Should You Become a Pianist? The Surprising Benefits Explained

Ever heard of Franz Liszt? He was a pianist from the 19th century; one who could light up any room with his mere presence, just like my video intro suggests. The charisma he carried was unheard of at the time, and the term ‘Lisztomania’ was tossed by his contemporaries to describe the unprecedented phenomenon.

Though Franz Liszt was known for his outgoing character and good-looking appearance, there is no doubt that his piano playing was central to his persona. It was his piano virtuosity that created the aura that followed him wherever he went.

(Wikipedia excerpt)

How piano playing changed my life

Like Franz Liszt, I too built my character surrounding the piano. See, I used to be a pretty shy, introverted kid who didn’t feel comfortable speaking his mind. But that all changed when I delved deeper into the art of piano playing. It was no instant transformation, though it didn’t take long for me to realize: as my piano skills grew, so did my self-confidence. Not just as a pianist, but in general. Through consistent piano practice, I managed to become a happier person. Someone who works hard to achieve his goals and perhaps most importantly, who inspires others along with it. 

I say most importantly, because when you come from a mindset of insecurity, reaching a point where you’re able to inspire others is unironically a life changing feeling. The smile I see on people’s faces when I share my honest passion with them and show off my piano playing feeds my energy like nothing else.

Over time, my built up confidence spilled over to all areas in my life. Simple things like talking to strangers became more natural to me. But that was just the beginning. I mean, if I could master a piano piece that once seemed impossible to play, why wouldn’t I be able to achieve other goals in my life that might seem impossible to attain today? My mindset shifted to a place I had never experienced before. From now on, the sky was the limit.

The benefits of piano playing

Which brings me to the point of this blog. Perhaps you can relate to my story, and you feel like you lack self-confidence too. Luckily, I know from experience that there’s a way out. Now, I’m not saying piano playing is the one and only way out, but It’s the one I’m familiar with, and I’m telling you it works! Once you’ve decided if piano playing is something you would enjoy doing, all that is left between you and ultimate self-confidence is consistent effort.

Even 10 minutes of practice a day can be enough to significantly improve your quality of life. Though it might take months or even years to attain just a fraction of the charisma someone like Franz Liszt had, there is no doubt you will start feeling the benefits of your effort in a matter of days. 

Which by the way is not only extra self-confidence. Practicing the piano consistently will also:

• Grant you insane discipline, helping you achieve your wildest goals and dreams in the long run. Because again, when you finally master that piano piece that seemed impossible to play, you'll start to truly understand the value of your efforts. 
• Another benefit is that piano playing is a great emotional outlet. Whether you’re feeling happy or down, there will always be a place for you to express that inner state, in favor of your mental well being. It’s like free therapy!
• And last but not least, if it was not obvious already, piano playing is the funnest activity there is, especially if you’re good at it. Trust me when I say that you will never feel bored again.

How to get started with piano playing

In other words, there are more than enough reasons for anyone to go start their pianist journey. Now obviously, it’s not easy practicing the piano on a regular basis, but instead of focusing on the difficulty of doing that, think about the great benefits it will give you. Once you internalize the reason why you’re practicing the piano, you will have no issues whatsoever keeping up the work required to make your pianist dream a reality. Like German philosopher Nietzsche said: “He who has why can bear almost any how”.

So the question at the beginning, which is whether you should become a pianist, really comes down to another simple question: do you actually want to become a pianist. In other words, do you care about the benefits that come with piano playing? That is a question I'll let you decide for yourself, based on the information I gave you in this blog. 

If you do decide that the path of the pianist is the righteous path for you, I would like to recommend to you my other blog in which I explain the 10 essential steps to becoming a great pianist. It will guide you on your way of improving your piano skills, even if you don’t have any past experience or access to a piano teacher.

If you’re interested in more motivational piano content, as well as a whole range of useful tips & tools, make sure to save our website and join the mailing list. See you in our next blog!