Piano Lessons

Why Take Piano Lessons?

Ok, we’ll start with the obvious here – you’ll learn to play an instrument. Not only is that pretty cool in and of itself, it will definitely raise your status among Gleeks and Idol-heads alike.

Not a big part of the arts-and-music crowd? No worries, there’s a lot more to gain from learning to play the piano, like:

Increased self-esteem.
Better coordination.
Strengthen your ability to set goals and accomplish them.
Heighten your concentration skills.

Cool, right? So check it out — this stuff gets REAL good.

It turns out that learning a new instrument can have a bunch of positive side effects, like:

Higher results on SAT scores: “In 2002, SAT takers with coursework/experience in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 41 points higher on the math portion than students with no coursework or experience in the arts.”

Higher IQ: “After nine months of weekly training in piano or voice, new research shows young students’ IQs rose nearly three points more than their untrained peers.”

Enhanced Verbal Skills: “Music training, with its pervasive effects on the nervous system’s ability to process sight and sound, may be more important for enhancing verbal communication skills than learning phonics…”

Increased Ability to Learn New Languages: “…it is easier for musicians to detect changes in how high or low a sound is. What does this mean for language? It means that it may be easier for musicians to learn new languages because they can more readily detect the auditory differences.”

Increased Positive Personality Traits: “New research shows that musicians’ brains are highly developed in a way that makes the musicians alert, interested in learning, disposed to see the whole picture, calm, and playful. The same traits have previously been found among world-class athletes, top-level managers, and individuals who practice transcendental meditation.”

That’s great and all, but what about Adults?

Are there any benefits from learning to play piano later in life?

Turns out there are! Becoming a musician can:

Slow Down Memory and Hearing Loss Due to Aging: ”…when compared to their non-musician counterparts — musicians 45- to 65-years-old excel in auditory memory and the ability to hear speech in noisy environments.”

Decrease Your Chances of Developing Dementia: ”…seniors ages 75-80 who frequently played a musical instrument were less likely to develop dementia that those who rarely played. This protective effect of playing music was greater than the benefits derived from other cognitive activities such as reading, writing, or doing crossword puzzles.”

Produce Positive Results in Motor Skills and Memory…compared to those who don’t take music lessons at all.

Why Take Lessons From Me?

I mean, seriously, who are you?

My name is Jani (pronounced “jay-nee”) and I have just over four years of experience teaching beginner and intermediate piano lessons. Past students have included those as young as five and those as old as…well, I was too polite to ask. I began teaching by volunteering to give free piano lessons to Minneapolis inner-city school children through the University I was attending at the time. Today, I travel to student’s homes in the following zip codes to teach:

30004
30005
30009

In lessons, I draw on a diverse and unconventional background in classical and contemporary music that includes vocal training with a Dale Warland singer and a coach to Grammy and Dove award contenders, piano training with a prodigy from Hong Kong, as well as experience in the studio, on the stage, in front of a camera, and behind a soundboard.

Every teacher has their strengths and weaknesses.

If you or your child is looking to be a concert pianist, I am probably not the teacher for you .
If you or your child is looking to explore what music has to offer in a relaxed, enjoyable environment, then I am the teacher for you!

To see if your lesson time is available, or to speak with me further about what I have to offer, click the sign up button below! (There is no charge until the first lesson is actually conducted.) Or, take a look through the Piano Lessons menu at the top of the screen!