Friday, October 9, 2009

Learn to Play Piano: How Piano Lessons Can Make Your Kid Smarter

By Gretchen Mollse

Like all parents, mine had dreams of having a prodigy in the family. My brothers and I had to learn to play piano, chess and other 'smart' activities to stimulate our minds. Turns out my father was right.

Now that I have kids of my own, I'm thinking of starting them with some piano lessons too. Some experts say learning how to play the piano can boost a child's brainpower. Here are some benefits your child will get from every piano lesson:

Creativity

Ever notice why a lot of educational programs have a lot of singing? Music helps children retain information a lot better. When children learn to play piano, it helps improve their visual learning skills so that they can process ideas better.

How to Be More Confident

Taking piano lessons can boost a kid's self-esteem! Though recitals are scary, kids appreciate it when parents cheer them from the audience. Their confidence goes through the roof when they see that you're proud of their accomplishments, no matter how small.

Focus

For parents, getting kids to concentrate better is a dilemma. Making them learn how to play piano will boost their concentration through constant practice. Just remember to keep sessions short and enjoyable so that they don't lose their enthusiasm for the game.

Coordination

Part of a good piano lesson is learning how to play 'with feeling'. Though pianists seem relaxed while playing the piano, it requires a lot of physical effort to pull off a great performance. It takes some skill to move two hands in different directions while using a foot pedal to play a piece right.

Lets the Family Bond Better

Having a piano in the house makes for fun family time! Siblings can compare notes while parents can join in the fun of practice too. Your kids will be proud to show off their talents at Christmas and other special occasions.

Looking back, I did have some fun childhood memories with my piano lessons. Though I didn't become a piano prodigy - I learned some important things along the way. If you want your kid to learn to have some self-discipline and creativity, a piano lesson is all that it takes. As my father used to say 'You'll never know unless you try.

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