Why Piano Is Good for Your Brain
Playing piano is great for many reasons, including accompanying the family as they sing holiday classics and entertaining thousands of screaming fans —or 15 people at a bar (hey, we all have to start somewhere, right?). But you may not know how much “ticklin’ the ivories” can help your brain. Here are some of the top reasons why being a pianist is good for ye ol’ noggin:
1. Improves Hand-eye Coordination
Piano requires good hand-eye coordination. A recent study (Music and Health; Alan H. D. Watson, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK) suggests that pianists actually change their brains’ cortical mapping to increase finger speeds. For those with reduced motor skills, playing piano can challenge their brains to make new connections and strengthen motor skills. This can help children and even adults improve their coordination later in life.
2. Expands Cultural Knowledge
A 2016 study (ScienceDaily and Massachusetts Institute of Technology) showed that musical preference comes from cultural influences and is not innate (born into us). So if you love the super-dissonant harmonies of Stravinsky, then you’re really no different than someone who loves Mozart —at your core, that is. The study also shows that learning to play piano helps expand our cultural knowledge by exposing us to new sounds and styles of music. Especially for children, this exposure can encourage divergent thinking and a better acceptance of different cultures.
3. Improves Kinesthetic or Tactile Learning
The Free Dictionary defines “kinesthesia” as “the sense that detects bodily position, weight, or movement of the muscles, tendons, and joints.” In 2013, a study at an institute in Barcelona (Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain) found that people who practiced piano had better neurological and psychological improvements compared with those who did other activities, such as football, basketball, or drawing, according to their scale.
4. Prevents Decline of Neural Processing, Hearing, and Memory
As we age, our ability to process auditory signals usually begins to slow down. A recent study (ABC News) showed that those who made a lifelong habit of playing music slowed this decline and that of brain processing and inner-ear hearing loss. My grandfather is 88 years young and still practices every day. Like the saying goes, “use it or lose it”!
5. Boosts Self-esteem
A 2014 study of Canadian fourth-grade students (Sage Pub Journals) showed those who received three years of individual piano lessons tested higher on self-esteem measures and achievement tests. The feeling of accomplishment that comes from learning a piece of music and being able to perform it from memory is a huge rush and a wonderful confidence booster. I say this from experience!
6. Is an “Unplugged” Learning Tool
Most of us admit that we stare at our little screens way too much these days. Limiting time on our devices is something many strive to do (I know that I do), for good reason. Long periods of time on electronics have been shown to increase brain atrophy and lower cognitive functioning (Psychology Today, Victoria L. Dunckley, MD). Piano is an activity that gets you away from your screens and gives you hours of unplugged learning and entertainment. “Wait [puts down smartphone]. You mean you can have fun without looking at a screen? Who ever heard of that?”