A hundred years ago, the piano was the equivalent of the TV. Every household with some comfort had a piano, and the families were enjoying playing and singing. Lessons from the past are not to be neglected, and their success cannot be just explained by the absence of screens. In comparison, today’s passion for the smartphones is bringing some qualities but also a lot of issues. One of the main problem is the feeling of depression encouraged by loneliness and lack of communication. Being staring at a screen is not the way humans had been socializing for centuries, and this transformation has a cost. When used in excess, it is easy to concern that people lack certain skills to help them to enjoy life.
Why you should play the piano
Playing the piano can be an activity to counteract the negative effects of our modern life. It is not possible to stop any dealing with a screen. The clever move then is to find activities to create a balance between time spent on the screen and other interactions. It is not difficult to find a place where to learn how to play the piano. Anywhere in Europe it is possible to find courses, for instance there are piano lessons in Geneva but not only there, almost every town has music schools. This success indicates that, in fact, the success of the instrument is still vivid. Firstly, a piano allows reading all the notes in one line, and it enables the brain to work from a structure. Studies have established that the matter to put in action the understanding of the combination of the notes and keys with the movement of the hands and eye is helping children to improve their reading skills and understanding of mathematics. But playing the piano should not be devoted to enhance competition between children.
On the contrary, it should be used to facilitate communication between people. The use of mobile phone is creating for some a feeling of loneliness and a serious lack of interactions in verbal communication. One fact is for example the reluctance to speak on the phone. Playing the piano helps to deal with emotions and fears. The matter to be aware of one’s capacities to learn and progress is a true leverage to fight depression or negative self-image. With the rising concerns about mental health of whole populations, playing the piano offers a simple solution to fight lack of confidence and issues to develop or maintain brain capacities. The benefits of playing this instrument do not only concern the young people. Studies are indicating that older people are maintaining their coordination and memory by practising their music on a regular basis. Even hear loss of the intern ear can be diminished by playing the piano. Plus, there is another big benefit. When people hear music from the piano, they enjoy the sound of the instrument. Then, they may or not like what is played, and this provides opportunities to enjoy emotions and then to talk. Today, in most European train stations and airports, you will find a piano where anyone can play.