The piano has long held its place as one of the most beloved instruments to learn — and it’s easy to see why. From its versatility and expressive range to the simple joy of playing your favorite songs, the appeal is undeniable. Whether you’re a complete beginner or returning to music after a break, there’s never been a better time to start. Below, we explore a number of compelling reasons to learn to play the piano and discover what makes it such a rewarding pursuit.
1. It’s the Perfect Starter Instrument
Often said to be ‘easy to learn, difficult to master’, the piano makes a great starter instrument for anyone learning an instrument for the first time. The notes are all visually laid out in a straightforward ascending manner that makes learning theory such as harmony and melody simpler. In fact, if you learn the piano, it often makes learning other instruments much easier. Learning to play with both hands simultaneously does take patience, but there are so many basic one-handed songs that you can learn in a matter of minutes, making it a well-suited instrument for kids with short attention spans or adults who may not have much free time to practice. Pianos also tend to not need the same level of maintenance as other instruments (no constant tuning, cleaning, oiling or restringing).
2. You Don’t Need a Full Size Piano
The biggest thing that turns people off learning this instrument is the false belief that you need an upright piano in your home. While you could argue that nothing beats a real piano, modern electric pianos are often able to simulate a real piano, providing touch sensitivity and 64 note polyphony. Such pianos tend to be more compact and more affordable, making them accessible to those that don’t have the space or the money for an upright acoustic piano. Of course, if you do want the real thing and are on a tight budget, there is the option of renting upright pianos or paying for them in installments. Second-hand pianos are also a lot cheaper than brand new ones, but you need to make sure they’re in good shape.
3. You Can Play Any Musical Style
The piano is an instrument used in so many styles of music. You can perform classical pieces, play ragtime, dabble in jazz, learn pop piano ballads, integrate it into rock songs or even venture into electronica. This versatility makes it great for all musical tastes. If you get bored playing a certain style, you can also easily switch things up. This is not so easy with some other instruments, which tend to be associated with specific styles of music.
4. It Can Boost Cognitive Function
Learning the piano engages the brain in a similar way to learning a language. There is a lot of memory involved when learning scales and compositions and understanding theory is much like getting to know a new style of grammar. This all contributes to sharper cognitive function. For this reason, learning the piano is often recommended to people in retirement as a way to fend off degenerative cognitive diseases like dementia.
5. It’s a Great Stressbuster
Many people find playing an instrument to be a great stressbuster. Learning a new song can be incredibly rewarding and you can keep building your skills, giving you goals to work towards. You can also compose your own songs and use it as a creative outlet. For many people with stressful lives, playing the piano at the end of a long day is the perfect way to unwind.
6. It Improves Dexterity and Motor Skills
Playing the piano also strengthens fine motor control, hand eye co-ordination and finger independence. Through regular playing, you’ll build dexterity in the fingers, hands and wrists, while also improving brain-hand communication. This improved dexterity and motor skills may help when carrying out other tasks with your hands from typing to crafts.
7. There Are So Many Ways to Learn
There are so many different ways to learn the piano, making it possible to find a learning style suited to you. Some people prefer the privacy and focus that traditional one-on-one lessons provide. Others find the peer motivation and collaboration of group piano lessons to be more fun and productive. You can learn piano in person, or you can look into virtual classes. Different tutors will each have different teaching styles, so it’s worth trying out different ones – given the piano’s popularity, there are likely to be many different piano teachers in your area to choose from. You don’t even have to pay for lessons if you’re strapped for cash. In fact, many people self-teach themselves using online videos, books for beginners and even built-in lessons within keyboards. Try to find the learning method that keeps you motivated.
8. It’s an Excellent Instrument for Composing Music
Pianos are excellent instruments for budding composers. By playing around on them, you can easily come up with melodies and unique chord sequences and start forming potential new songs or compositions. If you’re making electronic beats, being able to play the piano could be vital to helping you craft melodies as most modern DAWs contain a virtual piano roll. Physical electronic keyboards meanwhile have the ability to simulate all kinds of sounds, helping you to test out how chords or melodies may sound on other instruments.
Should You Learn the Piano?
There are a lot of good reasons to learn the piano, but ultimately you need to be passionate about the idea of playing music and you need a level of self-discipline to keep practicing. Get started by booking a piano lesson or by purchasing yourself a cheap keyboard to play around on. While you should aim to practice regularly, it’s important that you maintain playing the piano as a fun hobby and don’t turn it into a chore. The moment you start dreading practising, consider switching things up – try learning new songs or styles, or consider hiring a different tutor. Not everyone sticks at the piano, but many people quickly develop the bug for playing. Eventually, you may start looking forward each day to coming home and learning a new song or continuing to compose/record a piece that you’ve been working on. Set yourself goals to keep yourself motivated, but make sure these are goals you personally want to work towards.