There is a common misconception out there that learning the piano (or any instrument for that matter) is only for children. Some people may think it’s hard to learn as an adult or too time consuming but the truth is–it’s never too late to begin your piano lessons in Toronto or online piano lessons! Sure, it may be quicker to pick up a new skill as a kid, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do as an adult. In fact, learning how to play the piano in our adult years has a ton of great benefits for both our mental and physical health. If you’re on the fence about taking piano lessons as an adult, keep reading! We’re chatting about the joys of learning how to play the piano during adulthood.
1. Boost your brain skills
One of the biggest joys of playing the piano as an adult is the increased brain power. Learning how to play any instrument has more effect on the brain than you may think! Here are a few ways the piano can help growth your brain power:
Memory
Unfortunately as we get older, it’s not uncommon for our memory to grow old with us. Studies have shown that playing the piano improves memory after just 6 months of taking lessons!
Focus
In the modern world, it can be hard to stay focused on one thing for an extended period of time. When you’re playing the piano, you have to concentrate on doing multiple things at once. This concentration practice will help you focus in other areas of your life such as at work.
Creativity
If you feel like you are lacking passion or creativity, it may be time to sit down at a piano. Research has shown that playing the piano as an adult fires up the part of the brain that is responsible for improvising and creativity.
2. Social time
Let’s be real–it can be hard to make friends as an adult. Sure, we might meet some people at work or through our significant other, but it usually gets to a certain point where we seem to hang out with the same people over and over again. And while that’s totally fine, it’s also fine to want to make new friends with similar interests! Regardless of whether you’re taking private piano lessons in Toronto, group lessons, playing solo, or playing in a group–learning the piano can help you get social and make new friends. Even if you’re taking online piano lessons, you can find forums and groups to connect with other pianists and musicians in your area. You can attend local concerts, play together, and just talk about common interests. Sounds like a good time to us!
3. Relieve stress
Life can be stressful regardless of your age or circumstances. Taking piano lessons in Toronto or online piano lessons, and practicing regularly, will help you refocus your mind on something positive rather than harping on the stressful things. Reading, playing, and listening to music are all linked to lower cortisol levels in the body which means a happier mindset and lower blood pressure!
4. Put down the phone
Did you know that the average time spent on social media is 2 ½ hours each day?! And that may even be considered low by people who are sucked into the world of other modern day entertainment such as streaming and video games. As we start to be more accustomed to social media and the internet being part of our everyday lives, some people are actually trying to move the opposite way. If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling on TikTok or flipping through pictures on Instagram, learning how to play the piano may be perfect for you! While it’s fine to spend time on social media, taking piano lessons will provide both your mind and body with enrichment beyond belief. It can help boost your confidence and happiness way more than anything on social media ever could! What more could you ask for?!
5. It’s not harder
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not necessarily harder to learn how to play the piano as an adult compared to learning as a child. Kids are known to absorb information faster than adults; however, adults have more discipline when it comes to thoughtful practice and will probably have more motivation to take it seriously because they’re the one paying for their Toronto piano lessons. In fact, there are several advantages to learning as an adult over as a child. First, you have better concentration in adulthood so you don’t need to constantly be reminded how to do certain things. You’re able to learn how to read music faster than a kid and you’ll know exactly what your musical goals are (and how to best achieve them!) So don’t let the time and effort it takes to learn the piano scare you!
6. Get physical
Playing the piano has a huge impact on your physical health as well. While it may not seem like it at first, playing the piano can actually be categorized as a form of exercise. To play the piano, you need to have great posture and upper body strength. Regularly playing the piano can actually help build muscle and improve your posture for the rest of your life. The piano can also help slow your heart rate which reduces the risk for serious heart disease in the future.
Piano lessons in Toronto
Have we convinced you yet? If so, reach out to us today at Greater Toronto Music School so we can get you signed up for piano lessons! We offer online lessons as well as private, in-person lessons right from the comfort of your own home. We’re able to schedule around your life and will customize your lessons plans to your personal music tastes and skill level! Trust us, your life will truly change once you decide to learn how to play an instrument and we’re here to help you achieve your goals.
