Reasons to Play Piano

Music is a very important part of our lives. It does a lot more than just please our ears – it is an integral part of human development.

Several years ago, there was an experiment done by scientists at the University of California at Irvine in 1993. (published in the journal Nature) They had college students listen to Mozart Sonata for two Pianos in D Major, a relaxation tape or silence. Immediately after these sessions, the students took a spatial reasoning test (the ability to put together puzzles) and the students’ scores improved drastically after listening to the Music. The reason is because music and spatial abilities share the same pathways in the brain.

Another experiment was done later on by researchers at Appalachian State University and the researchers were successful as well in connecting music to boosting “brain power”. They gave preschool children (ages 3-4 yrs. old) training for 8 months. Children were divided into 4 groups: Keyboard lessons, Singing lessons, Computer lessons and No lessons. After 8 months of this treatment, the children were tested on their ability to put together puzzles (spatial-temporal reasoning) and to recognize shapes (spatial-recognition reasoning) and the results were astounding! They found that only those children who had taken the keyboard lessons had improvement in the spatial-temporal test. (The children did not, however show any change with the spatial-recognition.)

Another interesting observation is the connection between the Medical profession and the Music profession – a large majority of M.D.’s are Classically trained musicians! They spent many years of training in either and/or both fields, which by the same token – enhance each other. So to them – the similarity in brain function and focus is evident and invaluable to both the medical and the musical. It will be interesting to see the results of further study in that matter. Currently, there is no conclusive proof scientifically of the connection between Medical and Musical.

There are countless reasons to take up a musical instrument. Piano, in particular, is a popular choice due to its simplicity, versatility, and the pure beauty of its sound. So, if you have ever considered the possibility of learning to play the piano yourself here are a few reasons to consider learning to play piano yourself:

1) Mental well-being: Playing music promotes brain health to a far greater degree than a more passive, less creative home based activities like watching television, reading, or playing games. Indeed, studies have shown that the links between music and intelligence are much more than merely theoretical.

2) Practicing and playing piano sharpens hand eye coordination, hones math and memorization skills, and enhances the brain’s ability to think creatively. Some studies have even shown that learning an instrument can increase one’s IQ.

3) Coordination: The “simple” act of playing piano requires a lot of coordination. Not only using both hands at the same time, but your feet (for the pedals), eyes (as you read music) and the ability to keep a steady and strong rhythm. All these things and more all happen at the same time in any piano player who successfully plays any piece of music – be it “Happy Birthday” or Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”.

4) Self-esteem: At work, upon successfully completing a project, most of us feel a special sense of happiness and self worth. Playing music can be the same way. Musicians often describe a “high” that is felt while they are playing, a self-esteem boost that can extend well into one’s daily life.

So do yourself a favor and give it a try for yourself or encourage Piano Lessons For Your Kids. If you have any inkling in learning a new skill, one that can do more than make you happy as you play for yourself, but might even make you more popular as you perform for others, then learning to play the piano is highly suggested.

Why have Piano Lessons for Children?

Why have Piano Lessons for Children ? - Who does not have a love of music? Whether you are a casual listener, humming away to the radio while you work, or a devoted lover of fine musicianship – music is important to us all. While computers are gradually taking over as the key component in many fields of art, there will always be room for human talent. There are still people out there who have respect and admiration for those who are dedicated enough to learn how to play a real instrument. If you want to give your child something that they can truly cherish, why not give them the gift of piano lessons?

Why Learn Piano?

With all the technology around us these days, it can seem silly to spend time learning something as archaic as a manual instrument. After all, we can just enter some notes into a computer, record our vocals and then use some software to create a song – right? Well, this might be the case. Do you really think that computer generated music can compare with the delicate, raw and earthy tones of a real piano, played by human hands? If you do, then you are probably not going to benefit from hearing genuine music. If you want your child to experience the sheer joy of making live music with their own fingers, without any electricity or advanced technology – learning the piano is something that they need to experience.

Your Child Will Benefit From Learning Piano.

Learning an instrument, especially one as special as the piano, is extremely good for your kid. It is proven that learning any instrument works both sides of the brain: the creative side, and the analytical side. While you are experimenting with the emotions involved in creating, and feeling, soul touching music, creativity is put to work. However, it is not all about feeling. Your son or daughter will also have to think in an advanced way in order to perform a song perfectly. They will be using the analytical side of their brain in order to remember which keys to press, how the rhythms and melodies should be played, and how dynamics should be approached to give the proper feeling. After some experience performing these tasks, your kid’s mind will start to expand greatly, and they will become smarter as a benefit. Not only will their mental faculties improve – they will learn to appreciate true art in the form of music! Can you think of any greater way to develop your child both mentally and emotionally? Take the word of a trained and experienced musician, there is no better way. Not only will having a teacher show your child to play give you peace of mind; they will love it.

Playing Piano Is Fun!

Kids adore learning to play music. It gives them a sense of achievement, and it is simply a lot of fun. As soon as your child can play their first song, they will be hooked for life. Before long, they will be able to form an ensemble with fellow musicians, and start performing music together. It is a great way to socialize, and can lead to some valuable social interactions as well as long lasting friendships.

The WRONG Ways To Teach Your Kid Piano.

There are a lot of ways to learn to play the piano. Music stores have books, DVDs, CDs and internet packages. These might seem like acceptable ways to learn piano. However, you should really ask yourself if this is the best method. Without the help of a mentor figure, learning the piano is a long and tricky process. The easiest, fastest and most beneficial way to learn the piano is being trained by a professional. If you are serious about your kid learning the piano, you need to hire a teacher. Do some research and you will see that all the top piano players learnt their skills from trained teachers. There are so many great teachers out there, who offer their services for affordable rates, that learning any other way makes no sense at all.

Avoid Mass Piano Groups.

You might have seen teachers advertising for mass classes. This involves your child learning along side a group of other students, who are all struggling to share the time of one teacher. It might be a cheaper option, but it is really a waste of money. If the piano teacher is not able to devote all of their attention to your child, they are unlikely to learn properly. Listen to this advice – avoid mass piano groups. You need to hire a teacher, who will focus their complete attention to your child, and only your child. After all, you want to give them the best musical education available, right?

Piano Lessons For Kids - Important Tips

Must read information before deciding on piano lessons for children!

1) Interest:

Assess the interest of your child. Is this something they really like – or is it your dream? The child should show genuine interest in music and a keyboard in order for their learning experience to be a pleasant and successful one. If they are not interested – ask yourself why you even pursued it? Is it because you have an inner desire for it? It’s NEVER too late to begin! Sign yourself up for Piano lessons if that’s the case. You see piano students of every age – some played when they were kids then quit. As they got older, regretted quitting and vowed to one day pick it up again. Then there are others who always had the desire but not the opportunity and now find themselves retired with plenty of time on their hands. They’ve actually become Piano virtuosos! It’s never too late! But the most important thing is that the student must be genuinely interested.

2) Instrument:

It’s fine to begin Piano lessons on an electronic keyboard. As time goes on, the student will know in which direction they’d like to take the Piano lessons. If it’s just for personal enjoyment, it’s fine to stay with a keyboard.

If it’s for classical Piano training – then the student should be switched over to an acoustic Piano. In my experience as a Piano teacher, I’ve realized that a Spinet Piano (the ones that have a low back) unless it is given as a gift, should not be purchased. It would be preferable to purchase an “Upright” which is a Baby Grand Piano, but instead of the strings being vertical they’re horizontal. The reason being, that the action on the keys is much better technically for the student’s hand, and it sound substantially better to the ear.

And remember, the tactile feel and sound is very different from a keyboard and a piano!

We understand that purchasing a piano is a commitment. Therefore we work with piano suppliers to provide you excellent working condition used pianos for sale in Singapore which come at a lower price to start off with.

3) Piano Teacher:

Ask around and get feedback from others about their piano teachers. Find out the piano teacher’s background. Where did they get the education from, how long have they been teaching, where do they teach from, what are the surroundings like? Ask current students how patient the teacher is and how do they feel during the lesson. You should get a pretty good idea about the teacher by how current students are progressing. Does the teacher’s personality blend with your child’s? Remember, this is a choice! In school the children have to adapt to the teacher that has been assigned to them, and that’s a good thing. They learn to get along with different types of personalities, but Piano is an extra-curricular activity and should be a pleasant one that they look forward to.

4) Schedule:

Children can be easily overwhelmed by too much in their schedule. As adults – we’ve experienced overload for ourselves and it’s SO counterproductive! It’s highly advisable to limit activities in order for the kids not to be pulled in too many directions.

Once activities have been chosen, help your kids out by writing down a daily schedule, everything gets done and there are no excuses for forgetting to practice.

5) Dedication:

Once a schedule is in place, practicing piano will become part of daily routine. After a while, the student won’t be so “worried” about time, but will want to achieve goals set by the teacher. The student will need dedication in order for the craft to go from mechanical to musical. Encourage them to listen to a wide range of styles and genre’s in order for them to develop their own taste for music. At an early stage, dedication can be ingrained in a student by participating in Recitals, Talent Shows and Worship Services. It takes diligence and dedication – also sacrifices to make piano a beautiful craft.

Five Steps in Learning to Play the Piano

Many people go through great lengths in learning to play the piano but for some reasons, they are unable to. Well if you like to learn how to play this musical instrument, you can do it in five steps. The piano evokes a lot of feelings when played; you can show anger, romance, anxiety, sadness, and other feelings. Of all the musical instruments of today’s times, the piano is by far the most romantic.

Some people encounter certain problems in learning to play the piano. If you’re one of them, just read the contents of this article and you will learn in no time at all. Here are the five steps in learning to play the piano.

1 ) Make sure that you have access to a piano. It’s not easy to learn how to play piano. Without the instrument, things will really be hard. A book or piano music is not enough to learn everything you have to know about piano playing. So the first step is to get a piano; you can borrow one or you can purchase a piano.

2) You have to undergo kids piano lessons. Lessons are available in different forms. If you want to learn fast, you can combine the different forms of piano lessons. If ever you combine the piano lessons, you have to schedule them so that the lessons will not be mixed up. You can enroll in a piano lesson. You can also use Youtube, DVD or even piano lesson books. Of course a one-on-one piano lesson will be the most effective as the piano teacher is able to pace and structure your piano lessons. This way, you will learn quickly.

3) Don’t hesitate to ask advice from experts. They are the ones who can recommend the best areas that you can concentrate on. The different forms of piano lessons have different approaches but you will learn a great deal about piano playing. You have to follow every lesson seriously.

4) Practice playing the piano frequently. If you want to learn how to play piano, you have to prioritize your piano lessons. You don’t have to practice all day long. Simply spend fifteen to thirty minutes everyday for the practice sessions. By doing so, you can improve your playing skills. Don’t forget to have warm ups first. You can do this at least three times every week.

5) Don’t play advanced pieces as a beginner. You have to start from the simplest to the advanced lessons. You should finish each lesson before you proceed to other lessons. You have to be patient because if not, you will not learn anything. Once you’ve mastered a certain piece, you are now ready to take another piece of piano music. Don’t forget the pieces of you’ve learned in the past. You still have to play them every now and then to retain everything you’ve learned.

These are the five steps to learning to play the piano. It’s not that difficult, right? You simply have to follow the steps and in no time at all, you will be playing your favorite piano pieces with grace and finesse.

Don’t waste time believing in other tips in learning to play the piano but doesn’t work effectively. Follow these five steps and you can learn to play piano one hundred percent. Soon, you can show other people that you can play well.

How to buy your First Piano

Playing the piano is one of the most special things a musician can learn to manipulate. It is one of the simplest instruments one can ever play. It can blend with every instrument or can stand on its own. Pianos are also magical when played just by its own. A band can never be complete without a piano. So you ask, how can you buy the perfect piano? All it takes is finding the right hardware to fit the job. Here are some deals you have to ponder upon.

1. Check your budget
Above anything else, you always have to consider the amount of money you have to spend for purchasing one. A well-crafted piano made by popular brands is way too expensive. So you have to be very particular of your choice. If you could walk around town to canvass for a cheap yet durable piano, that would be best.

2. Brand-new or a second hand piano?
A piano’s life worth can last for years, specifically 40-50 years if handled well. And you can’t deny the fact that pianos are very durable over periods of time and practice. And because of its well-known durability, you know a lifetime investment wouldn’t go to waste. If your budget is fixed, find the one that fits the money at hand. If you have decided on buying something that is already used, inspect it to see if it’s still in good working condition.

3. Consider the area where to put your piano
Alright, now you must have this part of your house that can accommodate the size of your piano. You have to be very particular in buying a piano regarding its inches and width. If you have a big space in your house, you can consider buying a grand piano. A spinet is popular for its humble size. Research on the kinds of piano to determine which one you’ll purchase.

4. Quality and Style
A long lasting piano can come in different varieties. When looking for a piano, you have to set your mind that quality is an important factor. Check for the kind of wood used, style of the cabinet, leg design and the overall impact of the entire thing. Also, you can buy a piano based on how it compliments on your furnishings.

5. Get an expert’s opinion
If you are new at this, find someone who knows the tidbits of choosing a piano. Drag along someone who can give you tips on how to know that you’re getting a good deal out of a fine purchase. You ask that person to accompany you in that store where you laid eyes on your chosen piano.

How to Teach Kid to Learn To Play the Piano

A kid’s attention span is shorter than an adult. But they are also the ones who can easily learn more. For this reason, a kid should be able to learn as many musical instruments as possible. You’ll never know if your kid is the next well-known pianist who’ll pave the way to be the next icon in the music industry.

If your kid seems to have interested in the piano, encourage it. Support this talent by getting an experienced and qualified piano teachers.

Kids gets easily frustrated so you have to be more creative if you plan to let your kid to be the musician that you wanted him to be. Let him enjoy while learning.

Below are some of the factors that are needed to be considered before starting your piano lessons:
1) Time
Kids as kids have a lot of things to spend their time to. They are too busy with things regarding school works and assignments etc. Squeeze in your piano time by making a time schedule.

2) Fun
Tell your child that learning the piano has its benefits. Learning any instrument doesn’t have to come out as a task or punishment. Make sure your kid is having fun with every lesson. You have to think of ways to make it more enjoyable like giving your kid rewards if a chord had been done correctly.

3) Support
You should always be there to let your kid know that every lesson taught is vital. Before making your kid perform and memorize a single key, make sure that you have demonstrated it first. Then let them do it. After which, ask your kid to identify the keys that have been pressed. This would let them remember your lessons by the end of the day. Always praise your kid for a job well done.

Kids Piano Lessons in Singapore are important in kid’s musical development. You can find a suitable piano teacher based on your kid’s level and needs. Learning to play piano is a commitment and you would want your kid to feel comfortable with the teacher conducting the piano lesson.