Piano lessons teach many life-long skills

Barb Huffman

Published 06:00 a.m., October 11, 2008

Even those who do not play probably recall a piano in the living room in their house or in friends' homes. Many of us remember back to the days when we took piano lessons — some by choice and others by force.

For most of us this involved a once weekly lesson and at least some practice every day. While a few were lucky enough to play on spectacular grand pianos, most of us got by on a new or used upright of one sort or another.

At least once per year, our teachers would put on piano recitals and expect us to get up in front and play a sampling of what we had learned that year for an audience of our parents, peers, and other community members.

What many of us remember is time at the piano when we would rather have been out playing in the yard, sweaty palms and a case of nerves at the yearly piano recital, and as adults, a sense of "Why didn't I keep on with it a little longer?"

As a music instructor, and more particularly as a piano teacher, I get to see a lot of all of this.

Why then, do people still take piano lessons and send their children? Is the piano something that is outdated or does it still have a place in our modern world?

Maybe the first reason is that students who study the piano for two or three years prior to joining the band or orchestra find they have a much gentler learning curve in picking up a second instrument. They have already conquered rhythms, the idea of pitch, dynamics, and other music basics.

Perhaps it is because, whether we realize it or not, the piano is an excellent means of visualizing many otherwise more abstract musical concepts.

I can't count the number of adults that I have spoken to through the years who have told stories about how they thought piano was a bit of a struggle at the time, but how as adults, they wish their parents had made them persevere a little longer. They wish they would have stuck it out and acquired just a little higher degree of skill.

While it is true that it may take a little longer to reap the rewards of highly skilled playing on the piano than it may take on the guitar or other instruments, the rewards can be very great.

Being able to play for a family sing-along at Christmas time can be a lot of fun. Being able to help your child with his or her musical studies can save a lot of frustration and maybe keep that student playing longer.

Simply being able to pick up a song that you like and learn it quickly can be quite satisfying. My adult students are constantly commenting on how therapeutic playing just for the sake of playing can be at the end of a hard day.

To quote Kathy Hargis from her article in the May/June issue of “Homeschooling Today:” "All children benefit from musical instruction of some kind, whether it be singing or playing an instrument. Young children's brains continue to develop at an amazing pace, and the acquisition of musical skills will serve them well in years to come. Music trains the way the brain thinks. Most trained musicians are successful in their chosen careers whether it be music or engineering."

From personal observation over 12 years of private teaching, I can honestly say that most of my music students are also very successful academically. Not only do they do well in the studio, but they also tend to perform very well in a variety of endeavors.

According to Phillip Johnston, Australian piano teacher and Tae Kwon Do instructor, piano can teach discipline, time management, and many other skills vital to success in today's world.

Today's kids are involved in many activities and it can become difficult to fit music practice into the schedule. However, by wisely using small bits of time, much can still be accomplished without sacrifice of other skills or precious free time.

With a little creativity on the part of those involved, students can still successfully study piano thus enhancing their current musical experiences and building toward those yet to come.

Barb Huffman is a Minnesota Music Teachers Association piano and guitar instructor who, along with Daria Marty, is co-owner of Harmony Studios in Fergus Falls. She has been teaching private lessons for the past 12 years and spends much time working with students of all ages and levels.

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Barb Huffman is a Minnesota Music Teachers Association piano and guitar instructor who, along with Daria Marty, is co-owner of Harmony Studios in Fergus Falls. She has been teaching private lessons for the past 12 years and spends much time working with students of all ages and levels.