Do you know what Vanessa Carlton, Jay Chou and John Legend have in common?
Apart from the fact that they have garnered countless global fans for their singing prowess, they are also established pianists in their own right.
From the iconic music video of A Thousand Miles (millennial fans will know what I'm talking about) to Jay Chou's compositions in his directorial debut feature film, Secret right up till John Legend's soulful performance of All Of Me, all of these featured their excellent piano skills.
Perhaps at one point, you too have marvelled at the way they play the piano so effortlessly.
Why do people devote so much of their time and money to mastering this musical instrument?
What attracts them to play the piano regardless of their age, nationality and gender?
You'll find the answers to these questions in this article as we take a look at the significance of learning the piano from five different angles.
Skill Development: Motor Skills, Cognitive Skills, Musicality
This is undeniably one of the most obvious reasons why the piano is a popular musical instrument among many parents and students.
As you learn the fundamentals of piano playing, you will first be exposed to the different piano keys and notes as well as how to have the correct fingering for your left and right hand.
From learning basic chords on both hands to coordinating the different notes to balancing them with the pedals, piano playing trains you to have good motor skills. Not only that, as the level of learning increases, you are also required to have strong hand-eye coordination. This is especially apparent when you are playing scales or long repertoires with various keys.
For instance, any piece with C# major has a total of 7 keys:
- F♯
- C♯
- G♯
- D♯
- A♯
- E♯
- B♯
This brings us to the next point on cognitive skills.
As you learn the piano, you are required to memorise all these keys and apply them accordingly. Not only that, you have to pay attention throughout the time of playing so that you don't miss out on the details and play every note correctly (according to the right melody, pace and even sound dynamics).
Of course, as you develop good motor and cognitive skills, your musicality will gradually improve too. You will develop a greater sensitivity to different pitches, tones and musical nuances.
Some people might even go a step further to be able to tell different chords that are played at once by ear.
Discover various piano styles that you can experiment with once you have mastered the fundamental skills.
Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
Fostering Connection: Social Relationships & Performing Opportunities
Even though piano playing might seem like an act that can be enjoyed alone, it can also be a social activity.
On many occasions, the piano works together with other musical instruments like the violin or viola to create a rich harmony. There are pianists who even perform together as a duo.
You will also see many instances where the piano works together with an orchestra ensemble to perform a whole concerto. For instance, the famous Japanese composer, Joe Hisaishi often plays his famous original Studio Ghibli soundtracks on the piano alongside an orchestra.
When you learn to play the piano, your network expands as you meet other piano learners and music lovers. There is always an opportunity to collaborate and work together.
Not sure where to find a reliable piano tutor?
Head to Superprof to find the perfect tutor in the most convenient manner.
All you need to do is key in your desired subject and current location (for home lessons) and start browsing various tutors' profiles.
At Superprof, our piano tutors hail from various backgrounds, qualifications and teaching experiences. You can enjoy personalised lessons according to your learning purpose, learning pace and preferred learning mode.
For example, you can request to only learn how to play pop songs by learning how to play by ear if you intend to learn the piano for a special event. You can also take beginner lessons from scratch if you intend to sit for more formal theory and practical exams like the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music).
One of the best parts of learning with Superprof is you get to decide the maximum budget for your hourly rate right from the beginning! This can make your tutor-hunting journey more efficient as you review the information on the tutor's profile!
Having said that, don't miss these amazing learning resources to play the piano.
Self-Expression: Emotion Development, Boosting Creativity
Can you imagine a day without listening to music?
Music is a universal language and it plays an essential role in our daily lives, whether we realise it to not. Music allows us to be in touch with our emotions and inner thoughts.
Most importantly, it gives us the freedom to express ourselves. Similarly, when you are learning to play the piano, you are able to express yourself freely and creatively through different combinations of notes, melodies and rhythms. As you learn some theoretical knowledge, you'll realise that some notes, chords or combinations will convey a different mood.
Major scales and notes tend to sound happier, vibrant and bright, while minor scales tend to sound a little gloomy and even to a certain extent lonely.
Take for instance, the theme song of one of the most famous musicals of all time, The Phantom Of The Opera by Andrew Lloid Webber is written in D minor. On the other hand, the theme song of The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein is written in F major!
In a way, you can that playing the piano is a blend of science and art. On one hand, you can decide the "sound and tone" by fixing the keys when you are composing it.
On the other side, you get to include different elements and interpretations when you actually play it, in terms of speed, emotions and dynamics.
Image by pvproductions on Freepik
Universal & Versatile: Cuts Across Various Genres, Cultures, Nationalities
Next, we need to talk about how versatile and universal the piano is.
You can see the influence of music across all genres as we have mentioned earlier.
From opera musicals, and film scores, to classical composition, ballads, and rock songs, the piano has been there, is always there, and will always be there.
Movie lovers who have watched Bohemian Rapsody will know the climax of the story when a certain melody is played on the piano during the movie.
The most memorable scene featured Freddie Mercury from the rock band, Queen (played by Rami Malek) who played the legendary intro of Bohemian Rapsody as he belted out Mama as the crowd sang along.
Music lovers across the globe unite whenever a good song is played on the piano. We are pretty sure you have also watched several videos (circulating on social media) about people playing pianos at stations, malls and public places where the audience immediately lights up once they recognise a familiar melody!
The piano is a musical instrument that can be taught and learnt by anyone, anywhere and anytime. Not only that, it serves as a foundation musical instrument that allows many people to transition into many musical instruments later.
That's because you have already mastered the basic theoretical knowledge and concepts of music through the piano.
Check out these famous pianists who are making waves in the music industry.
Personal Development & Fulfillment: Hobby, Full-Time Career
Of course last but not least, one of the benefits of learning piano is to foster your personal development and fulfillment.
Remember, your piano-playing journey does not stop once you have stopped your piano lessons. As long as you have mastered the basics, you can continue to play the piano as long as you want to. At different stages of your life, playing the piano fosters a sense of discipline, patience and focus.
You can even challenge yourself to learn different songs according to your interests and even explore various piano-playing styles. And as you conquer every song, it adds to your sense of achievement.
From sight reading the notes to gradually memorising an entire new song and playing it from top to bottom flawlessly, that's an amazing feat that you should always be proud of!
Image by Freepik
Of course, there might be some of you who may want to pursue a full-time career in music. That's amazing! You could be a piano soloist who gets to perform at different avenues, locally and globally. You could even open your own piano academy and teach students to play too!
For those of you who are picking up the piano as a hobby, that's fine too! Think about it. You get to enjoy the whole process without the pressure of going through levels of examinations and just play the piano to relieve your daily stress!
Gain an insight into what it takes to learn the piano as an absolute beginner.
There you have it. Five different angles on how playing the piano can benefit you! Take this step of faith and see where this adventure takes you! Kickstart your piano learning journey with Superprof!
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