The piano has played a major role in Classical Music
By Azusa Ueno
While a plethora of instruments are ripe for the picking if you want to delve into classical music, one of the best is the piano. Sleek yet undeniably present, the instrument is a sight to behold. The family of keyboard instruments is one of the few that requires full engagement through the use of all limbs. Its comprehensiveness also makes it a go-to as a substitute for a full orchestra when one is not readily available.
The piano commands respect for its distinguished history. Sources say that its direct ancestor is the dulcimer, which originated in the Middle East as early as 900 AD. In fact, there is a parallel. Both instruments use nearly the same mechanism to generate sound–striking a hammer against a string.1
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Many classical composers have written for many instruments, but the piano is undoubtedly well-loved. J.S. Bach, a father figure in Western Classical music, was a noted keyboardist of his time. Although his instrument was the harpsichord (the modern piano was not yet present in his day), he may have based his famed Musical Offering on an improvisation he made on one of King Fredericks’ Silbermann fortepianos in the late 1740s.2 Mozart wrote 18 piano sonatas and 23 piano concertos; Beethoven wrote 32 piano sonatas (and 5 massive piano concertos), whose difficulty remain unparalleled. Fast forward a few eras, and composers like Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff all wrote landmark compositions for the instrument. These are all in the standard piano repertoire today.
Classical Piano’s Big Brain Benefits
An interest in classical piano, and classical music in general, can very well be cultivated from a young age—from the womb, in fact—says Dr, Rob Hicks, a renowned U.K. media-medic. According to Hicks, babies can recognize music that they first heard in the womb.3 Plausible basis also exists for the idea that listening to classical music can aid in childhood development. To this end, Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, a neuropsychologist at Emory University, says that early musical studies can help forge more neural connections early on that may potentially offset cognitive degeneration due to aging.4
1 ‘The Story of the Piano’s Invention’, Yamaha – India, YAMAHA, https://in.yamaha.com/en/products/contents/musical_instrument_guide/piano/structure/index.html ,(accessed 21 June 2021).
2 Bozarth, George, ‘Bach and the Piano’, Early Music Seattle, 3 Feb. 2021, https://earlymusicseattle.org/bach-and-the-piano , (accessed 26 June 2021).
3 ‘Music for Babies: Advice from Dr Rob Hicks’, Classic FM, 6 Jan. 2017, www.classicfm.com/discover-music/mood/baby/music-babies , (accessed 21 June 2021).
4 Cole, Diane, ‘Your Aging Brain Will Be in Better Shape If You’ve Taken Music Lessons’, Culture, 3 May 2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/140103-music-lessons-brain-aging-cognitive-neuroscience, (accessed 27 June 2021).
And of course, there is the oft-proven phenomenon that classical music has a calming effect. Although we may not want to play something as rousing as the first movement of Beethoven’s 5th symphony to put a baby to sleep, we should remember that one of the world’s most recognizable lullabies is, in fact, Johannes Brahms’ Op. 49 No. 4 Wegenlied, a work for voice and piano.
For adults, the benefits of music are manifold as well. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his book, Flow, writes that music “helps organize the mind…and therefore reduces psychic entropy…when random information interferes with goals” (Csikszentmihalyi 109).5 So it comes as little surprise that listening to classical music can greatly help with focus and concentration. Studying classical piano in particular can also facilitate finger dexterity and complex coordination.
So I Want to Become a Pianist…
With all the enticing promise the instrument offers with its vast repertoire and street cred (even the most discerning audience goes wild over pianistic pyrotechnics), its study requires commitment and several other aspects:
● Having realistic expectations: no one can become Vladimir Horowitz or Lang Lang overnight. That said, even the small steps, like learning to coordinate your two hands and then your feet, are huge accomplishments. Bask in those glories along the way–they will help you gain confidence to go to the next step.
● Staying consistent: the average professional pianist can spend up to 6-10 hours a day practicing. Even if a Carnegie Hall debut is not in your future plans, regular effort is paramount to progress. Not only will you see growth over time, but you’ll also experience the joy of notes on the page really starting to sound like music to your ears.
● Play what you want: some piano teachers might say, “you’re not good enough to play this piece yet.” Limiting your curiosities can be a real downer to exploring and having fun. Delve into what you’d like–even learning a small fragment of a larger work can potentially lead to a head start in the future for challenging pieces. Your current level of technique and ability to process will be your most honest guide. And if you don’t feel ready now, know your dedicated practice might make you ready in the future.
5 Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, 9New York: Harper & Row, 1990) 109.
Works Cited
1. Bozarth, George. “Bach and the Piano.” Early Music Seattle, 3 Feb. 2021, https://earlymusicseattle.org/bach-and-the-piano Accessed 26 June 2021.
2. Cole, Diane. “Your Aging Brain Will Be in Better Shape If You’ve Taken Music Lessons.” Culture, 3 May 2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/140103-music-lessons-brain-aging-cognitive-neuroscience. Accessed 27 June 2021.
3. Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper & Row, 1990. Print.
4. “Music for Babies: Advice from Dr Rob Hicks.” Classic FM, 6 Jan. 2017, www.classicfm.com/discover-music/mood/baby/music-babies . Accessed 21 June 2021.
5. “The Story of the Piano’s Invention – Yamaha – India.” YAMAHA, https://in.yamaha.com/en/products/contents/musical_instrument_guide/piano/struct ure/index.html. Accessed 21 June 2021.
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