When we start the debate of why children should learn to play the piano, it’s important to know that piano is an age-old instrument which has brought a lot of joy to many generations of people.

There are very few instruments that can lead instruments, orchestra or bass or band in one.

The piano is a truly loved instrument and wherever you go, even in the pub, you will find one.

Even if it’s old, broken, or a piano which many played on and enjoyed.

One can even find a piano in the most remote parts of the world these days.

It’s a master instrument not to be left unlearnt.

It’s quite amazing to see how children react to a piano.

I still have to find a child that is not naturally attracted to the piano.

Normally the moms or dad has to tear the child away from this funny looking machine with white and black keys that make a distinct sound when one presses it.

Not only that: there are these pedals at the bottom that attract the foot naturally.

All children want to press a key to receive the response they knew was coming.

It’s great to have a piano available for young children to explore on.

Do not keep them from it, even if their hands are dirty. Who knows: There might be a next Mozart in your family.

Let the children learn from an early age.

Here are some good reasons for letting your children learn piano.

We had all our children train on our grand piano.

The piano might be precious, but it cannot break easily and was made for enjoyment – so let the children enjoy it.

Let them learn early!

Earlier is better.

Always.

So without further ado, here are 10 Reasons why your child should learn to play the piano:

  1. It is a well-documented fact that piano playing exercises both lobes of the brain. Reading, maths, and abstract thinking are developed extensively. A piano player thinks differently from a non-player, and there is an additional improvement in the general school performance by the music player. Overall performance increases subtly and grades become higher.
  2. The piano is the one instrument that everybody wishes they could play when they are grown up, so make it easy on your child and give him/her that advantage that you didn’t have, namely piano playing skills. If you have access to a good electronic keyboard, not only will you have piano sounds (which could be excellent depending on the instrument) but a range of other sounds available- some which could be played in tandem with the leading piano sound.
  3. The piano isn’t just a single instrument, but you in fact learn the whole family of keyboard instruments e.g. the accordion, electronic keyboards, the synthesiser, the organ, and the clavi- or harpsichord. Their techniques may differ to some degree, but their layout overlaps almost totally.
  4. The piano is in western households the default musical instrument, and most people grow up with one within reachable distance. If not a grand, then most certainly a good-sounding upright. Good keyboards nowadays don’t cost an arm and a leg either. If you don’t have such an instrument, I would recommend getting at least a good electronic keyboard with weighted keys. Make sure that the polyphonic abilities are good, otherwise, some of the sounds cannot be continued.
  5. In the rock-n’-roll era the piano/keyboard wasn’t initially one of the main parts of a band’s instruments, but that has changed now. Think about John Lennon’s “Imagine”, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, all Coldplay’s’ Hot plays, and “Bridge over Troubled Waters” by Simon and Garfunkel. Even Jazz Bands nowadays have been including piano music, especially in their live playing. The jazz piano gave rise to fusion and amazing musical development in the recent era.
  6. Your child will relax as he/she grows more proficient in the instrument, and enjoy himself or herself behind the piano as the well-trained fingers improvise on the white and black notes. He or she can learn to play all their favourite songs and even improvise new songs from behind the piano. This is one of the very few authentic leisures of life: to play and improvise your own music, or popular tunes that you have a liking for.
  7. Your child will relax and feel good about herself/himself. Playing soothing music is one of the most relaxing pastimes. It feels like going into another world and you forget the immediate pressing worries and pressures that life usually forces on you. Music is a release valve, and your child’s moods will be tempered by the music. And their well-being will be clear for all to see.
  8. Your child will gain confidence as she progresses, and she will then progress even further as the momentum keeps her going. Eventually, you will fight over who may use the piano – buy a very good electronic keyboard with weighted keys before you get to that stage! And by the way, piano’s are not for sissies! Many male musicians today are very successful pianists. No band that is worth their salt can afford to be without an excellent keyboardist.
  9. You and your child will discover and begin to understand the world of music together. If both of you can play, you can even do duets together. In our culture today, the piano is the all-round instrument, and you can even add your voice to it. This can lead to many joyous hours of interaction with your child or children, and they one with another.
  10. Your child’s creativity will know no bounds once he or she becomes proficient in the piano. Make sure that she does her technical exercises daily and always press on to do more difficult pieces. Do not only learn sight-reading but get a teacher that can train by ear – for both are very necessary, especially for jazz piano. Memorising the music is not that difficult, but you want to memorise the heart of the music – which is more than head knowledge.

For full details about our piano lessons visit our page: piano lessons for children in London

Author Details
Pianist
Sonja Joubert is a master pianist classically trained by the late master Mr Josias Van Der Merwe and the late Adolph Hallis. She is also an excellent piano teacher with over 35 years of teaching experience specialising in both jazz and classical piano.
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Pianist
Sonja Joubert is a master pianist classically trained by the late master Mr Josias Van Der Merwe and the late Adolph Hallis. She is also an excellent piano teacher with over 35 years of teaching experience specialising in both jazz and classical piano.
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