[JSR] Picking up Piano during Quarantine

Playing the piano is a wonderful quarantine activity. [Source: Author, Jasmine Jhun]

COVID-19 has, without a doubt, taken away so much from everyone’s lives. Schedules and plans have all been thrown out the window due to the pandemic, which led to the dismay of many people. But as many started to live their new lives in quarantine, they were quick to realize that taking advantage of this extra time to do something productive is a great way to spend one’s days. One quarantine activity I personally recommend is learning to play the piano.

Jasmine Jhun, Grade Grade 10 Valencia High School

Playing the piano comes with many benefits and is something that can be genuinely fun. Immersing oneself into the world of music through this versatile instrument can allow them to improve their mind in multiple ways. Creativity is a large component when playing tunes; pianists must have the ability to communicate with audiences through melodies alone, so practicing this instrument can let creativity run wild. Learning to read sheet music with music theory whilst utilizing techniques, such as in playing the keys, can also improve cognitive and muscle memory. Last but not least, playing the piano can simply help one relieve stress by letting them escape into the calming world of beautiful songs. The many skills that can be enhanced along with the comfort piano brings can truly make playing this instrument an amazing experience.

For beginners, starting something new can definitely be difficult. However, with all the wonderful potential outcomes, it is certainly worth a try. It may be concerning to future pianists when they discover that pianos can cost thousands of dollars, but this should not stop one from pursuing their goals. Keyboard pianos are just as good to learn on and can come with more convenience, since it is much smaller and easier to transport. Quality keyboards can be found at good prices, even as low as a hundred dollars. After obtaining an instrument, learning without a physical teacher, due to social distancing rules, can, understandably, be challenging. If self-learning is not a preferred method, there are still various online resources available. Piano lessons can be taught virtually by instructors through many programs, such as Fusion Academy’s Summer Class. There are also numerous apps and sites to teach piano: examples include Playground Sessions, Skoove, and Piano Marvel. Some of these even include free options. Although starting to learn a brand new instrument may seem intimidating, there is still help and support from all around.

For those who already have piano experience, quarantine is a great time to work on in-progress pieces or learn new songs. One pianist explained, “Before quarantine started, I was really busy with my schedule, and I only had time to practice classical pieces for homework. But now that I have so much more time on my hands, I can not only continue to practice those songs, but also learn pieces I actually want to learn, including more modern ones. Nowadays, I feel like I have a lot more freedom when it comes to playing the piano.”

Despite the fact that COVID-19 has caused so much misfortune this year, it is still wonderful that people continue to stay positive and find interesting extracurricular activites to participate in. Learning the piano can be very rewarding because it can improve one’s self and allow for more opportunities to help others with the skills gained. Even though the pandemic has drastically changed everyday life, there is always time to start something new.