The benefits to students who complete a minimum of TEN YEARS of private music instruction are the MOST significant and students will fall into three categories based on when they begin study:

1) Start Young and Study 10+ before High School Graduation.
2) Start before Age 12 and continue through College.
3) Start after High School Graduation.

(CLICK HERE TO READ A SPECIAL ESSAY WRITTEN BY A LONG-TERM PIANO STUDENT.)

START YOUNG: Students who study music 10+ years before High School Graduation will perform significantly better in ALL their academic pursuits, with strength in the humanities being the area most enhanced by advanced musical study: ability to study foreign languages and ability to read and write at an advanced level. Through the school years such music students will have scored highly on all standardized tests - especially in the area of mathematics. Advanced music students will be leaders in many areas, including school clubs, politics and group projects. If the student studied a non-piano instrument, she/he will no doubt have joined a leading regional ensemble such as the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony, Pennsylvania Honors Band, or Junior Mendelssohn Choir. Advanced music students will often gain early employment as church musicians and even performing for weddings and funerals. The opportunity to pursue music professionally is clearly available and should be considered as an option - even as a second major for college.

START BEFORE AGE 12: Any student beginning musical study after age 8 can only complete 10 years of study if continued well into the college years. Students beginning musical study after age 12 are unlikely to complete 10 continuous years for a variety of reasons - the most important of which is the need to become gainfully employed before resuming lessons. Students in this category are usually ones who decide they really love music and will work deligently and continuously, which is why study continues well into the college years. The possibility of majoring in music is one they will consider frequently, and maybe seriously, but they will realize that their late beginning will always be a handicap. Some of the High School opportunities listed above may be available for the more deligent students, but more likely students in this group will reap the greater rewards in the college years through participation in college chorus, band, orchestra and musical theater.

START AS ADULTS: Students who complete 10 years of musical study can open up numerous opportunities high-level enjoyment of music for the rest of their lives, both as listener and as participant. Normally the adult student with this much study acquire enough knowledge and skill to play the standard literature (Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, etc.) Adult students who study an orchestral/band instrument for at least 10 years are likely to obtain proficiency sufficient to join a competitive community chorus, orchestra or band. Adults who complete 10 years of study are likely to continue for another 10 years as they become very advanced amateur musicians. A select few of this group may pursue the opportunity of a second career in music (music school), if time and financial allow for such an academic endeavor.

(CLICK HERE TO READ A SPECIAL ESSAY WRITTEN BY A LONG-TERM PIANO STUDENT.)