The Life-Changing Benefits of Learning Classical Music

PianoCareerAcademy logoCan I become good at jazz/pop/rock if I also learn classical piano?
I love classical music, but it seems so complicated – is it really worth my time to become good at it?

I get such questions quite often.

In our modern times, classical music* is slowly starting to transform into a ‘legend of old’. It is shrouded in mystery and myths. Embarking on a ‘classical journey’ can feel overwhelming for many music lovers: I’m too busy for something so difficult! I can already play by ear, so why should I bother with learning musical notation? Yes, my technique is very bad, but I can still play a few songs – what’s wrong with that? Wait, what is a ‘showpen’? ::) ;D

The fact that serious classical studies are usually ‘hidden’ behind closed Conservatory doors (being only available to a select few) doesn’t help the situation either.

As a classically-trained professional pianist with more than 30 years of experience, I’m literally on a ‘mission’ to dispel myths, unlock doors and make you fall in LOVE… not just with classical music, but also with the EXCITING and LIFE-CHANGING process of studying it, and discovering its extraordinary treasures.

So how will classical piano benefit you? Is it worth the time, effort and discipline? Will you need to play boring exercises for ages before you can play a beautiful ‘song’? Is the technical training as tedious as you have heard? Isn’t it all about talent, anyway?

As a child, you probably played with Lego blocks.

Yes, you read that right. If you wanted to build a Lego house, you would first take some bigger blocks, and make a foundation. If the foundation was solid, you could fit ANY block on top of it!

The same can be said about classical music: it is the best foundation, period.

The piano, in its turn, is by far the most versatile instrument.

Therefore, if you combine ‘classical’ with ‘piano’ – you get THE magical key that opens all musical doors: jazz, pop, rock, improvisation, playing by ear or by chords… they all fit with ease on a classical foundation – just like Lego blocks.

On the other hand, if your foundation is made of random pop songs, or ‘playing by ear’… all the other doors will sadly remain closed (not to mention the usual resulting problems: bad technique and injuries, expressive deficiencies, big gaps in your knowledge… and this list has only just begun).

WHY is classical music so special and powerful?

Well, where should I begin? The benefits of classical music (and the classical piano repertoire) are too numerous to fit into one article. I will still try to ‘scratch the surface’:

  1. Incredible value (artistic, intellectual, philosophical, and even spiritual).

Have you heard of the ‘test of time’? It means that only the most valuable art survives the passage of time and remains relevant hundreds of years after being created. A certain song might be a ‘hit’ today – but if it doesn’t have real artistic value, it will be completely forgotten 5 or 10 years down the road.

Only the most remarkable musical works written in the past are still here today. The ‘test of time’ has separated the wheat from the chaff. The result? The masterpieces of the great classical repertoire are AMAZING. They make us think and feel, they inspire us to grow, and they have a powerful message that goes beyond the reality of their times.

The good news is that you don’t even have to fully understand this message in order to be touched (and transformed) by your contact with classical music.

Classical pieces have lots of ‘layers’ – and you will keep uncovering their secrets for as long as you live. It is a never-ending adventure that will help you to become wiser and kinder. After only a couple of years of classical studies, you will see the world with new eyes – and this will only be the beginning!

Classical music will open and sharpen your mind, deepen your knowledge, widen your horizons, nourish your spirit, and make your entire life richer, more alive, more colorful and fulfilling.

From here results the next mega-benefit:

  1. Practicing classical music is the ultimate ‘gym’ for your brain.

Chopin once said: Simplicity is the final achievement. Just like Mona Lisa’s smile, or a sculpture by Michelangelo, many classical ‘musical jewels’ seem very simple at first glance. This simplicity can be compared to the surface of a big lake. Its calmness is a result of its depth.

Classical masterpieces are full of hidden treasures. They are complex, deep and intellectually demanding – and they challenge (and train) your entire being: mind, body, emotions and spirit. Music is art, math, physics, literature, and yoga. It requires the finesse of a jeweler and the endurance of a marathon runner. It teaches you more about yourself than most other human activities combined.

The brain of a classical musician is a force of nature. Working on a Fugue by Bach, a Sonata by Beethoven or an Etude by Chopin will improve your:

  • awareness,
  • hearing,
  • imagination and visualization skills,
  • memory,
  • mental and physical coordination,
  • motor functions,
  • creativity,
  • attention to detail,
  • discipline and patience,
  • emotional intelligence…

… and this list can go on and on.

Have you ever wondered why so many great musicians live long, active and harmonious lives? (just think Rubinstein, Horowitz, Richter, Argerich, Ashkenazi, Barenboim etc.) It’s because our art keeps the mind, body and spirit young, flexible and full of life!

  1. Masterful and effortless technique.

Good technique is like salt in a tasty dish: if it’s there, you don’t even notice it, and simply enjoy the meal. If it’s not there, the food has no taste, and it’s very difficult to eat.

Good technique is that ‘magic place’ where the natural functionality of our body meets the piano mechanism. It is based on smart ergonomics, and makes good use of gravity and leverage. Good technique is effortless and brilliant. It is extremely efficient: creating a powerful sound, playing an impressive fast passage or a series of difficult chords – they all require minimum muscular effort if done correctly (and there’s no harmful fatigue involved).

Good technique is fluid, tension-free and healthy. It protects you from injuries and gives you full expressive freedom.

It’s not possible to play classical pieces WELL with bad technique. That’s why all serious professional piano methods (especially the Russian piano school) include rigorous and progressive technical training.

Of course, it takes a bit of time and practice to learn whole-arm action, weighted playing or wrist navigation. It does take patience to acquire freedom and learn how to ‘fly’. In the long run, however, this little investment will yield massive results!

And no, it’s not as hard and tedious as you think. Good technique is NOT trained separately, by doing endless finger drills – this is just another myth. In the Russian piano school, technique is developed as a harmonious part of the whole – while practicing beautiful music.

After mastering a piece by Bach, Liszt or Rachmaninoff (even an easier one!), modern music will very rarely challenge you. Playing a pop song, a rock ballad (or even a more difficult jazz piece) will feel as effortless as breathing.

Remember the Lego metaphor? Professional piano technique has that power too.

  1. Develop REAL expressive skills.

Without classical training, musical expression works like this: one person in a million ‘gets it’ naturally (because of their talent). The rest simply press the right notes with the right fingers, in a mechanical manner. They envy the ‘talented’ ones, thinking that musicality is a question of destiny.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Musical expression is more than 95% science, and less than 5% talent or inspiration. With a bit of patience (and the help of a good teacher) anyone can learn this science!

Classical music is your best ‘expressive dojo’. A lyrical piece by Schumann or Tchaikovsky, a witty Dance by Shostakovitch, a melodious Waltz by Chopin or a delicate ‘sound painting’ by Debussy – these masterpieces will help you to understand and develop good sound quality, phrasing, dynamics, sound balance and voicing, articulation, intonation, pulsation and rubato

Yes, expressive playing doesn’t just ‘happen’ on its own, and we DO have names for all the ‘puzzle pieces’ that make your playing come alive and shine. And yes, you can learn all of them!

  1. Best theory teacher.

Let’s face it: music theory can get a bit boring after a while. Some people get a kick out of it – while others pull their hair out while trying to understand chord inversions, modulations, or the intricacies of resolving the Dominant 7th chord to the Tonic or the Submediant.

Is your head spinning by now? It doesn’t have to be!

If you follow a good classical piano method, all these theoretical elements will be introduced gradually, in a fun practical manner! Instead of trying (and failing) to memorize what a Dominant 7th chord is – you will simply find it in your piece, play it, listen to it, enjoy its sonority, understand it, practice it… and one day you will happily discover that it has already been assimilated, naturally and effortlessly.

Add some scales & arpeggios to the mix – and you will also be able to improvise, build chord progressions, and ultimately write your own music.

  1. Become a musical ‘Sherlock Holmes’.

By learning how to understand classical music, you will develop phenomenal analytical skills.

Mastering a classical work is not just about reading the notes, and pressing them with the right fingers. It’s also not just about adding some ‘expressive effects’ into the mix and playing with good technique. Yes, all these things are important – but only if we understand WHY we do them.

A music score is the ultimate puzzle. Musical notation is probably the most complex language ever invented by humankind. Plus, a good musician doesn’t simply read and play the symbols from the page. He also learns how to ‘read between the lines’ and decode the subtlest messages that were cleverly hidden by the composer behind ‘innocent-looking’ notes, stems, slurs and rests.

As I always tell my students – analysis is golden. By learning how to analyze a piece, your practice becomes clear, targeted and very efficient. The result: meaningful, expressive, beautiful playing!

There’s also a cherry on top of this cake: if you learn how to analyze a classical piece, a modern song will look like an easy verse written by a 3-year old. I’m not joking! You’ll take a look at the sheet music, understand it instantly, and play it as if you wrote it yourself.

Is classical music ‘too hard’?

All right, I get it! – you might say at this point. Classical music is good for me – but it’s still HARD! Who has time for it these days? I just want to have fun!

Here is where PianoCareerAcademy comes in.

Yes, my Piano Coaching Program is based on classical music and the professional principles of the Russian Piano School. However, it was not created to overwhelm you with boring hard work. It’s quite the opposite: my purpose is to help you find joy, balance and fulfillment in your practice!

The learning experience at PCA is enjoyable and harmonious. It is an exciting step-by-step adventure. You will explore, discover and conquer. You will develop ALL your piano skills in a holistic manner (not just your reading or ‘finger technique’). In the process, you will also grow as a musician and human being. Yes, you will need discipline and perseverance – but you will also find success and fulfillment.

In my tutorials, the East and the West form a harmonious symbiosis:

  • on one hand, you have the unique opportunity to go ‘behind the curtain’ and discover the secrets of the Russian piano school from the comfort of your own home;
  • on the other hand, I make this professional-level information easily accessible and fun!

Conclusion. We all like quality products. Our gadgets, our cars, our homes, our clothes – we want them to be well-made, reliable, and beautiful. We are aware that creating such products takes more time and resources – and we accept it.

So why would we have a different attitude when it comes to ourselves, and our skills? Why only accept an awesome phone, but settle for mediocre piano skills? Why have a home made of stone, and a ‘piano house’ made of straw?

Classical music is the ultimate ‘high-quality’ experience. It is the best foundation for your musicianship. It will help you to become the best version of yourself. It is the journey of a lifetime.

Are you on board?

Begin the adventure today by joining my Piano Coaching Program at PianoCareerAcademy.com! You will get instant access to many hundreds of exclusive tutorials for all levels (including step-by-step courses and fun interactive projects) that will help you to discover a whole new universe of beauty, harmony and skill!

And don’t worry: besides studying the classical repertoire in a progressive manner – you will also be able to savor many healthy modern ‘desserts’: delightful jazz and pop songs, piano transcriptions of famous orchestral works, easy arrangements of inspiring movie soundtracks… because we can fit ANY Lego block on top of a good foundation!

It’s time to hear your playing come alive and shine! 8)

P.S. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn (and now also on Pinterest!) to get instant updates, support and motivation! ;)

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* The term ‘classical music’ doesn’t just refer to the works written in the Classical Period itself (roughly between 1730 and 1820). Today, this term is used very broadly – as a synonym for Western academic professional music, describing a wide variety of musical styles dating from the 9th century to present (as opposed to the modern rock, pop and jazz styles). It usually refers to baroque, pre-classical, classical, romantic, post-romantic, impressionist, expressionist and neo-classical music. This term keeps evolving and expanding as new works of art appear.

If you enjoyed this free online piano lesson, here are some other piano learning and practice topics you’ll like:

Why I sometimes ‘stray’ from the musical text in my tutorials: a holistic investigation

No piano? How to practice anywhere

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16 Responses to “The Life-Changing Benefits of Learning Classical Music”

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  1. Anabela San Vicente says:

    Very interesting

  2. Diane Swanson says:

    Great article- makes me appreciate the inestimable value of classical music more.

  3. John says:

    You make a valid point, Ilinca. As a general rule theory should be drawn from the music being learnt; it’s application is much more obvious and the appreciation of its sound is driven home. As an 82 year old pianist, teacher and conductor with a university training that goes a long long way back I have always tried to do this and its impact is always evident. Congratulations on what you are doing for music around the world. You are needed even more in these days.

  4. Peter Burke says:

    Pity you failed to mention the genius of Mozart, his music is such an incredible experience, a range of expression like no other composer, a beauty which Albert Einstein recognised as unique.

    • Ilinca says:

      As I mentioned in my article – this topic is too enormous to fit in one post. Of course a LOT of important things remained unsaid. Sadly, most people these days have very short attention spans, and cannot handle long reads. For me, the most difficult thing is to make deep and complex information ‘accessible’ and not ‘overwhelming’ while still providing value. Obviously, there is no ‘perfect’ or ‘exhaustive’ way of doing it.

  5. Arthur Cembalest says:

    I play classical guitar and I loved your article. I relate to what you are saying. Practicing guitar and mainly classical music has made my life of 78 years much richer. I wish more people could understand. I know you are focused on piano but guitar also give the same benefits.

  6. Sheila Novitz says:

    All that you say is true. I have lived with classical music all my life, i.e., from age 2 to age 78, and would not have it any other way. Unfortunately I do become impatient with “pop” and “rock”, as it is all so simple and childish – and noisy! Yet it seems to be accepted and enjoyed by most people as the only “music” worth listening to. Possibly on account of the poor educational methods employed today. That is, classical music is scarcely ever included in what is considered a “worthwhile” education.

    You are doing a wonderful thing for people everywhere, and I wish you success in bringing the enjoyment and understanding of classical music to many, many folk worldwide.

  7. Robert Werblin says:

    For reasons I cannot truly understand, there are many, many people who just aren’t “moved,” “touched” by classical music. My wife will say “when are the words?” I actually believe that these people, and, again, they represent a huge number, have been genetically cheated, that they don’t “feel,” don’t experience what I experience when hearing great music. I do love many other forms of music, Rock, New Orleans Jazz, pop of the 30s – 60s, B’way, and others, but not quite to the extent as classical. I know I get an endorphin release from grat music, just as I do after about 16 min. strenuous exercise on my elliptical machine. Unfortunately, there are very significant numbers who will never experience the emotional and other immensity positive effects that classical can have. It is what distinguishes us from other species and represents the highest and most impactful activity of, and greatest achievement of human beings.

    • Ilinca says:

      Hi Robert!

      I don’t think that those people who cannot appreciate classical music were genetically cheated. In my opinion, things are much simpler than that: if you only feed pizza and fries to a young child, that’s what they get used to, and that’s what they crave. So if one day when they’re 25 you suddenly feed them a healthy vegetable-based meal, they will think it is disgusting or tasteless, and ask: “Where is the grease, the crunch and the strong flavors?”

      Of course, personal preferences play a role as well – but mainly, this is a question of education, exposure and receptivity (which is something that can be trained and cultivated).

  8. Alvin Schryvers says:

    I agree 100% on what you have in this article. My musicals background is voice and dancing. I am 78 and have a short memory and short attention span and that is why I am hesitant in signing.

    • Ilinca says:

      Thank you, Alvin!

      Learning music is the best training for our memory and attention span :). Also, we don’t practice piano because we already have a great memory (or other skills). We practice to develop them.

      Age is not a problem, because we can either invest our time in learning, or simply let it pass. Yes, there ARE limits to what we can achieve after a certain age – however, being a musician is not just about achievement. It’s also about growth (which can happen every day, at any age), and also joy and fulfillment. You can learn more on this topic by reading my reply to question No. F3 from our FAQs at PianoCareerAcademy.com (where I talk about age and piano playing).

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