We know from Brain Rules for Baby and from Nature Reviews Neuroscience that learning to play an instrument is beneficial for a child’s development. Now it begs the question: “which instrument?”

The Wizard Music Academy offers 18 tongue-in-cheek reasons why that instrument should be the piano. I found them to be amusing but also true so I decided to post them here:

1. Piano is the considered the granddaddy of all instruments.
2. Every great composer played piano – from Beethoven to McCartney to Lady Gaga.
3. The visual representation of the keyboard helps you understand the logic of musical structure.
4. The Piano is the root of the tree that branches out into other instruments.
5. If you play piano, you can adapt to organ, harpsichord, etc.  In our electronic age, you can use a digital keyboard to reproduce the sounds of almost any other instrument.
6. A digital keyboard is the choice for creating digital music.
7. It’s a great tool for songwriting.
8. Playing the piano makes you look (and feel) sophisticated.
9. Good keyboardists are in demand and can generally earn more than the other members of the band.  Through the art of MIDI, the keyboardist is usually the one driving the sounds.
10. Family members can live vicariously through you.
11. You can be very popular at parties.
12. People will automatically assume you’re a genius. Honestly, people may utter, “He/she plays the piano” in the same tone reserved for “He/she has an IQ of 174.” You just can’t help but admire someone playing an instrument.
13. Piano playing is good for your hands.  You will strengthen your fingers and they will look better too.
14. A Piano is a piece of furniture that we would all love to have in our homes.  It’s amazing how many homes have a piano that no one in the household can play.
15. Deep down, everyone wishes they played the piano. Have you ever read other people’s New Year’s Resolutions lists?  If you haven’t I’ll tell you which wish consistently pops up: “Learn to play the piano.”
16. Piano playing is SATISFYING. It’s truly one of the most satisfying things you can do. There’s no feeling like playing a difficult song and playing it flawlessly.  It’s quite an ego-boost.
17. It would give you an excuse to go out an buy a piano.
18. Piano playing is FUN.

As a former music student who used to play the piano, I couldn’t help but agree with all these reasons. Then again, I have always been partial to the keyboard. But you have to admit that this has a certain appeal…