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

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

2) Personally, I prefer the DVD route when it comes to learning, 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. There is a much lower cost of learning, and it has gone down considerably over recent years.

3) It’s a real treat to be able to share your musical talent. It’s a wonderful gift to give someone, whether that person is a child or a grandchild, or even that special someone.

4) 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. Have you got a favorite song? Then playing the piano will enable you to play it and hear it any time you want! If you’re like me, then you will have listened to a song and then thought to yourself that you wished you could play that! What, exactly is it that is stopping you from doing so?

5) Initiating a sing-sing with the family is great, but you can also take it a step further and get them to join in! It’s a great way of bringing the family together – the bonding that can be associated with such a family experience as playing the piano is fantastic. There is so much music available that can be played by two or more people on the piano.

6) You get a lifetime guarantee – it’s very much like riding a bike – when you know, you know! The difference is that if you are ninety years of age, a quick trip on a bicycle may seem like a bit of a challenge! Not so the piano. In fact, your expertise can only increase with age – the more you play, the more you learn.

7) It’s like having your own mini-orchestra! The piano is a wonderfully versatile instrument – you can play simultaneous notes on it without too much difficulty, which is why it stands out from other instruments.

The appreciation of the music that you hear everyday will increase greatly. You’ll have a much better idea of what it was the composer was trying to get at when he/she composed the piece. In some cases, you might even surprise yourself by thinking of ways to improve the piece!

9) Other instruments (such as the violin or the guitar) take a degree of flexibility and exertion. The piano, however, requires none of these. Its physically easy! The physical toll on the body is minimal – and many people, like we mentioned earlier, continue playing into their nineties!

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 2009 Lauren Paltrow (Stage Pianist)