Piano Guidance
Photo by MART  PRODUCTION Pexels Logo Photo: MART PRODUCTION

Does playing an instrument count as exercise?

Exercise. Playing an instrument can be a great form of physical activity. Playing the piano, guitar or drums takes a lot of upper body strength and playing for extended periods of time can help build muscle while also improving your posture and increasing your stamina.

Can you sell pre 1947 ivory?
Can you sell pre 1947 ivory?

However, to prevent elephant poaching, the ivory trade was rightly banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in...

Read More »
How long does it take to become a good pianist?
How long does it take to become a good pianist?

If you want to be a professional classical performer, you're looking at a minimum of 10 to 15 years of concentrated study with a master teacher,...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Besides being fun, learning and playing a musical instrument can have many positive effects on your health and mental wellness. Research shows that these benefits can occur at any age and come from playing any instrument. Keep reading to see why people are playing instruments to improve their general health.

Stress Relief

Playing an instrument can help refocus bad energy into something positive and enjoyable, which in turn can help alleviate stress. Reduced stress levels lead to slowing down your heart rate and lowering your blood pressure. Research shows that playing and composing music can reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels.

Improves respiratory system

Whether you’re singing show tunes or blowing into a saxophone or oboe, one of the most important things you can learn is how to breathe properly. Producing a good sound on any wind instrument is dependent on your breath, making breathing with the proper technique a must. So while you are in the pursuit of becoming a great singer or woodwind player you are actually also improving your respiratory system.

Exercise

Playing an instrument can be a great form of physical activity. Playing the piano, guitar or drums takes a lot of upper body strength and playing for extended periods of time can help build muscle while also improving your posture and increasing your stamina.

Improves Cognitive Performance

It has been shown that playing and listening to music can help improve memory in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Playing music has even been shown to help people recover from strokes as well as slow down the onset of dementia and Alzheimers.

Improved Immune System

Research between Tenovus Cancer Care and the Royal College of Music has found that singing for an hour can increase levels of immune proteins, reduce stress and improve people’s mood. Studies have also shown that making music enhances the immunological response, which enables us to fight viruses.

What chords are the most emotional?
What chords are the most emotional?

9 Sad Chords Progressions That'll Stir Listener's Emotions I – V – vi – IV. I – vi – IV – V. IV – V – vi – I. IV – V – iii – IV. I/3 – VIsus2 – V –...

Read More »
How many hours a day do pianists practice?
How many hours a day do pianists practice?

How Much Time Do Pianists Practice Every Day? On average, a concert pianist practices at the piano about 3 to 4 hours a day. Before concert...

Read More »

Which fingers should hit which piano keys?

Your shortest fingers are your thumb and your pinky, and typically they will only play white keys. Play the shorter keys with your longer fingers. If you're playing music with sharps or flats, you'll need to play the shorter black keys. Generally, you'll use your index, middle, and ring fingers to play these keys.

This article was co-authored by Michael Noble, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia. This article has been viewed 569,813 times.

Article Summary

X

To place your fingers properly on piano keys, find the Middle C, which is a white key in the middle of the keyboard, just to the left of two black keys. Put your right thumb on the middle C and let the rest of your fingers fall naturally on the white keys to the right of them. Your left thumb usually starts in the same place, but move it one key to the left if you are playing with two hands. Make sure you are playing with the tips of your fingers by arching your fingers as if you were holding a ball. Use good posture to relax and move more fluidly. To learn more from our Concert Pianist co-author, like how to practice your scales once your fingers are in the right position, keep reading the article!

Do dogs like guitar music?
Do dogs like guitar music?

Dogs have been known to be very responsive to music, and many people believe that they can actually understand the emotions conveyed through song....

Read More »
Can a piano fall through the floor?
Can a piano fall through the floor?

The first is, can the floor hold the piano without collapsing? The answer is almost certainly yes. Consider that a grand piano weighs perhaps 800...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »
Are piano keys worth anything?
Are piano keys worth anything?

Ivory keytops are not valuable. Because the trade in ivory is completely outlawed around the world, the keytops are not valuable. But even if it...

Read More »
What does Für Elise mean in English?
What does Für Elise mean in English?

Ludwig van Beethoven and Für Elise Beethoven wrote this small gem on April 27, 1810, and called it a “bagatelle.” The term's meaning is a trifle or...

Read More »