Piano: The Best Instrument For Teaching And Learning Music.

The piano is commonly accepted as the ideal starting instrument for the following reasons:

The Piano is a user-friendly instrument that offers immediate gratification.

The piano is an instrument that offers immediate fun without excessive effort. No arduous training is required in terms of how to make the instrument sound a note. Simply press a key and enjoy the sound—what you get is what you press. You always get the right sound when you hit the right key. The keys are available in a simple linear order, and the piano mechanism is like an extension of your fingers activating the strings inside the instrument for you. Simple melodies can be played immediately with just a single finger. To get a sound from an oboe, a violin, a clarinet, or a trumpet requires considerable early training, which is oftentimes difficult and discouraging to the beginning musician. Creating this early sense of gratification and success is crucial for tender young people, if the goal is to get them to continue with their practice.

Piano is the best “starting” instrument

The piano commonly serves as the “gateway” to learning other instruments, since it constitutes the indispensable musical foundation necessary for learning to play any other instrument. Intermediate piano dexterity is commonly and globally required for most of the related fields in music—whether instrumental or vocal. A good degree of piano proficiency is necessary for any general music literacy curricula and almost any advanced degree in music requires at least one year or more of piano study.

To become an orchestral or choral conductor, it is necessary to be able to sight read and play scores with at least four voices—like string quartets and four-part choral works. Unique to piano training is that it allows for the reading of many separate lines of music so they can be played at the same time, or simultaneously playing accompaniment and singing a Bach cantata or a Billy Joel song. In the same vein, pianists are often better able to analyze, hear, understand and interpret a contrapuntal or fugato style composition with a dense texture and the interaction of the multiple melodic occurrences and harmonic modulations in complex music.

The piano is in tune. There is no need to tune or warm-up the instrument before playing.

Regardless of your skill level, notes are always in tune and ready to be played. Unlike wind or string instruments, piano frees the musician of the often overwhelming concern to get pitches in tune, which can be difficult and discouraging for a beginner.

The piano keyboard is the best tool to teach fundamental music concepts.

Many basic (and more advanced) musical concepts is much easier and expedient to show, demonstrate, understand, and experience on a keyboarded instrument, which results in an enhanced learning experience. The best environment for a child to quickly get familiar and experiment with the basic concepts of pitch, high-low; intervals, chords, and the like is when they are interacting with the keys of a piano.

Piano offers a substantial advantage for learning music theory, since it is easy to visualize and physically feel all the different intervals, scales, arpeggios, chords, patterns, and other elements of music theory. Piano facilitates the learning of music theory, making the entire process faster, easier, more efficient, and fun.

The piano keyboard is the best tool to teach music notation.

The teaching and learning of musical notation is particularly easy with a piano, since there is an immediate correspondence between the piano keyboard and the grand staff with two staves (one for each hand), with five lines—each one corresponding to the five fingers. The musical notes, A,B,C,D,E,F,G, or Do-Re- Mi- Fa-Sol-La-Ti, are easy to find and see, since each key appears on the keyboard in a left-to-right sequential order, which is in harmony with the similar symbolic vertical representation of upward line-space order on the grand-staff.

The piano keyboard is the best tool to teach melody.

The movement and direction of a melodic line perfectly correspond to the directional order of the keys on the keyboard. The notes move up the score as they do progressively on the keyboard. The notes of a melody occur horizontally moving to the right as they must be played horizontally on the right on the piano or keyboard. A high note in the score is a high key (farther to the right) on the piano.

The piano keyboard is the best tool to teach harmony.

The piano can play more than one melody simultaneously; therefore it is called a “polyphonic” instrument. Unlike a flute or tuba, you can play two or more notes at a time producing vertical sonorities called chords which are the main dominion of harmony. With only three fingers, children can play, learn, experiment, identify, and enjoy the thick and powerful sonorities of a full variety of triads (three note chords and their subsequent classification according to their different sonorities and functionality in music).

Since the piano is a harmonic or chordal instrument, when two or more melodic lines coalesce they produce music verticality. Two or more either consonant or dissonant pitches are producing harmony or simultaneous sonorities called chords. Therefore pianists can produce chords of as many as ten notes simultaneously or even more if they press two keys with the thumb finger or even going so far as to create “clusters” with the palm or the forearm.

Not only chords and its varieties but later on chord progressions, arpeggios, melodic structures, improvisational patterns, just to mention some, can be better explained, understood, absorbed and experienced much more easily on a keyboarded instrument. The entire fundamental musical system based on scales, keys, chord sequences and chord functionality as well as the two main musical parameters (among others like rhythm) of pitch, pitch quality and pitch organization such horizontality (melody), verticality, (harmony) and their subsequent correlation cannot be well comprehended without a piano. It is simply the most straightforward and versatile of all musical instruments.

Piano is the best instrument to teach rhythm.

Don’t forget that the piano is actually stringed percussion instrument. It uniquely offers the possibility to first internalize rhythmic patterns and then later experiment with and develop them with success. By simply tapping with one or two hands on the closed lid (gross motor system), and later, with more accurate hand-finger motions (fine motor system), students can easily become familiar with and rehearse regular rhythmic patterns with one key or one chord, before they may apply them to the melodic line, the accompaniment, or both.

Piano is the best rhythmic-harmonic complement.

Since the piano is also a percussion instrument that can produce a rich variety of rhythmic percussive effects, it has been very often part of the percussion family in the traditional symphonic environment, and today it is the ideal harmonic complement for any modern popular musical style. Not only it can it be employed to convey the most romantic scenario, or for a music backdrop to the most desolate scene in a movie, it also can be used to play the most bombastic rock music. You can play a Chopin Nocturne, a Beethoven Sonata, a Scott Joplin Rag, a Bill Evans or Keith Jarrett jazz tune, an Argentine Tango, or just Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star (composed by Mozart by the way), on the very same piano! (I personally prefer the first five of them 🙂

Piano is the best instrument to teach the improvisation.

Most improvisational techniques are based on the identification and manipulation of the non-chordal notes like passing tones, appoggiaturas, arpeggiatos, broken chords, etc.—all ornamental additions to simple chords. The piano unquestionably facilitates the developing of improvisational ability because the additional notes are located around the notes of the chords, they are easily identifiable—visually and tactilely—and with the right fingering, they are even easier to play.

The piano is the most complete and independent solo instrument.

Unlike a flute or viola, you can play melodies with accompaniment on a piano (with cords on the left hand). The piano keyboard geography facilitates a great deal the best way to logically realize and absorb essential and universal music concepts and understand the subsequent complex musical structures in western composition.

The piano has a wide range of pitches.

The scope of a piano keyboard—88 keys or eight octaves—encompasses very low frequencies usually in the dominium of only organs and double basses, and high pitches shared only with a few instruments like piccolos and violins. The piano spans the full range of musical pitches, and there are no other instruments, except professional organs, that have the note coverage to rival that of a piano.

Piano requires constant attention to correct posture.

A good teacher is always deeply concerned about the correct posture when a student is seated and playing. The head and torso, the hips, the legs, the entire body must always return to the neutral vertical axis, thus making the best use of gravitational force to play effortlessly, free of unnecessary tensions with maximum coordination and economy of motion. A balanced posture is absolutely necessary to obtain an effective and efficient piano technique; it frees the body and mind of stiffness, promotes breathing and oxygenation, and facilitates sustained concentration, endurance, and overall performance.

Piano may help the prevention of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury).

Piano requires the right technique, which is focused on the most effective, natural, and efficient posture habits to have an injury-free playing technique. Many pianists as well as computer operators often report RSI symptoms (Repetitive Stress Injuries) such as Carpal tunnel syndrome, Cervical radiculopathy, epicondylitis: elbow soreness or “tennis elbow; ” Ganglion cyst: swelling or lump in the wrist resulting from jelly-like substance that has leaked from a joint or tendon sheath; Reflex sympathetic dystrophy: a condition characterized by dry, swollen hands and loss of muscle control; consistently painful and Tendonitis: tearing and inflammation of tendons connecting bones to muscles and all kind of back pains, and muscle discomforts. Proper piano playing technique and posture encourages the strengthening of key muscles that help to prevent such injuries.

Piano is the best instrument to develop finger-hand-body coordination.

Piano requires the equal use of both left and right hands and all fingers. Both hands are needed, and have to be equally developed and coordinated. Moreover, the piano is unique in that it places demands on both hemispheres of the brain.

You may play a simple five notes patterns in parallel motion, contrary motion, skipping one note repeating a note, hands crossing, in different keys, different octaves, etc. etc. Moreover, playing piano often requires that hands moves fast and precisely from one point other while the other plays long notes or a trill, or a totally different pattern. It may occur that one hand plays the same pattern in different speeds, different dynamics, different keys, different directions and alternating octaves, in addition to the possibility of inverting roles and/or use of imitation, re-synchronization, or alteration as in the case of Bach’s Inventions and Fugues.

This very fact is one of the fundamental reasons why playing piano is the perfect “workshop” to stimulate the brain (cortical areas) and enhance intelligence through the unlimited coordinated training and use and fine motor system (fingers). When you work equally with both hands, developing a high level of dexterity it facilitates the development of the psycho-motor system by equally activating the cortical areas of both hemispheres in such a way that no other instrument, therapy, discipline, hobby, or treatment can.

The piano is the most versatile instrument.

It may have a main role in a concerto with orchestra, in a jazz recital, in a rock concert or in a salsa band presentation. It is difficult to imagine other instruments, like an oboe or and harp, for instance, playing rock or Latin music. Piano can have a role as a solo instrument in virtually unlimited styles and circumstances. You can play it alone or in ensemble, accompanying a voice major or a percussionist. More music is written for piano than for any other instrument. With a piano you can cover a full range of music styles. Unlike other instruments you can play in any of the 12 available keys, with many sharps or flats to obtain different colors and subtle sonorities.

Piano and keyboards offers more freedom

Piano allows for more freedom than other instruments in terms of being able to move, stand, sing and smile while playing. A grand piano has no options in terms of mobility on the stage, but many modern professional portable keyboards do.

The piano has a huge amount of repertoire.

There is a huge amount of music for the instrument in a full variety of styles, lengths, moods, and levels of difficulty. The amount of music and methods existing and in development for piano available around the world is incalculable. In addition, most of the musical masterpieces of human civilization have been written for piano.

The piano facilitates self-expression.

Playing piano provides a perfect means for a healthy higher, non-verbal, subtle level of human communication—heart to heart, soul to soul. Deep inner feelings and emotions can be externalized, expressed, and shared through a piece of music.

Piano can lead to unknown indirect knowledge.

By learning a well—composed piano piece, the performer can mysteriously travel through time and space via the music, creating the opportunity to explore the mindset and emotions of a specific group, culture, society, country, and era—and even the composer’s inspirational motivations.

A piano or keyboard can be connected to a computer.

Digital pianos, electronic keyboards, and even acoustic pianos with special adapters, can be easily attached to a computer via MIDI and/or USB ports, expanding their possibilities to practical unlimited ways in terms of:

Use of hundreds of music software programs providing attractive, effective, and fun training in areas of theory, ear training, intonation, rhythm training and discrimination, perfect pitch, keyboard harmony, music history, music appreciation, and more.

Digital recording, re-mastering, storing tracks, and burning CDs.
Computerized instant music notation, composition re-playing, viewing and printing.
Full-range analysis and manipulations of pitches, chords, melodies, speeds, etc.

Digital pianos and electronic keyboards have different additional piano sounds such as electric pianos, organs, strings, etc. and at least 126 GM built-in additional sounds of many other instruments. In addition thy have useful and amusing features such as automatic accompaniment, drums machines and pre-recorded drum patterns, digital echo and reverberation, metronomes, and the like.

They allow the recording of a piece, and playing it back at a slow speed to detect any imperfection in order to improve a rendition and achieve technical excellence.

Record a melody with a particular sound and add the accompaniment or the left hand with another voice in another track, paste them together or simply combine them with another voice or sound effect.

Piano offers more jobs

There are many more jobs opportunities available for pianists than any other instrument. Piano players are needed in restaurants, lounges, cruise ships, churches (masses, weddings, funerals), bands, shows, recordings (jingles, albums) Pianists can work as college instructors or just teach out of a home studio. Or, accompanying singers, choirs, and instrumentalists, pianists are in demand for lessons, auditions, competitions, and recitals. Pianists are the ones who usually compose movie scores, commercial jingles, music for games, orchestral pieces, sound tracks, etc.

Piano and keyboards offers a potential future career in music production, recording and performance.

Actually there are thousands of professionals and amateur keyboardists who are making a great living (and much more) by producing soundtracks for TV, commercials, and even movies, mostly in their own labs—usually in their own homes just using electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and computers. Since I doubt that the actual keyboard system will be “improved” in the future, the opportunities and advantages that a pianist-keyboardist will have in the near future are unimaginable due to the constant design and manufacturing of new and more advanced electronic keyboard instruments.

Piano can be played by two, four, six, and even eight hands on one instrument.

There are a vast number of pieces, composes for four hands by celebrated composers, and arrangements and transposition of the most famous world melodies and songs.

The piano is commonly the main family and social instrument.

Whether for being the center for Christmas carols, singing Happy Birthday for your grandma, or playing a wedding march or a romantic song for a wedding ceremony, or to dedicate a favorite movie- tune to send a less explicit personal message with a particular feeling. It is an instrument that people gather around, singing and playing together.

Piano develops tactile awareness and memorization.

The pressing of piano keys activates the neural receptors in the finger-pads which immediately are reported to and processed in the brain together with the aural sensations received through the ears and skin. This aural-tactile coordination has many different degrees of correspondence according to the attack, the volume, the color, the frequency of each sound. When playing piano, a particular aural sensation is coupled with a corresponding tactile, and dual visual experience (the score and keyboard) at the same time. Thus, numerous visual or aural sensations are stored in the memory together with those tactile ones. When determined notes chords or patterns are recognized, the stored tactile impressions are automatically recalled to initiate the appropriate playing action. This complex and unique sensory coordination with the intervention of the gross motor system (do not forget the pedals) but mainly the fine motor system, yields a significant list for benefits for the piano student and player. Those results are being increasingly examined and verified by many research studies.

Piano study and practice can elicit positive changes in the mind, body, and spirit.

Piano offers an alternative to traditional meditation therapy. The ability to play and to express one’s self with a musical instrument is very healthy and therapeutic. With the right attitude, piano study and playing can reduce and even prevent stress. Playing the piano can help keep you happy, healthy and young, reduce stress, stimulate the mind, improve hand-eye coordination, improve memory, and teach self-discipline and determination.

Children who learn piano do better in school.

Numerous research outcomes indicate that piano students consistently demonstrate superior artistic and creative abilities, as well as more highly-developed language and math skills. They also score significantly higher on standardized tests like the SAT and perform considerably better solving math problems—particularly those with ratios and fractions.

Piano study and playing requires the player’s total self-involvement.

Piano playing requires a comprehensive high-quality technique. It is the best instrument to develop a coherent, healthy, and efficient body coordination by intelligently working with bio-mechanical laws. Piano study and playing offers the ultimate life-long personal benefits since playing requires the player’s total self-involvement. Playing the piano is one of the most complex of human activities, one which calls for the full and coordinated participation of the body, mind, and heart with a good technique. A high quality technique requires:

1) quality of motion; 2) economy of effort and energy; 3) proper breathing.

1) Quality motions are achieved by knowing, understanding, and applying the body’s bio-mechanical laws. It is a conscious way of making use of “teamwork” in which the burden of the task does not rest exclusively on the fingers, but is intelligently distributed between all the body parts. This proper activation, cooperation, and coordination results in less stress, less overwork, less fatigue. When one part of the body is ignored it becomes less active or rigid. To compensate, another part of the body then is needlessly overused, thus becoming overworked, exhausted, and in some cases even injured.

2) Economy of energy is simply the conscious and clever substitution of force and muscular tension for the advantageous use of gravitational pull. The proper use of controlled weight relieves the pianist of improper and excessive use of force that is concentrated in only one part of the body.

3) Proper natural breathing is often thwarted by bad posture, restricted practice habits, over-excitement, fear of failure, involuntary muscular tension, among many other possible factors. It is an unawareness of the constant need to feed the brain and the muscles with vital oxygen during special complex and stressful activities. Conscious and programmed breathing with the musical sentences that is free of tensional or postural blockages, as in singing, is a vital function for full concentration, endurance, stamina, avoidance and control of stress, expressiveness, and the joy of playing.

The ignorance of these fundamental principles, unfortunately so common among many uninformed, outdated, inexperienced, ill-prepared, and otherwise amateur piano teachers, has led to many talented but frustrated musicians, suffering from habitual body-mind blockages.

Dull, poor, and inexpressive mechanical playing is a direct consequence of poor technique, a mediocre teacher, lack of proper practice, or all of the above.

Piano playing requires the full body participation in a coordinated way.

The tip of fingers makes contact with the keys, but the whole body must contribute in an extremely refined, efficient, and integrated participation. As the pianist’s hands have to almost literally “dance” on an 88-key, 4-foot-wide keyboard “stage,” it is obvious that hands, wrists, fore and upper arms, head, torso, hips, legs and feet are indispensable participants in that accomplishment.

When one part of the body is ignored it becomes rigid and hindering the rational bio-mechanical “teamwork” for healthy playing. To compensate, other parts of the body are then needlessly and mistakenly used, and thus dangerously overworked.

Pianist are required to develop a high quality technique with a huge variety of efficient and effective motions, all adopted in consideration of the knowledge available to them, intelligent thinking, accurate control, kinesthetic skill, and adequate breathing. elaborate

There are countless ways to activate a key and to produce different dynamics and colors. A total kinesthetic awareness of various body motions and their intelligent synchronization—all in harmony with logical bio-mechanical laws—is often hard to visually detect, but it is absolutely required for skillful playing. This approach to playing allows a student to develop effortless technique, overcome physical and mental hurdles, and play with joy and creativity. In addition, it also prevents injuries. In conclusion:

VIVA EL PIANO!

Piano: the best instrument for teaching and learning music.

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