How to Apply Aspects of Piano Lessons to Everyday Life
Becoming a successful piano player through lessons and practice is, indeed, its own reward. You begin to develop pride in your playing as you reflect on how far you’ve come, and as you progress further, you may enjoy performing for others and sharing your gift.
What you may not realize is how you can take what you are learning at your keyboard and apply it in other areas in your life. In this article, we will go over several of these applications.
Self-Discipline
In school, in our careers, and in our personal lives, self-discipline is a crucial key to success. It is certainly true that the more you discipline yourself, the less other people will feel an impulse to discipline you. You are more likely to stay out of trouble, gain respect, and build solid, long-lasting relationships with a healthy amount of self-discipline.
Regardless of where you are on the path of your musical education, you reached that level through constant practice, dedication, and focus. These are the hallmarks of self-discipline and can be applied in many other parts of your life. Yes, it takes work, but the benefits are strong and long-lasting.
Logic
A certain set of notes make up a chord, certain chords make a pleasing chord progression, and most pieces of music are made up of notes and chords that sound good together. In other words, there is certain logic to music theory and performance. (Certain avant-garde pieces may not sound logically put together, but these are composed, by and large, by artists who rigorously studied, practiced and mastered the basics before bending the rules.)
In the worlds of science, medicine, business accounting, mathematics, and other numbers-based fields, logic is paramount. A small amount of study will reveal that many excellent pianists also have strong analytical minds. Much of this strength may have been achieved by making connections with notes and chords, being able to predict what the next logical note or chord could be (important in composition), and determining how loudly or softly to hit the keys to achieve the desired effect.
Creativity
Whether you have started composing your own music or are simply figuring out a different way of playing a well-known song, learning and playing music usually leads to an increase in your creativity. Your creative mind will often reveal new ways of approaching the familiar, or even creating something completely new in unexpected ways.
Something that is often overlooked: Organizations and institutions of all stripes are looking for leaders and employees with creative vision. As the world’s means of production and information-sharing continue to evolve and change, new ideas are needed to both accommodate these changes and set forth the necessary changes of the future. Applying your creativity in any number of non-musical pursuits can lead to unparalleled success in your chosen field.
Keep Playing!
These are just a few of the many ways in which your musical skills can apply in other parts of your life. As you progress in your training, remember: You are not “just” learning piano. You are learning important skills that can enhance and improve your life in many ways.