Health Benefits of the Piano

Tomoko has taught piano for 50 years, but you can’t tell by looking at her. She is healthy and full of energy. Has the piano helped? “The piano keeps me young. I have a bit of arthritis, but I play pieces that aren’t as challenging for my fingers, and it keeps them limber.” Even the regimen of daily piano practice keeps Tomoko focused and gives her a sense of well-being.

For centuries music has been known to improve people’s quality of life. Music can both relax and energize you. It can help you unwind at the end of the day, relieving – and escaping – life’s stresses.

These days there is even piano therapy, which can sometimes be more impactful than clinical treatments. Listening to piano music lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels, which can make you feel better and less stress. Music can help you think more objectively and calmly. Low pitched and melodic piano music can help overcome insomnia and facilitate calm comfortable sleep. Classical piano music can also stimulate the body to produce natural painkillers and help patients recover from surgeries. Listening to piano music can also reduce children’s aggressive behavior, and has been used to treat patients with depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

 And those health benefits come from listening.

Think of the benefits of planning the piano. Learning how to play the piano improves your memory and keeps your brain young. It helps for hand-eye coordination plus enhances split concentration. Obviously, playing the piano strengthens hand muscles and makes your arms stronger

Whether you listen to – or play – piano music, it helps you through difficult times. 

With the present COVID-19 situation, piano music can maybe save your life.

Listening to Music

Listening is the other side of the coin for music. While one can play for one’s own enjoyment, the power is in performance that others hear. Tomoko has many insights on this phenomenon.

One of Tomoko’s student’s mother was Indonesian and Baptist. She would stay at the Conservatory while her child took lessons because she “loved the beautiful music.“

Another student of Tomoko's studied at Tanglewood. “I am so surprised that people go to hear classical music. I didn’t know so many people were interested in classical music.”

Tomoko remarks about the quality of the piano as an instrument.  “Part of the discipline of piano performance is to know the instrument, which requires close listening.”

Reinforcing that idea, Tomoko remembers having her students play at San Francisco’s City Hall. “There were 200 people listening, many of whom were homeless. One of the homeless men asked if he could play, and we let him. He played very well, and it made his day.” Tomoko remarks, “I like homeless people more because of that musical connection.”

The space in which the piano is performed impacts the listening experience. Tomoko especially likes the European cathedrals in which concerts occur, emphasizing the community experience.

More generally, Tomoko explains how music brings people together. “Music isn’t just for society ladies, not just for the elite.” She points to the nationalism of Chopin’s work, and the folk songs that Bartok drew upon. “Music is a natural urge, and a way for people to express their commonalities and celebrate.”

So, in the final analysis, listening to music is a way to confirm and reinforce our humanity.