Photo: Artem Podrez

How does learning piano affect the brain?

Learning to play an instrument increases motor control, listening, memory (especially of audio information). The benefits extend beyond the activity of playing the piano into your everyday lives. They impact ability to plan, coordination, language skills, attention span and alertness.

skoove.com - Benefits of piano playing for the brain - Skoove

How good a piano player was Freddie Mercury?

Although he played the piano often, Freddie Mercury was not a particularly superior pianist. Still, he was able to captivate the audience with his...

Last updated May 6, 2021

What is MuseScore used for?

MuseScore is open source music notation software that runs on Windows, MacOS, and Linux, and is available in over fourty different languages. It...

Last updated May 1, 2019

Promotion

The many benefits of piano playing for the brain impact all aspects of life. Music has been part of human culture for thousands of years. The oldest instruments to be discovered date back 40,000 years. Music is central to our life because of its unique, positive effects on the individual and the group. You may be learning the piano for fun but read on and you will discover the bonus features you are receiving! Check out our other article: Why Learn to play Piano? Benefits of Music Education

The benefits of playing piano for the brain fall into three categories:

Physical changes in the brain

Greater emotional intelligence

Enhanced well-being

Start your musical journey Fall in love with the music — Learn your favorite songs; whether they’re classical, pop, jazz or film music, all at a level that suits you. Enjoy interactive piano lessons — Learn with courses that help you master everything from music theory, chords, technique and more. Get real-time feedback — Improve your practice with rich feedback as Skoove listens to your playing and highlights what went well and areas for improvement. 7 days free trial $9.99 / month after the free trial, billed annually at $119.99 Start your free trial now

How does piano playing affect the brain?

Physical changes in the brain

Positive changes in the power and structure of the brain have been observed after as little as 5 months regular playing at a beginner level. These positive effects can be observed even when learning later in life as a retirement hobby. Learning to play an instrument increases motor control, listening, memory (especially of audio information). The benefits extend beyond the activity of playing the piano into your everyday lives. They impact ability to plan, coordination, language skills, attention span and alertness. If you are feeling inspired, “We Will Rock You” is a great first song for coordinating the left and right hand. To improve this aspect of piano practice, follow our tips to improve your hands-coordination.

PLAY THE FULL SONG

“Learning to play a musical instrument has definite benefits and can increase IQ by seven points, in both children and adults.” Lutz Jäncke, psychologist at the University of Zurich, (The Telegraph 27th October 2009). Practicing and mastering a challenging piece requires dedication and sustained effort. This means playing the piano also supports increased self-discipline and planning. Once a goal has been achieved self-belief and self-confidence also increase. Why not take this opportunity to look through Skoove and find a piece you are very eager to learn? It may be a long-term goal and you may have to learn some other pieces on the way there. However, having this aim will bring focus to your practicing.

What do you think of “Valse D’Amelie”?

Do picks get worn out?

Just like the guitar strings, the frets, & other components, the guitar picks will wear out over time. Some players feel a lack of control after...

Last updated Jul 31, 2018

How do you use the F keys on a 65?

What does 65 percent mean, exactly? There's still no number pad on the right side, and no function keys at the top. To use F1 - F12 you'll need to...

Last updated Dec 20, 2021

Promotion

LEARN AMELIE ON SKOOVE

Greater emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence describes the ability to recognize emotions in yourself and others and use them to guide thinking. Listening deeply is a natural and essential part of learning to play music. This listening also means you become more attuned to subtle changes in tone of voice during conversation. This awareness increases empathy and impacts all conversations with colleagues, friends and family. “Yesterday” is a touching song about someone moving though the emotions of a break up.

CHECK OUR BEATLES COURSE!

Enhanced well-being

Being able to sit at the piano and express yourself, blocking out the rest of the world for a moment is one of the greatest benefits to personal well-being.

Why not immerse yourself in this song by Enya?

PLAY FULL SONG

Playing the piano occupies so much of the brain that it often serves as a welcome distraction from worries. “Musette” is an example of an intricate and cheerful composition. Learning it is a perfect way to silence the buzzing mind. Playing this piece, you will also experience the satisfaction of muscle memory. The sensation of your fingers being in perfect control.

PLAY BACH WITH SKOOVE

Playing a piece you love takes you into a flow state. This is when you become completely absorbed in what you are doing, losing any sense of space and time. This state is linked to good mental health, well-being and it increases levels of life satisfaction and emotional resilience. Music offers enjoyment, self-expression, achievement, escape, and all these other benefits. It is so much more than a hobby, it is an investment in your well-being and personal growth. Feels like you should start playing the piano? Check out our Ultimate Guide To Playing The Piano.

Try out your free trial of Skoove today!

Start free trial

Author of this blog post:

Roberta Wolff started piano lessons at the age of five and is still enjoying learning! Currently, she teaches piano pedagogy and performance pedagogy at post graduate level in the UK. Her other work includes running a private teaching practice for students of all ages and abilities and creating learning and practice resources. Roberta loves writing as a means to supporting others on their piano journey.

Share this article

skoove.com - Benefits of piano playing for the brain - Skoove

Does singing age your voice?

"Consequently you have to use more air pressure from the lungs to drive the vocal cords into vibration. This occurs from decades of voice use so...

Last updated Dec 17, 2019

How do you respond to a compliment in Japanese?

According to the common logic of Japanese etiquette, when someone pays you a compliment the best response is to say “Sonna koto arimasen.” If...

Last updated May 25, 2018

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 »

Promotion

What is the slowest in music?

From slowest to fastest: Larghissimo – very, very slow (24 bpm and under) Adagissimo – very slow (24-40 bpm) Grave – very slow and solemn (25–45...

Last updated Mar 9, 2018

Promotion

How much does a clarinet cost?

A good-quality, brand-new student clarinet may be purchased for about $400. An intermediate instrument may cost about $700 and professional...

Last updated Mar 10, 2018