| The piano bench, it is an unassuming little piece of | | | | that the teacher chooses compared to the music that |
| furniture. It needs its bigger companion, the piano, to | | | | the child enjoys? Does it depend on the ability of the |
| carry out its purpose for being. Sure, you can stack | | | | child to sit still and keep his or her mind on the task? |
| stuff on it or play cards on it or, in a pinch, eat lunch on | | | | The value of piano lessons, however, is inestimable. At |
| it, but piano benches are carrying out their reason for | | | | the physical level, kids are able to begin picking up |
| being when they are being sat on and music is | | | | musical talent before they start school. Babies are able |
| emanating from the piano. The companion of the | | | | to match a pitch they hear and to reproduce a rhythm. |
| bench is the sheet music cabinet. Most piano benches | | | | And learning music is like learning language and learning |
| hold a small amount of music, but they quickly become | | | | to read. There is a cut-off point at which this learning |
| overloaded and music begins to pile up on the top of | | | | becomes much more difficult. For piano lessons, this |
| the piano. A sheet music cabinet solves this problem | | | | age is around eleven. Studies have shown that piano |
| nicely. | | | | lessons at an early age make physical changes to the |
| This unassuming piano bench can be either a beloved | | | | growing brain. Children who take lessons score higher |
| friend or an instrument of torture, particularly to the | | | | on the verbal and mathematical sections of the |
| child who is given the priceless gift of piano lessons. | | | | Scholastic Aptitude Test. But benefits go beyond the |
| Children react to or take to piano lessons in different | | | | physical. In later years, people who took lessons as |
| ways. Some love the music and take to the practice | | | | children are open to greater musical pleasure in |
| quickly and with enthusiasm. For them, the bench is a | | | | adulthood. One of my great pleasures is singing in the |
| friend. Other children, whether they love or do not care | | | | church choir. You do not have to read music to sing in |
| about the music, just do not like to practice. For these | | | | the choir, but it sure helps. Also, listening to music is |
| poor little kids, the bench is an object of torture. Sit | | | | more pleasurable when you know something about |
| them down on it and they will squirm and daydream | | | | how the music is put together. |
| and watch the clock until the practice time is over. | | | | While the piano is probably the best instrument for |
| What makes the difference between these two music | | | | learning a lot of different aspects of music, a child who |
| students? I do not have the answer to that question, | | | | sees the bench as an instrument of torture might thrive |
| but I wish I did. Is it related to the amount of talent that | | | | on another instrument. Marching in the band is also a |
| the child is born with? Does it depend on the music | | | | rewarding way to learn music. |