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Adult Group Lessons

Playing the piano is fun! It is also good for you because it exercises the brain, slows heart and breathing rates, and brings about a general feeling of wellbeing. The brain is like a muscle - it gets stronger with regular workouts. It grows weaker if it is not exercised - use it or lose it.

Playing the piano involves manipulation of the fingers, which stimulates nerve endings that go directly to the brain. Fingertip nerve endings correspond to more areas of the brain than any other body area, except perhaps the tongue and lips. National Institute of Mental Health studies show that finger manipulation involved in playing the piano enlarged the capacity of the brain, increased connections between neurons, forged new neural pathways, and increased circulation to the brain areas. Increased circulation means more oxygen and nutrients for the brain cells and decreased waste products that clog up the brain. The researchers concluded that finger exercise involved in playing the piano contributed significantly to brain plasticity and the ability of the brain to renew itself.

Playing the piano also involves hand-eye coordination and the use of both hands. It stimulates and activates blood flow in both sides of the brain and enhances the brain's natural ability to form new connections. Stimulating communication between the two hemispheres of the brain slows the brain aging process and even helps physical balance.

Structure

Adult Group Lessons provide fun, engaging and challenging piano instruction for adult beginners or adults returning to lessons after playing as a child. Groups are limited in size and each person is provided with a keyboard for lessons. Each group will move at its own pace learning to play by ear, play chords, and read notes and will gain the combination of skills necessary to play the piano for their enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.

Adult students taking group lessons will be able to:

• Read music and play the entire keyboard using correct hand position
• Play major keys, all chords and chord symbols, major and minor scales
• Play by ear by learning intervals and using chords and chord symbols
• Recognize key signatures
• Write and play all styles of music