I came across this fascinating article on National Geographic: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/01/140103-music-lessons-brain-aging-cognitive-neuroscience/
In a nutshell, studies have shown that musical training, like taking piano lessons, is helpful in brain growth, cognition, and even in preventing memory decline as we age.
I’ve been teaching piano lessons for over thirty years, so I am well aware of the benefits of piano lessons. I know that piano lessons can improve discipline, improve studies in children, and boost self-esteem. And, it is relaxing and fun and develops a well-rounded skill set. But, there are health/scientific benefits to the brain, as well.
Excerpt from article:
You can even map the impact of musical training on the brain: In a 2003 study, Harvard neurologist Gottfried Schlaug found that the brains of adult professional musicians had a larger volume of gray matter than the brains of nonmusicians had. Schlaug and colleagues also found that after 15 months of musical training in early childhood, structural brain changes associated with motor and auditory improvements begin to appear.
And of course, I know from adult piano lessons that you can start learning piano at any age! This is also reflected in the studies.
Excerpt from article:
You Can Start Now
It’s not too late to gain benefits even if you didn’t take up an instrument until later in life. Jennifer Bugos, an assistant professor of music education at the University of South Florida, Tampa, studied the impact of individual piano instruction on adults between the ages of 60 and 85. After six months, those who had received piano lessons showed more robust gains in memory, verbal fluency, the speed at which they processed information, planning ability, and other cognitive functions, compared with those who had not received lessons.
Read the full article on National Geographic.
It’s great to know there are so many great benefits of taking piano lessons. If you would like to sign up, I teach piano lessons to students in Carmichael and surrounding areas. Contact me to schedule your lessons, today.