The piano is one of the most accessible and exciting ways to play music, and no matter your age, there’s always an opportunity to begin. Researchers continue to investigate the way learning an instrument affects the brain. Piano lessons have been shown to have a positive effect on hearing, as explained in the guide below.

Ways Your Hearing Can Benefit From Playing the Piano

1. Prevent Age-Related Hearing Loss

Gradually, many people will experience a decline in hearing with age. Piano lessons teach you to recognize individual notes, which also sharpens your ability to understand human speech. Because of this, the brain processes auditory stimuli more efficiently.

2. Improve Aural Awareness

As you progress through piano lessons, you’ll learn to identify patterns in the music, as well as the slightest shifts in tone and pitch. This ear for sounds can also help you pick up other skills, including foreign languages, which often rely on the same subtleties. Additionally, as you begin to pick up patterns within songs, finding the melody underneath all of the musical flourishes, it will help you better distinguish everyday sounds, even in noisy environments.

3. Overcome Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition that makes it hard for students to read and, therefore, learn at the same pace as their peers. To overcome some of the challenges it presents, including the tendency to switch letters in words (“god” vs. “dog”), they are taught to sound out the letters. However, they sometimes become confused about how these words are different, even out-loud. Music stimulates the brain in unique ways and can sometimes help dyslexics with their phonological awareness by fine-tuning their ability to recognize speech patterns. While it’s not a cure-all, it can be a powerful complement to other professional therapy.

Ready to start piano lessons? Turn to European Piano School. Piano tutor Iryna Dunaeva brings over 38 years of experience to clients in Anchorage, AK, and welcomes students of every age and skill level. Learn more about these classes by visiting her website. Or to make an appointment, call (907) 360-2915 today.