Janis Grummitt - Why I Play the Piano Badly

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Most days I sit at the piano and play Beethoven and Chopin badly. I have recently been encouraged to stick at those few pieces by that great pianist Benjamin Zander. Apparently, after a few years of regular playing I will know them so well that I will be able to focus on playing the music rather than getting the right notes! In my SPECS model for improving the brain this is a ‘cognitive’ tip*.

To be honest, that isn’t what really matters to me anyway. I started playing after reaching the age of 40. I knew that I would never become a concert pianist – or even a really good one. I would always be an amateur. I taught myself because I knew that playing the piano is one of those ‘must do’ brain exercises that would improve my mental functioning as I get older. I decided to play the piano badly. Recently I have found that I actually enjoy playing – even badly.

I started because I knew it would be good for me. I was fairly half-hearted about my practice. Then in 2007 I had an operation to remove a benign brain tumour and I knew that my recovery would depend on building brain function. I started playing every day. I also started listening to music again. Three years later I am sure that my thinking is sharper than it was at 30 and that playing the piano was a major part of that development.

Notice that listening to music alone does not seem to activate the brain as well as playing – sorry those of you who thought that listening might be easier! Listen of course, but try to actively play something as well. There is also a lot of evidence from recent research supporting music in brain recovery. Brain damage of all kinds, including stroke and accidents respond to music therapy.

Here are some tips:

• Learn to play an instrument badly. The piano is most complex but any instrument will do.

• Keep practicing every day (or at least 3 times a week). Your capability is not as important as the fact that you are trying. It is this regular activation that will improve your thinking overall. We are so ‘programmed’ as children to get better and succeed at everything we do that we often give up and make excuses: ‘I am too old to start now’; ‘I’m not a natural musician’; ‘what’s the point if I can never be great’.  It will affect you. Just do it.

• If you have children, give them piano lessons (or whatever other instrument they feel attracted to). The evidence suggests that starting young benefits the brain by making it more ‘plastic’ which is a very good thing as it gives a child more potential*.

• It is never too late to start playing, but accept that you will play badly.

• Buy the rest of the family a set of earplugs for using during your practice sessions!

• http://www.psychologytoday.com/node/43946

• http://www.dana.org/printerfriendly.aspx?id=26122

• http://www.naturalnews.com/z029324_music_brain.html

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