My father had dreams of having a prodigy in the house. He was hoping a piano lesson could help do the trick. My brothers and I tried our best not to annoy our very patient piano teacher to death. Years later, I realized my father was right.

With two kids of my own now, I’m thinking of the same thing. A piano lesson can be a wonderful gift I can give to my kids – it’s practically a rite of passage. Some experts say that when kids learn to play piano, they pick up some invaluable skills:

It Develops Creativity

Children actually learn better through music, and learning to play piano can improve your child’s visual learning skills. Visual learning stimulates creativity because it deals with how the brain visualizes ideas from the things we see around us.

Confidence

If they’re too shy, kids can start performing for family and friends and go on from there. Seeing an audience appreciating all their hard work will make them want to practice harder to get better. When they learn to play piano at recitals, you can see how much they want to make their parents proud.

Focus

Playing the piano requires a certain focus which can be developed through practice. It’s important however that kids start lessons at 7 so that they can sit still and listen. They should be able to follow instructions and know basic math and the alphabet to learn how to read notes.

Coordination

Did you know that piano playing involves a lot of eye-hand (and foot) coordination? Piano pieces have to be played with varying degrees of loudness and softness which require a lot of energy. It’s almost like competing in an athletic sport!

How to Have Wholesome Family Fun

Most of all, its fun. Having a piano in the house makes for enjoyable family times! Why not try taking lessons yourself to go along with your child? It beats parking in front of the TV all day long.

While I didn’t exactly end up at Carnegie Hall, playing the piano was certainly a fun part of my childhood. If you want your child to experience some memorable times, (along with picking up skills that can be useful in life) – help them learn to play piano. As my father used to say, ‘You never know unless you try.