardly bending your wrists. If you feel pain, get up and stretch so that you can relax. If your child experiences these symptoms, remind them of proper posture and have a chat with their private teacher so that they can reinforce proper technique.
Sign Up Today
Signing up for piano lessons in White Plains, NY should not be painful. If you have medical issues, you need to make sure that you speak to a doctor. Use proper technique to solve most of your other issues, and ensure that you use proper technique at the keyboard.