As a parent, it’s important to guide your children to activities that will benefit them both immediately and in the long term. One of the most constructive is instruction in music, such as piano lessons. Here are a few ways this can benefit everything from your little one’s intellectual development to their emotional health and practical skills.

Why Should Your Child Learn to Play the Piano?

1. Intellectual and Mental Development

One of the best-studied aspects of musical education is the positive role it plays in helping young people develop the cognitive skills needed to succeed academically and in adult life. In one study, 6-year-olds given six years of piano lessons experienced an average increase in IQ of 7.5 points compared to those who waited until age 7 to begin learning music.

Because playing the piano and other instruments requires the development of mathematical skills, critical thinking, spatial reasoning, and other abilities, it can contribute to higher test scores and better grades overall. As a result, piano lessons can improve your child’s prospects and enable them to explore challenging topics such as advanced mathematics, science, and the arts.

2. Emotional Health

Just like adults, kids can become stressed and anxious, and outlets for this stress are essential to maintaining and improving overall emotional well-being. For example, children who spend a little time playing the piano exhibit significantly less stress and fewer symptoms of depression than those who engage in other creative activities.

One of the most constructive elements of piano lessons is receiving and processing feedback. Accepting and building on criticism is a skill critical to success in professional life and personal relationships. When young people are given feedback on their efforts with the piano, they’ll have opportunities to learn to respond to the criticism healthily and to capitalize on it for their own benefit.

3. Social Skills

Many people find it difficult to form new friendships and connections, and kids are no exception. One of the best ways to provide a basis for healthy relationships is through shared interests. A musical education can help your child to join groups like bands or piano ensembles. There, they can build confidence and meet like-minded kids with similar experiences and interests with whom they can build lasting friendships.

To provide your child with these and many other benefits, schedule piano lessons with European Piano School in Anchorage, AK. Experienced teacher Iryna Dunaeva has nearly five decades of experience in teaching kids of all ages. She offers private lessons six days a week throughout the year to help young musicians throughout the area develop their skills in an instructive, supportive environment. Call (907) 360-2915 to ask about enrollment, and visit the website for more information.