1. Benefits of Piano

2.  Mental and Physical Health  Child Development  Mathematics and Other Subjects  Learning New Instruments  Brain Development  It’s Never Too Late!  Personal Benefits

3.  Reduce Stress and Depression ◦ Lowers blood pressure and helps respiratory system ◦ Less feelings of loneliness  Musicians have less ageing in the part of the brain that leads to hearing loss  Increases the Human Growth Hormone ◦ Slows ageing phenomena such as osteoporosis and wrinkling

4.  Better in school ◦ Piano practice helps develop discipline and patience ◦ Larger vocabulary and stronger reading skills ◦ Memorization skills ◦ More self confidence from performing  Shown to help children with learning disabilities ◦ Can focus better when there’s a lot of background noise

5.  Children that learn piano have been shown to have higher skills in areas such as math, engineering and language skills ◦ Students who continue with piano through their teenage years average 100 points higher on the SAT exam  In 1994, students who majored in music had a 66% acceptance rate into Medical School  Piano has higher benefits than other musical training such as singing since it requires focus for longer periods of time

6.  Piano Music Theory requires you to learn how to read sheet music for other instruments such as violin  Understand the dedication required to learn a new instrument

7.  Increases Coordination ◦ Brain learns to process the act of looking at a note, translating that into a piano key and then communicating that to your hands.  Adds new neural connections ◦ Primes the brain for other forms of human communication such as expressing oneself emotionally  These benefits are shown to last

8.  The benefits of piano will show no matter what age you start playing ◦ Increases in memory, verbal fluency, planning abilities and other cognitive functions  Adults who learn piano have had a lot of personal and skill-based benefits ◦ Personal: Dream fulfillment, escape from routine, personal accomplishment... ◦ Skill-Based: Music knowledge, skill improvement and refinement...

9.  Performing forces me to come out of my shell  Helped me through some difficult times  Has given me a passion for music  Being a role model for younger students  Given me more opportunities

10.  http://www.cooperpiano.com/piano-player- blog/bid/53723/Top-10-Ways-Playing- Piano-Makes-You-Healthier-Smarter http://www.cooperpiano.com/piano-player- blog/bid/53723/Top-10-Ways-Playing- Piano-Makes-You-Healthier-Smarter  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2 014/01/140103-music-lessons-brain- aging-cognitive-neuroscience/ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2 014/01/140103-music-lessons-brain- aging-cognitive-neuroscience/  The Benefits of Adult Piano Study as Self- Reported by Selected Adult Piano Students