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Winter of 2025, Piano & More students shared their musical talent by celebrating the winter holidays with senior citizens. Our Winter Recital was not just about performing music. We thought about taking it an extra step. Music is a universal language- everyone enjoys music, especially around the holidays! Music can easily become a bridge, connecting generations through shared moments of joy. Across December and January, our students performed for senior homes throughout Arlington, McLean, Falls Church, and Washington DC. It was a great reminder of of the power of music and also, what the holidays are all about. Bringing people together and celebrating together. Music: A Bridge Between Generations There is something special that happens when children perform for seniors. For students, the experience shifts the focus from perfection to purpose. They learn that their music can comfort, spark memories, and bring happiness to someone else. Performing for seniors helps students understand that music is not just something you practice. It is something you share. For residents, watching children perform brings warmth, nostalgia, and opportunity to build another connection. Many seniors smiled, clapped along, and shared stories from their own holiday memories. Music became a shared language that crossed generations. Senior Communities We Were Honored to Visit Here's a list of some of the senior homes our students had the privilege of performing at for the Winter Recital: Each community welcomed our students with kindness and enthusiasm, creating an atmosphere that felt supportive, joyful, and deeply meaningful. Thank you so much for having us! More Than a Concert Recitals included student performances followed by a simple holiday craft activity with the residents. Sitting together to create, talk, and share stories gave students the chance to build real relationships and practice empathy in action. These moments reminded students that music has the power to bring people together, no matter their age. A Winter Tradition with Heart By holding Winter Recitals across both December and January, we were able to extend the spirit of the season and reach more senior communities. These experiences helped students grow in confidence while seeing firsthand how music can brighten someone’s day.
As we reflect this January 2026, we are incredibly proud of our students and grateful to our partner senior homes for welcoming them so warmly. Using music to connect generations is at the heart of what we do at Piano & More. When children and seniors come together through music, something lasting is created for everyone involved. 💜🎶  Thinking about enrolling your child in music lessons? You’re not alone. As parents become more aware of the benefits of music education, not just for creativity, but for brain development, emotional regulation, and academic success music is quickly becoming one of the most powerful tools in a child’s growth toolkit. But don’t just take our word for it. Here are 10 research-backed statistics that every parent should know in 2025 before deciding how to support their child’s development this year. 1. Verbal IQ improvement after short, intensive music training.After 20 days of computerized music-based training, 90% of children showed verbal IQ gains, and the music group improved significantly more than the active control. “Short-term music training enhances verbal intelligence and executive function” by Moreno S, Bialystok E, Barac R, Schellenberg EG, Cepeda NJ, Chau T (2011) Source: After only 20 days of training, only children in the music group exhibited enhanced performance on a measure of verbal intelligence, with 90% of the sample showing this improvement. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21969312/ 2. Music students score an average of 63 points higher on the verbal SAT and 44 points higher on math.General intelligence gains after a year of lessons. In a randomized study, children assigned to music lessons increased full-scale IQ by 7.0 points vs 4.3 points in controls across one year, which is a 63% greater IQ gain relative to control improvement. “Music Lessons Enhance IQ” by Glenn Schellenberg (2004) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15270994/ Source: This study is the first to directly test the hypothesis that music training transfers to cognitive intelligence. https://www.artsedsearch.org/study/music-lessons-enhance-iq/ 3. Early music education improves reading skills by up to 17% in young children.Math learning, fractions specifically: Third-graders in a six-week Academic Music program scored 50% higher on a fractions test than peers in regular instruction. "Music Lessons Enhance IQ” by Glenn Schellenberg (2004) Source: This study shows Students in the music-based program scored 50 percent higher on a fraction test, taken at the end of the study, compared to students in the regular math class. https://news.sfsu.edu/archive/getting-rhythm-helps-children-grasp-fractions-study-finds.html 4. Anxiety reactivity during medical procedures.In an RCT with children undergoing cast-room procedures, the music group had a 32% smaller rise in heart rate during the procedure compared with controls (15.3 bpm vs 22.5 bpm) and 0% had extreme spikes vs 17% in controls. "Music Lessons Enhance IQ” by Glenn Schellenberg (2004) Source: Playing soft music in the cast room is a simple and inexpensive option for decreasing anxiety in young children during cast room procedures. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17878794/ 5. Music training is more effective at reducing anxiety than mindfulness or sports in children under 13.Systematic reviews and meta-analyses show music therapy reduces anxiety and stress with small to large effects at post-intervention (for anxiety, SMD = −0.36; for stress, d ≈ 0.72). These are standardized effect sizes, not percentages, and they are the most accurate way the literature reports these outcomes. Psychology of Music, 2022 Source: Stress and anxiety reduction, synthesized evidence. (sciencedirect.com) 6. Students involved in music are 5x more likely to stay engaged in school.With 4-year-olds, a controlled experiment found prior synchronized movement led to higher cooperative performance than asynchrony or no movement. One cooperation index was 0.95 vs 0.74, a ~28% higher score for the synchrony group. Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA Source: Cooperation and prosocial behavior after synchronous rhythmic activity. https://ilabs.uw.edu/sites/default/files/17Rabinowitch_Meltzoff_Child_Synchrony_Cooperation.pdf 7. Reading and phonological skills in struggling readersAn RCT in children with dyslexia showed the music-training group improved phonological awareness and reading more than the active control after the intervention, reported as statistically significant effects rather than a fixed percentage. Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA Source: Reading and phonological skills in struggling readers. https://ilabs.uw.edu/sites/default/files/17Rabinowitch_Meltzoff_Child_Synchrony_Cooperation.pdf 8. Long-term executive function gains with classroom music.A 2.5-year longitudinal study in primary schools found structured music education improved inhibition and planning versus visual arts and control, supporting far transfer to academics. No universal percent is reported, only significant gains. Source: Longitudinal Analysis of Music Education on Executive Functions in Primary School Children https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2018.00103/full?utm_source=chatgpt.com 9. Brain structure changes with trainingChildren show structural brain changes after ~15 months of instrumental lessons, including cortical changes linked to auditory and motor skills. This is reported as brain metrics, not percent improvements. Musical training shapes structural brain development, 2009 Source: These findings shed light on brain plasticity and suggest that structural brain differences in adult experts (whether musicians or experts in other areas) are likely due to training-induced brain plasticity. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19279238/ 10. Sensitive period, starting before age 7.Starting training before age 7 is associated with stronger white-matter connectivity in the corpus callosum compared to later starters, indicating a timing advantage, though not reported as a “90%” figure. Journal of Neuroscience, 2013 Source: A sensitive period is defined as a developmental window where experience has long-lasting effects on the brain and behavior (Knudsen, 2004). https://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/3/1282 Music Is More Than a Hobby, It’s a Superpower!At Piano & More, we believe in music education that actually works. Our in-home music lessons aren’t just convenient. They’re rooted in research and designed to help your child thrive emotionally, cognitively, and creatively.
Want to learn more? Book a 50% off trial lesson and discover the difference personalized, brain-based music education can make. Want to share this post? Feel free to link to it in your blog or article! We welcome stories from parenting, education, and child development sites!  This week, Piano & More hosted something brand new for our community for our first Halloween Open Mic, where performers came in costumes and enjoyed face painting. It was a magical mix of music, confidence, and spooky fun at Westover Beer Garden in Arlington.  Families, students, teachers, and even a few people who were simply passing by gathered under the fall sky to cheer on young musicians. Seeing students perform dressed as witches, superheroes, princesses, and funny characters made the whole evening feel playful and unforgettable. The face painting added an extra layer of excitement as kids lined up to get sparkles, pumpkins, bats, and all kinds of creative designs.  When each student stepped up to perform, the crowd went quiet and supportive smiles spread across the space. Parents cheered, friends clapped, and siblings danced along. You could feel how proud these kids were and how much confidence they gained from sharing their music in such a fun, encouraging environment. This Halloween Open Mic was more than a themed event. It was a safe place to take a brave step, try something new, and feel celebrated for it. These moments help kids grow courage, emotional resilience, and joy in their own ability to perform. We are so grateful to everyone who came out and made the night special. And a huge thank you to Westover Beer Garden for giving our community the perfect space to connect and create memories together. Special Thanks to Crystalite DesignsThis event would not have been the same without the magical touch of Crystalite Designs, who provided beautiful face painting for our performers. Their creativity brought so much excitement to the children as they transformed into pumpkins, cats, superheroes, and sparkling characters before stepping on stage. To learn more about their work or book them for your own event, visit https://www.crystalitedesigns.com/ Want your child to experience moments like this?We would love to support their musical journey. Piano & More offers warm, engaging in home music lessons in Arlington, Falls Church, and McLean.
Fill out the contact form here: pianoandmore.org to meet our teachers, explore lesson options, and book a 50% OFF Trial Lesson. Your child’s next confidence building moment can start right at home. 🎃🎶  At Piano & More, we’ve taught over a thousand students right from the comfort of their homes and if there’s one transformation we love witnessing, it’s the quiet confidence that builds in a child over time. Sure, music helps with memory, focus, and creativity. But some of the most powerful shifts happen in how kids see themselves, and how they show up in the world. This blog isn’t about playing perfectly. It’s about how consistent, encouraging music lessons at home can build confidence that sticks in the training room, on stage, and beyond. Here’s 5 powerful, evidence-based ways music lessons boost confidence in kids from the inside out all while they’re simply learning to play. 1. Music Teaches Kids to Keep Going Even When It’s HardFact: Research shows that the process of learning an instrument naturally involves trial and error, helping students build resilience and problem-solving skills over time. Why It Matters Every time a student misses a note and tries again, they’re flexing a muscle most adults wish they had more of: resilience. Music gives kids permission to not be perfect and instead to persist. Over time, they build the kind of quiet grit that carries over into school, friendships, and everyday life. And when they finally master that tough piece, that “I did it” feeling stays with them.” Quote “Success is not the absence of failure; it’s the persistence through failure.” – Aisha Tyler Source: American Psychological Association – Resilience in Youth 2. Performing Builds Real-World ConfidenceFact: Studies show kids who regularly perform music in front of others become more comfortable with public speaking and self-expression. Why It Matters Not every child is a natural performer and that’s okay. But stepping onto a small stage or even playing for family at home helps build courage, little by little. Whether it’s a school talent show or a piano recital, music gives students a chance to shine, be cheered for, and learn how to share their gifts. The more they do it, the more natural it feels. Quote “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato Source: Psychology of Music – Performance and Youth Confidence 3. Music Builds ExpressionFact: Expressing emotions through music gives kids a safe outlet to explore who they are and how they feel, which can support emotional growth and self-awareness. Why It Matters Kids don’t always have the words to say what they’re feeling, but music gives them another language to express themselves. When a student connects with a song or writes their own melody, they’re learning how to trust their voice. It’s not about being loud. It’s about being authentic. And that’s where real confidence begins. Quote “Self-expression through music is not just cathartic—it’s empowering.” – Brené Brown Source: Journal of Youth Development – Arts & Identity 4. Music Builds Habits That Help Kids Succeed EverywhereFact: Kids who study music tend to develop stronger study habits, time management, and goal-setting skills. Why It Matters Music teaches kids how to set goals and work toward them step by step, whether it’s learning a new piece, mastering a tricky scale, or preparing for a recital. These little wins build motivation and show students that progress comes from practice. That confidence naturally flows into school and beyond. Quote “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar Source: Harvard Education Review – Arts and Academic Habits 5. Music Creates a Safe Space for Kids to Be ThemselvesFact: Consistent music lessons offer children a sense of belonging, support, and emotional safety key ingredients for self-confidence. Why It Matters The relationship between a student and their teacher matters. At Piano & More, instruction goes beyond technique. Our teachers support each child by listening, encouraging, and creating an environment where they feel safe to grow. When kids feel seen and supported, they begin to carry that self-worth with them wherever they go. Quote “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso Source: National Endowment for the Arts – Arts & Child Wellbeing Confidence That Starts at Home and Lasts a LifetimeWhen parents think about music lessons, they often hope their child will gain a new skill but what they often really gain is self-belief. And when those lessons happen at home, that growth happens in a space that already feels safe and familiar.
At Piano & More, we bring in-home music education to families in Arlington, McLean, and Falls Church, VA, using a flexible, fun-first approach. Whether your child is just starting or already playing, our teachers know how to bring out their confidence one note at a time right in your living room. 👉 Book your 50% off trial lesson and watch your child grow in confidence from home. OR 👉Fill out the contact form here.. Fill out our contact form and we’ll connect you with a lesson coordinator. Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to share it with a friend, repost on your blog, or quote us with credit. We love partnering with fellow families, educators, and anyone who believes in raising confident, expressive kids through the power of music.  As a studio that’s worked with over 1000 students, we see the impact music has on people’s lives every day. But in this blog, we’re going to put that aside and strictly look at what’s backed by neuroscience and decades of research. Here’s 5 strong, research-backed music facts that might just change how you think about playing an instrument. Spoiler: music might not do your laundry or help your kid eat vegetables but it certainly gives you an advantage! 1. Your Brain Lights Up Like a Christmas Tree When You Play MusicFact: Playing an instrument activates more areas of the brain at once than any other known activity, including areas tied to memory, movement, hearing, and emotion. Why It Matters Over 2,000 years ago, Plato recognized the power of music and today, neuroscience is proving him right. When a person reads music, coordinates both hands, listens for pitch, and expresses feeling (all at the same time), they’re developing complex multitasking abilities that strengthen the brain’s executive function. This kind of mental workout helps children and adults become better problem-solvers, more adaptable learners, and more emotionally regulated individuals. It’s no wonder researchers often refer to music as “cognitive cross-training.” Quote “I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning..” – Plato 2. Musical Training Improves Working Memory and Executive FunctionFact: Children engaged in consistent musical training demonstrated significantly stronger development in working memory and attention compared to their peers. These are critical skills tied to academic success, reading comprehension, and long-term cognitive flexibility. Why It Matters Working memory is what helps children follow multi-step instructions, solve problems, and retain new information. These are skills they rely on every day at school. Musical training strengthens these abilities by requiring the brain to coordinate sound, timing, movement, and memory all at once. Albert Einstein once said, “The theory of relativity occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind this intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception.” He was describing how music shaped the way he solved complex problems, using intuition, creativity, and logic. Quote “The theory of relativity occurred to me by intuition, and music is the driving force behind this intuition.” – Albert Einstein 3. Musicians Have Better Language and Listening SkillsFact: Music training enhances the brain’s ability to process pitch and sound. These skills are closely tied to reading fluency and learning languages. Why It Matters When someone learns to distinguish musical tones, rhythms, and phrasing, they’re also enhancing their ability to detect subtle changes in spoken language. This strengthens early literacy and can help close gaps in speech processing. Music creates better listeners, and better listeners become more effective communicators. Yo-Yo Ma’s words capture this perfectly: “Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel.” Those "connections" aren't just emotional, they're also a result of neurological growth. Music is helping the brain build pathways that support reading comprehension, auditory memory, and language fluency. Quote “Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel.” – Yo-Yo Ma 4. Playing An Instrument Helps the Body Recover From StressFact: A peer-reviewed study found that listening to music before a stressful experience significantly improved the body’s recovery by reducing cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone) and supporting autonomic nervous system regulation, even when compared to silence or nature sounds. Why It Matters In a modern and busy world where people are experiencing heightened anxiety, overstimulation, and pressure to achieve, music offers a space for emotional release. The study showed that music helped participants return to baseline more quickly after stress, with lower cortisol and stabilized heart rate. In both children and adults, this translates to greater emotional regulation, better focus, and fewer meltdowns during difficult moments. When music becomes a regular part of a person's routine, it becomes a tool for lifelong resilience. As Maya Angelou once said, “Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” When students play with their heart, they create a private space where their nervous system can reset. That reset, over time, becomes a tool they can rely on again and again to bring them back to a balanced healthy mental state. Quote “Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” – Maya Angelou 5. Music Rewires the Brain for Life (Even If You Stop)Fact: Brain scans show that adults who studied music in childhood still show enhanced brain structure and stronger auditory memory years after they’ve stopped playing. Why It Matters Even short periods of musical training can leave permanent traces that improve how people listen, move, and think for the rest of their lives. These lasting changes impact everything from language development to auditory memory and attention span. Even a few years of early music education can enhance how the adult brain processes speech and language. As neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks wrote, “Music is part of being human. It’s part of the fabric of our lives, as individuals and as communities.” The research now shows that music doesn’t just live in our memories but it literally leaves its mark on our brains. It’s clear the impact goes on, way past the last music lesson. Quote “Music is part of being human. It’s part of the fabric of our lives, as individuals and as communities.” –Dr. Oliver Sacks Ready to Unlock These Benefits?At Piano & More, we bring in-home music education to families in Arlington, Mclean, and Falls Church, Virginia combining convenience with a proven, fun-first method that puts the student’s interests and growth at the center.
👉 Book your 50% off trial lesson and see what music can unlock in your child. OR 👉Fill out the contact form here to speak with a lesson coordinator. Did you enjoy this read? Please share! Feel free to link to this article or quote any section (with attribution) in your blog or educational website. We love partnering with fellow educators, parents, and mental health advocates. About the Author Diana Bermudez, PhD, LPC, ATR is a psychotherapist specialized in families with young children. For over 20 years she has helped children, parents, and professionals to enhance emotional health and decrease challenging behaviors; through her trainings, coaching and therapy (based on art, play and mindfulness). She is a registered art therapist, doctor in counseling from George Washington University, licensed counselor in Virginia, certified in Theraplay (L1), Pyramid Model trainer and coach, and Radiant Child Yoga instructor. She is the owner of Amare Counseling and Education, where she provides family counseling and mental health consultation for early childhood professionals.  How is Anxiety Helpful?Anxiety can be helpful during instrumental music recitals and other forms of performance. In spite of its commonly negative connotation, the purpose of anxiety is to prevent what might go wrong during important events. Without awareness, performance anxiety can escalate to unhealthy levels. Yet, the key is to modulate anxiety to a healthy and productive level. A high level of anxiety can trigger our automatic fight/flight/freeze response and override our capacity to make rational decisions, which could lead to avoiding the performance, shaking with fear, fast breathing/heartbeat, negative thoughts, freezing, irritability… and overall a decrease in the quality and enjoyment of making music. On the other hand, too little would not give us the impetus to act in order to rehearse for the performance and give it our best. This phenomenon has been known for decades as the “Inverted U Hypothesis” or “Yerkes-Dodson Law,” and applied primarily in sports psychology (BBC, 2025). We can easily apply it to musical instrument performances or assessments, and other experiences that challenge us and require alertness. In brief, we perform best at stressful moments when our level of alertness (aka arousal) is somewhere in the middle between low and high. The precise level of alertness for optimal performance varies from person to person and can be learned through practice. How Parents Can HelpThe good news is that we can intentionally decrease anxiety to our personalized level for optimal performance. Our sympathetic nervous system is in charge of unconsciously preparing our bodies and minds to fight, escape or freeze when facing a situation that threatens our safety or integrity, AKA “the stress response.” When we notice signs of the stress response, for example shaking, rapid/shallow breathing, queasiness, thoughts of doom; we can bring it down to our optimal level of alertness by telling our brains that our parasympathetic nervous system can relax because the situation is not actually threatening, just challenging. As parents, we can help our children to develop this skill. But how?
We all deserve to harness our performance anxiety, not just to optimize our performance, but also to fully enjoy those moments. When we develop these skills and look forward to both rehearsals and recitals, then we can maximize the mental health benefits of playing an instrument (Kovar, 2025), and perhaps even experience moments of flow. SourcesBBC. Mental Preparation AQA. Arousal-the Inverted ‘U’ Theory.2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyx7tyc/revision/2 Kavat-Zinn, J. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness. 2013. Bermudez, D. Parent Resources. https://www.amarecenter.com/parent-resources/ 2025. Bermudez, D. Teaching Young Children to Relax through Play. 2025. https://youtu.be/oXyANeEFTT0?si=AuVPY6GPVr_60RzJ Biegel, G. The stress Reduction Workbook for Teens: Mindfulness Skills to Help You Deal with Stress. 2017. DiTerlizzi, A. & Gomez, LA. The Magical Yet. 2020. Ade-Alade, S. From Stress To Success: Teen Performance Anxiety Toolkit for Achieving Goals: Empowerment and Resilience Strategies to Conquer Anxiety and Reach Your Potential (Teen Mental Health Series). 2023. Kovar, N. How Playing an Instrument Could be the Mental Health Boost Your Family Needs. https://www.amarecenter.com/news/how-playing-an-instrument-could-be-the-mental-health-boost-your-family-needs/ 2025. Written By Dr Diana Bermudez, PhD, LPC, ATR
Owner of Amare Counseling and Education  Guitar recital: guitar students with the best guitar teacher in Arlington and Falls Church Virginia! Music has always been a powerful tool for connecting people, and for children, learning an instrument like the guitar offers benefits far beyond the joy of playing tunes. Guitar lessons, especially when tailored to be engaging and fun, can significantly enhance a child’s social skills and emotional intelligence. Let’s dive in.  Fun in-home guitar lesson, playing with friends in Falls Church Va Strengthening Social Skills With GuitarGrowing up, if you played guitar, you were the coolest kid on the block. You could probably play the cool punk rock songs that you and all your friends listened to. It was a way to make new friends in new places. It’s really the main reason why I chose to learn guitar as a teenager. I could enter a room of strangers and know that with my guitar my presence would be appreciated. This new found confidence pushed me to practice my socializing and communication skills no matter where I went. How does playing guitar contribute to all of this? Science says this bonding effect comes from a rush of endorphins. When people hear their favorite music live, it’s easier to lighten the mood, share a smile and engage with others. By playing with or for others, guitarists naturally learn social cues and communication skills that teach them to share, listen, and appreciate others—essential life skills that last long after the music stops.  guitar student playing for guitar teacher at Arlington, VA park Building Emotional Intelligence With GuitarEmotional intelligence (EQ) involves understanding and managing emotions—a skillset that shapes one’s relationship with themselves, with others and ultimately contributes to their overall happiness. It sounds easier than it looks. How many adults quickly identify their feelings and have the tools to manage them in a healthy way? This seems to be a learning journey for many adults I know. Imagine how challenging it can be for a child who is growing and still learning how the world operates. Even though musicians already internally know this, there’s actual studies that show playing guitar improves emotional intelligence scores. How is this? Well, my friend if you have not yet figured it out, music is an emotional language! Tunes and key signatures trigger emotional responses and even change the pace of your heartbeat. Guitar students learn to identify and connect emotions to the music they’re playing. And when kids take in-home guitar lessons, the process flows much easier as they’re already in a safe environment where they can comfortably express themselves. This process of identifying, exploring, and expressing feelings in a non-judgmental and fun way, builds empathy and self-awareness.  confident guitar student showing off skills to his mom in a field trip to a recording studio Convenience Meets ConnectionWith busy schedules, parents often worry about the logistics of another after-school activity. That’s where Piano & More shines because all of our amazing guitar teachers provide in-home guitar lessons. Not only does this save you time, but it also means your kids can feel comfortable and safe in their own home, often resulting in better learning. Whether your child dreams of rocking out on stage or simply wants to enjoy music, guitar lessons can help them grow into emotionally intelligent and socially adept individuals. Ready to see your child shine? Check out our fun in-home guitar lessons in Arlington VA, Falls Church VA, and Mclean VA. Watch them strum their way to confidence! Written by Piano & More's director, Nicole Kovar Incorporating music into your child’s life is one of the most impactful investments you can make. Not convinced? Check out another blog about how “Playing an Instrument Enhances Cognitive Development and Academic Performance in Kids”.
 Some might say that taking private piano lessons can feel a bit… lonely. After all, students often play for themselves and their teacher, which can create the impression that their musical journey is meant to be a solo one. Without friends around to cheer them on, it’s easy for kids to feel like they’re missing the camaraderie of team sports, where the drive to improve comes from not wanting to let the team down. With piano, especially in the early stages, it’s just you and the keys.
But here’s where the magic of piano truly shines. This solo pursuit teaches students something invaluable--independence. Without a team to rely on, they learn to push through challenges on their own. The discipline of daily practice without external pressure helps build resilience. It teaches them to reach deep and grasp onto something motivational within them rather than relying on external sources. And when those hard days come, pianists don’t wait for a team or friends to lift them up—they turn to the piano, finding solace and healing in the music. In moments of stress or frustration, they’ve already built that muscle that knows how to self-soothe and destress in a healthy way, using music as an emotional outlet. Taking private piano lessons near you may not have the instant rewards of team sports, but they build something more valuable: self-reliance that lasts a lifetime. If you're interested in learning more about piano benefits that become more powerful as you age, check out my other blog "6-ways-piano-has-benefited-my-adult-life.html". Written by Nicole Kovar  Ever hit a rough patch with practicing? In those times, you may wonder, “Will all this effort pay off? Will I (or my child) even continue playing piano throughout adulthood? What’s the point?” Maybe the most important benefits are not musical. What if there are character traits being cultivated that don’t fully blossom till later in life? As an adult, I’ve grown in my appreciation of being a pianist more than ever before- especially when it comes to the skill of reading music. I can find 6 correlations in which piano has benefited my life as an adult. Piano is: 1. Meditative In order to follow notes on a page, one is forced to focus. Sound is abrupt, therefore you immediately feel a change in your current state. The very nature of listening to piano keys is calming and contemplative. One can feel the body relax and the mind clear. Worries from that day are forgotten. All that matters in this moment, is this flow of energy that wraps around you. When I play classical music in particular, I am transported into an even deeper meditative state. I observe how my emotions rise and fall with the music. These specifically arranged harmonies, clashes, and musical phrases push me into the world of a composer some hundred to several hundred years ago. There’s so much culture, history, and emotion that I am now witnessing via their ears and experiences. It’s quite an exhilarating feeling. I’ve become increasingly interested in how classical music is designed because of this meditative factor. 2. Therapeutic Laughing, crying, socializing…there’s many ways of releasing expression and playing an instrument is also one of them! This is especially beneficial to personalities who are not naturally expressive with words. When it’s hard to understand your feelings, music comes in for the rescue. Being vulnerable with an instrument can feel safer than with a real person. Songs are also more forgiving and comforting to your emotions, than say, a boxing bag. On conflicting days, experiment with playing your own melodies. If you find your emotions being absorbed by the keys themselves, you’ve found another way to communicate or release. Who knew that a good practice could make one feel stronger and anew. 3. Delayed Gratification How many people do you know who are comfortable with delayed gratification? I find them few and far between, after all, now-days there’s simply no need. You want a specific meal? You got UberEats to pick it up for you. You want another blanket? Amazon will bring it to you tomorrow. You don’t like the movie you’re watching? Within seconds, Netflix has plenty more options. You want another associate to help you on a project? Post a job and you’ve got lots of applicants. It doesn’t take much effort to get results. Learning any instrument, will teach you otherwise. That mentality of “little effort, immediate reward” needs to be tossed out the window. Even talented musicians are only as good as they practice. It takes months, sometimes years, to get just one piece down. You might feel you are “not quite there yet” forever and you have to be okay with that. You practice the same measure 30 times, morning and evening, and MAYBE you’ll be happier with it tomorrow. As I’ve grown older, I have noticed there’s something quite admirable about someone who can work hard, stay focused, and commit to a challenge without knowing when and if the reward will come. It may be these people will stand out in a growing competitive world. 4. Discipline Part of learning an instrument means you have to practice it daily. Practicing 4 hours on the weekend won’t get you there as fast if you had split up that time into 30 minutes everyday. The key is to practice on a daily basis- and that’s a kind of discipline that will take you far. Remember any new skill requires more effort in the beginning than later. If you are constantly stuck in the take-off, you’ll constantly feel how hard it is, never seeing the benefits. Once you do see the benefits, you won’t mind being disciplined as much. Imagine how much more ahead you are once you’ve already gone through this cycle. These experiences give you real world knowledge and will give you a realistic perspective when choosing to engage in a new discipline. 5. Dismantling Fear Eleven pages of sheet music laid out in front of you will feel overwhelming. Organizational skills are crucial here. How can I make this realistic? Where are the patterns in this piece? How can I break it down and still accurately piece it back together without losing myself? A music teacher takes that responsibility upon themselves and shows a student different techniques in breaking a piece down. Suddenly, a student realizes, “Actually yes, I can do this.” When you experience this again and again, song after song, you start to believe that anything (even the overwhelming projects) can be done. As long as you have the skills to organize the challenge into smaller manageable parts- of course it can be done. As an adult, being faced with new challenges, I face it with a sort of confidence because I’ve already had some training in knowing how to be my own navigator. 6. Identifying Patterns Being able to find patterns in one’s life can save years of lost effort. A good music teacher will train you to look for patterns in the sheet music before you play your piece. Yes, it’s great if you can read notes accurately on the whim, but it’s better (and more efficient) when you can spot patterns in the piece even before you play. What’s even better than that, is mixing the two! Can you identify patterns in real time? These are all things we work on as we read music. Imagine if we applied this to real life situations. Do you know the patterns in your daily life? How do we respond under pressure? What do we turn to when we want to check out? How does your partner behave when they are holding back? What kind of friends is your child drawn to? Think about how much faster you get to know yourself, your loved ones once you’ve been conditioned to pick up patterns. Those are the six benefits that have been my favorite in my adult life. Of course, the benefits of learning an instrument are vast- increased focus, creativity, multi tasking, coordination are just a few more. If you’d like to know more, you can refer to this blog that already has study links attached. Written by Nicole Kovar  The recital day had arrived. It’s a mix of emotions- excitement and anxiety. A few minutes before the recital began, a mother came up to me saying, “Sam is refusing to play. He’s too nervous.” I immediately thought back to how hard he had worked to learn this song. He was playing it just fine a week ago. What can I do to calm his nerves? I tried talking with him, but it was evident that his emotions were too high. I ended up skipping over his name in the program during the recital.
How can one perform well with such elevated levels of emotion? When we practice piano pieces at home, there are no hormones disrupting your physiological state. It starts while you’re waiting for your name to be called. Hands get sweaty, heart beating, legs trembling, and suddenly…I can’t feel my fingers. How can I finish my song when I can’t control my body? Can I train myself to suppress a stress response? Or do I have to learn to deliver an excellent performance with pressure? Meeting high expectation in front of an audience can cause a nervous reaction that inhibits fine motor functioning. When you’re overwhelmed, it’s hard to do one thing correctly, let alone three or four things at once. Thoughts such as “I have to play it perfectly” “I can’t make too many mistakes” “If I mess up, then they won’t think I’m good” and “I only want them to see how well I can play”, resembles an individual that is struggling with performance anxiety due to high expectations. I decided to interview a few students that seemed to have no nerves on recital day. They performed their piece to the point of perfection. What’s their secret? Well, I asked and here’s their response (keep in mind they are 13 years old and under): “Practice in front of other people- 5 or more. Do it a couple times until you are comfortable” “If you mess up, just continue, because it doesn’t matter. People don’t always know” “Just keep going, don’t worry about the mistakes” “Imagine that no one is there. Like I’m in my room practicing, I don’t think of the people watching me.” “Pretend everyone’s just wearing their underwear” As you can see from those responses, it’s a style of thinking that will determine your success. To be able to perform well, one will need to prepare their mind for the big day. Here are some tips to that will promote confidence and help minimize the pressure of a performance: 1) Muscle memory beats anxiety A performance piece demands hours of practice and repetition. After a while your fingers play on their own and there’s no need for the brain to concentrate on reading music. You become very proud in this moment, because you don’t feel like you are “working” anymore. The song has molded as a part of your body. Muscle memory saves a many performances. 2) Practice in front of an audience Sometimes it just takes 1 person to start the nervous reaction. Invite your family, friends, or neighbors to come watch you play. Another tactic I use with my students, is filming them. It can help set the stage for the big day and the more you practice performing in a stressful setting, the less intimidating it will get. 3) Have a Plan B When you can’t regain feeling in your fingers or if you can’t get past a difficult part, know how to finish the song on a good note. There’s usually a part of the song that you know very well and are confident in, so practice easing into that part and tying it into the song finale. 4) Accept the worst First, ask yourself, what’s the worst that could happen? Whatever that is, you will free yourself if you can accept it. If the worst is not being able to complete the song, or making multiple mistakes, and it happens during your performance, the best thing you could do for yourself, is be okay with it. You might be surprised at how much energy you’ll find in that moment. Know that it is better to try and gain some type of experience versus gaining none. Sam wasn’t mentally prepared, but I believe if he had been willing to work on these four steps, he could perform his song well. |
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