Everyone Should Learn to Play Piano

Right up front, let me confess my bias as a piano/keyboard teacher. Since piano is my instrument, of course I think everybody should learn to play the keys. But there are reasons besides just my personal preference.

Confidence

Learning any new skill builds confidence. As you begin to play for friends and family, you will start enlarging your repertoire. Memorize how to play Happy Birthday, and the next time you are at a birthday party, you will be the hit of the evening when you sit down and accompany the singing. Add two or three Christmas songs to your list such as Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and Away in a Manger, and the Christmas celebration becomes that much more meaningful when the singing is enhanced by the piano. Take advantage of "small" opportunities to play for others, and not only will your playing abilities improve, so will your confidence.

Transfer of knowledge

To learn to play piano proficiently, you must learn to read treble and bass clef notation. Other instruments only require reading of either treble or bass, but not both. Those who can read piano music can easily transfer their music-reading skills to another instrument-treble or bass. Rhythm patterns are essentially the same for all instruments, so knowledge of basic rhythms used for piano carries over to other instruments. When you learn to read piano music, you develop the ability to read music for many other instruments and for singing.

Availability

What instrument is most commonly found in homes as well as public meeting facilities? The piano! Think of the many places you have seen a piano-hotels, nursing homes, retirement centers, conference rooms, churches, school auditoriums, theaters. After learning to play piano, you can always find a place to utilize your talent. You may not feel competent enough to play for a large crowd at a conference, but people in a nursing home would greatly appreciate you sharing your talent. You do not have be a concert-level master pianist to use your skills. Preschool children love to sing with live accompaniment, and they will think you are wonderful! Gather your children and their friends around the piano and have a sing-along.

Not everyone will become a concert pianist, but everyone can benefit from piano lessons. Put away your excuses and determine to learn to make music with one of the world's most beautiful instruments-the piano!