subject: Why You Should Learn Piano Songs [print this page] Many adults have fond - or not so fond - memories of piano lessons when they were children, but few retain enough into adulthood to play a scale, let alone a song. The reasons for this are varied. Many were forced into the lessons, practiced only under compulsion, and quit as soon as they were permitted, only to regret it later in life. Others simply lacked the time, had teachers that did not make the learning fun enough, or had no way of practicing at home. Of course, kids have no way of knowing how respected a talent music will be in their adult lives, or how fun knowing even a few pieces can be. While studying to be a concert pianist takes a lifetime, fortunately anyone can learn piano songs for fun: it is never too late.
Even if your goal is to learn piano songs to play for your kids, or a few popular hits to impress your friends at parties, it is important to start with the basics. Videos on the internet will help demonstrate the best posture and way to hold your hands. Another step that may have been boring as a kid is to learn some basic scales and arpeggios. The benefit of these is to build muscle memory, train the ear for typical sound patterns, and warm up your muscles. While it may seem that your hands and one foot are all that is involved in piano playing, watch a professional at a concert some time - strength in arms, shoulders, and back are all involved if you want to move beyond Chopsticks or Mary's Little Lamb.
If you really want to learn piano songs to impress your friends, a little practice every day or every other day is important. Get a book of basic, varied scales and exercises, and do not let them seem like a chore. Select at least one song to use as a goal for yourself; music stores have stacks of sheet music in every genre. If you have a child, you can also learn alongside and provide an example while growing closer together. Playing the piano is not only fun, it is an upper body workout, helps sharpen the mind, and is excellent for working through emotions like frustration or depression.
