Benefits from studying music

Musical study develops character by encouraging perseverance, determination, self-discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, critical thinking, and an appreciation of the arts.

Music also:

-improves listening ability

-increases math and science skills

-helps develop a sense of rhythm and pulse

-improves reasoning capability

-helps express emotion through sound

-encourages creativity and individuality

-increases participant self-worth

-fosters discipline and commitment

-decreases stress level, some find it therapeutic

-adds meaning and enrichment to life

-can be understood/expressed cross-culturally

-helps children perform better on standardized achievement tests

-gives high-risk students positive direction when playing music at home/school

Benefits from studying piano

All of the above plus:

-hand-eye coordination

-reading two lines of music at once, making it easier to start another instrument

-playing both melody and harmony, thus gaining a better understanding of how music is put together

-reading multiple staves and seeing the keys helps with music theory

-duets, four-hand music with need of just one instrument

-reading multiple lines helps with music composition; Bach/Beethoven/Mozart, all famous composers, composed music at the piano, harpsichord, or organ

-piano-playing knowledge can be transferred to other "keyboard" type instruments such as the organ, electric keyboard, and harpsichord

-For more information see the article "Does Playing Piano Make you Smarter?" at http://www.pianoworld.com/smartpiano.htm