12 Reasons You Should Learn to Play the Piano

All right, folks, here you go: My 12 reasons why you should start learning how to play the piano. Immediately. As in today. This very minute.

Okay, fine, finish this article first, THEN get started. And yes, I know that there are more than just 12 reasons to play the piano. But I happen to like the number 12. :)

1) Everyone should play at least one instrument. I truly believe that. Every person on Earth should be able to sit at SOME instrument and be capable of making beautiful music.

2) Playing the piano makes you feel (and look) sophisticated. Truly. No matter who you are or how many warts you have, you'll just exude class the second you begin tickling those ivories.

3) Piano playing keeps your brain active. It's very hard for your brain to rot when you consistently throw it the musical language to interpret.

4) You won't run out of things to do when you're bored. There's always a new way to play, always a new approach to playing, and always, always, ALWAYS a new song to learn. (See number 8.)

5) Family members can live vicariously through you. I'm semi-serious about that. The reason I began taking piano lessons (back when I was 10) was because of grandparents who didn't play, and over the years I've had numerous relatives enjoy playing through me. (I live to serve.)

6) People will automatically assume you're a genius. Honestly, I've heard this a lot. People uttering "He/she plays the piano" in the same tone reserved for "He/she has an IQ of 174." You just can't help but admire someone playing an instrument.

7) Piano playing is good for your hands. Indeed it is. I probably have stronger hands/fingers than most people I know. And have you ever noticed the hands of a pianist? Beautiful, long, tapered fingers. Chances are that if you've ever admired someone's hands, they play the piano.

8) Pianists never quit learning. There's absolutely no way to memorize every musical piece on earth. You could learn 10 new songs a day for the rest of your life without scratching the surface of songs out there.

9) Piano playing is FUN. Really. It's one of the funnest things I do. Think about it, why would so many of us do it if it weren't a blast?

10) Deep down, everyone wishes they played the piano. Have you ever read other people's New Year's Resolutions lists? If you haven't, then you're just not nosy like me. No, seriously, if you haven't, I'll tell you which wish consistently pops up: "Learn to play the piano."

11) Piano playing is SATISFYING. It's truly one of the most satisfying things you can do. (Right after touching your nose with your tongue. Or so I hear.) There's no feeling like playing a difficult song and playing it flawlessly. Quite an ego-boost.

12) Everyone loves a musician. 'Nuff said. :)

Visit: The Piano Pages

Please visit my website, The Piano Pages, for more articles, free piano lessons, piano sheet music, tips, products, and lots more. Also, feel free to send me comments, questions, or hate mail at: emily@thepianopages.com

New York Times
Surgery sidelines Levine
Boston Globe, United States - 40 minutes ago
Boston Symphony Orchestra music director James Levine will miss the remainder of the summer season at Tanglewood to have a kidney removed. ...
BOS Music Director James Levine Will Undergo Kidney Surgery Enews 2.0
Surgery Forces James Levine to Bow Out of Tanglewood New York Times
Met Music Director James Levine to Have Surgery; Cancels Remainder ... Opera News
Boston Herald - New York Timesall 147 news articles

IODA Expands Latin Music Distribution Network
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
The Company also announced the addition of Latin music retailers Fuego Entertainment, iMusica and Agave Mobile to its Latin music distribution network. ...

Sax man of downtown St. Paul draws music fans
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 4 hours ago
Instead, he helps the area around St. Peter and 6th streets echo with a soulful sound of blues, jazz and maybe a little television theme music thrown in for ...

Dohnányi quintet a tasty goulash at Mimir Chamber Music Festival
Dallas Morning News, TX - 7 hours ago
Why, the C minor Piano Quintet of Ernst von Dohnányi, which made for quite a stirring close to Tuesday evening's Mimir Chamber Music Festival concert. ...
Seattle Chamber Music Festival begins on a high note Seattle Post Intelligencer
Recital yields mixed results Fort Worth Star Telegram
all 5 news articles

Studio One Media Finalizes Groundbreaking Agreement With EMI Music ...
FOXBusiness - 13 hours ago
MyStudio recording studios will allow consumers to create personalized music videos, as well as videos for modeling, comedy, dating, resume, auditions and ...

Cameras, Bluetooth, and Music Top Consumers' Lists as "Must Have ...
MarketWatch - 1 hour ago
NEW YORK, Jul 09, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Digital camera functionality, Bluetooth connectivity, and music/radio playback on mobile phones are the top three ...

MTV.com
Madden '09 music lineup released
Los Angeles Times, CA - 15 hours ago
It wasn't so long ago that game companies had to plead with music labels to license songs for their video games. Now, the pleading runs the other way. ...
FirstCuts: Madden 09 Soundtrack Announced SportingNews.com
‘Madden NFL 09′ Soundtrack Built To ‘Predict The Future’ MTV.com
Madden NFL 09 Soundtrack Revealed 1UP.com
all 6 news articles

Red Roof targets country music fans, followers with multimedia ...
Bizjournals.com, NC - 21 hours ago
Red Roof hotels has launched a new entertainment and multimedia campaign that will target country music fans and followers. ...
Red Roof Loves Country! FOXBusiness
all 15 news articles

Summer music festivals: It's a blitz!
National Post, Canada - 32 minutes ago
Adrian Shellard / Canwest News ServicePerhaps the corrals of Calgary's Virgin Festival aren't the fit for you, but there’s bound to be a summer music ...

Music Review: Modern Guilt
Entertainment Weekly - 8 hours ago
By Leah Greenblatt On his gleefully bizarro 1994 breakout single ''Loser,'' a then-24-year-old Beck Hansen described time as ''a piece of wax fallin' on a ...

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Throat Singing In Inuit Culture