Many of my adult students tell me that one of the reasons they want to play the piano is because they want to keep their brains young and ward off the dreaded dementia of old age. Most people seem to be aware that research clearly shows that certain activities help keep the brain "fit," and playing a musical instrument is high on that list. Playing the piano is said to be at the very top of the list. There are several reasons for this.
But this does not mean that any old way of playing the piano will do the trick. There are certain habits and skills that must be developed in order for the brain to get the most benefit. In this post I will cover the major ways to practice that will keep your brain young. Many of these topics have been covered in previous posts, but here I will highlight how they help the brain.
1. Play hands together as close to 100% of the time as you can.
Using both hands simultaneously builds the corpus callosum, which is the area between the two hemispheres of the brain. Essentially it is a tightly packed network of connecting nerve fibers. Everyone has this area, but playing the piano causes more connections to be formed. I have read that when an autopsy is done and the brain examined, it can be determined immediately whether the person was a pianist, just by observing the highly developed corpus callosum. People may say "but it's so difficult to play hands together!" That is because the corpus callosum is not yet developed enough. That is why you must play hands together anyway -- so that you build the corpus callosum, which in turn will make it easier to play hands together. Even if you just play a simplified part in one hand -- just so long as one hand is not in your lap -- the corpus callosum will continue to grow.
If you are a more advanced player and want to take your brain skills to the next level, play with hands crossed. I don't mean a whole piece or a difficult piece at full speed. Just start by taking a short passage from the music you are playing and literally cross your hands, so the right hand plays the left hand's part and vice versa, and play as slowly as necessary to accomplish it. Then immediately go back to playing it normally and see if it doesn't feel amazingly easier! I can't explain the scientific reason (although there is some research on this), but I am 100% certain this helps build the brain's capabilities.
2. Develop the ear.
Of course when we speak of the ear in music, we are talking about the auditory cortex in the brain. Again, the ear is being used and minimally developed even with the most basic playing. But if you want to really develop the ear, you have to challenge it (just like stressing muscles makes them stronger). This can be done by playing by ear and transposing. When I speak of transposing, I am referring to taking a piece of music and playing it in a different key. This can be done by eye (if using written music) or by ear, or a combination of both. Using the ear as much as possible is what will help build the ear.
Another way to strengthen your ear is to sing! If you stop to think about it, you will recognize that the ear and vocal chords have a direct connection. You cannot see your vocal chords or direct them how to sing a given note; the brain just sends the signal and the vocal chords respond. Many people have trouble singing on key, but this is not a deficiency in their vocal chords -- it is a deficiency in the auditory cortex. So sing whenever possible and make every effort to sing on key. It helps to have a teacher to guide you through this if you find it difficult, but it can be done to some degree on your own. Make a habit of singing. (Hopefully it will also bring you joy!)
3. Memorize.
It is well known that one of the first things to go as most people age is their memory. If you want to keep your memory strong, you must use it! These days with all your phone numbers, birthdays, and much other information programmed into your phone or computer, there are far fewer opportunities to use your memory than there used to be. I recommend you try memorizing the phone numbers and birthdays of several people, just to make sure you can do it. Then expand to more quantity of information. It might seem like a hassle, but your brain will thank you for it.
Memorizing music is among the best ways to keep your memory strong. If you find it difficult to memorize, start with a very simple piece that you have learned and commit it to memory. Then keep going with progressively more complex music. There is a great deal to be said about how to memorize securely, too much for this post. Again, a really great teacher can help you. If you have learned the piece by ear, as opposed to from reading the written notes, then you automatically have it memorized. This proves that ear and memory are intimately connected. The more you build your ear the better your memory will be, and vice versa.
4. Recognize patterns.
Music is full of patterns. Repeating themes and motifs are what hold music together, so to speak. Without patterns it would just be rambling unrelated tones. Some patterns are obvious and some are more subtle. In any music you play, learn to identify the patterns. Pattern recognition is a part of many IQ and other cognitive tests, which shows it is an important skill for the brain.
It is believed that playing an instrument such as the piano uses more parts of your brain simultaneously than any other activity. It uses the parts of the brain that control motor skills, auditory, visual (as in reading music), cognitive ability and emotions. (Don't forget about always playing with emotional involvement or you will miss out on that part!) So you can see why playing the piano is the ultimate brain-development hobby. No sport or other artistic endeavor can even come close.
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