The piano is a marvelous musical instrument – there’s no-one who doesn’t appreciate the incredible sound that can come from those ivories! Also, it’s one of the best things that you can do for yourself- it can make you feel great, and it’s not as difficult as you might think! If you have even the slightest inclination towards learning, then there’s no reason not to. Here we have put together just 10 of the many reasons to learn to play.

1)    Right now, learning to play the piano is incredibly easy! With the advancements in communication and the easy availability of multi-media, there really are no obstacles in your way. Consider professional teachers, online tutorials, or you can even learn now by watching a DVD!

2)    Cost. The cost of learning to play has also gone down considerably over recent years. For the cost of a good meal in a restaurant, you can buy a really good standard instruction DVD or a tutorial book. Personally, I prefer the DVD route, as you can learn to play at your own leisure – you can pause to make a cup of tea whenever you want, and you can learn at your own pace. Think of the DVD as your own private teacher at your beck and call 24 hours a day! Also, you’ll find that the vast majority of the good standard course books are these days accompanied with their own audio cd, which is always a help.

3)    Sharing. It’s a real treat to be able to share music with those around you – loved ones such as grandchildren, children or that very special someone. It’s a wonderful gift to give someone.

4)    The music! Got a favorite song? Play the piano and you can hear it any time you want! How many times have you listened to a song you particularly liked and then thought to yourself – I wish I could play that? What, exactly is it that is stopping you from doing so? A quick visit to your local library will present you with sheet music for all levels of expertise. You can even go online and print off sheet music – some websites even let you listen to the music online as you play, so you can get a real feel for the song.

5)    Entertainment! For hundreds of years the music of the piano has brought people together – imagine if you could initiate a sing-song with your family! There’s really nothing better for that bonding experience. To take it a level further, get them to join in – there is a great deal of music that can be played by two people at once – believe me when I say it really is a special experience for all the family.

6)    Lifetime guarantee! It’s like riding a bike – when you know, you know. And even better than riding a bike – you never need to stop! When you’re ninety years of age, a ride around the block on a bicycle may present a bit of a challenge – not so the piano. Also, the longer you play, the more you are able to learn.

7)    Versatility. The piano itself is a massively versatile instrument – one of the few instruments that you can play simultaneous notes on without to much difficulty. This is often why the piano is chosen as the instrument of choice for composers – it’s like having your own mini-orchestra.

8)    Appreciation. When you play an instrument such as the piano, you will find you have a much better understanding of the music you hear every day. You will find yourself understanding how the music was put together, and this in itself will give you a much better idea of what exactly the composer was trying to get across. You may even surprise yourself by thinking up better ways to play, or even to improve it!

9)    Physicality. It’s physically easy! Like we mentioned earlier, people play the piano expertly well into their nineties – they can because the physical toll on the body is absolutely minimal. Other instruments (such as the violin or the guitar) take a degree of flexibility and exertion. The piano, however, requires none of these.

10)    The tradition! Since it first appeared on the musical scene over 250 years ago, the piano has influenced just about every genre and style of music, and has even prompted the rise of many. Any musical concert you go to, of practically any genre, has a keyboard somewhere on the stage.
These, of course, are just a few of the reasons to learn the piano. We could go on forever, and I’m sure you can think of some that we haven’t mentioned. Even if you are only slightly convinced, or even if there is a little voice somewhere in the back of your mind, I urge you to do it. I promise you that learning the piano will be one of the best things you ever do for yourself. You won’t regret it!

Copyright Lauren Paltrow