Learning how to play the piano means engaging the visual, motor, and auditory parts of the brain all at once. This multitasking strengthens the neural connections between each part of the brain, which can help boost your memory and even help you build up your problem-solving skills while keeping cognitive decline well and truly back.

So it’s good for your brain and your wellbeing. It’s fun to learn, and you can also make friends along the way. All that’s left is to take the will, and turn it into reality by following this quick-fire guide:

Picking Your Beginner Piano

If you don’t have a piano at hand already, then you have three main options:

1. Acoustic Piano: These pianos make the sound naturally using strings. They are stunning, their sound is rich and relaxing, and they offer the correct weight to train your technique on. They also, however, need more maintenance to keep in working order.
2. Digital Piano: If you would love a real piano, but don’t have the space or the budget, then you can get a digital piano instead. These are great alternatives since their keys can be weighed down to mimic a real piano. You also have extra features, like playing with headphones in or using the built-in metronome.
3. Keyboard: If you were always more into electronic music and music making, you may prefer a keyboard. These are much more portable, and their keys are very light in comparison to other options. This can be essential for those living with arthritis in their hands.

If you still live in your own home, then you can play anywhere. However, you may have fewer options if you live in a retirement community. If there’s a public piano where you live, then you can use that. Otherwise you’ll want to pick out a digital piano since you can play through your headphones.

Choosing (and Reading) The Music

You’ll want to pick up beginner method books that help walk you through the different techniques needed to play the piano and easy piano songs. One thing far too many students fall into the trap of is that they can’t play the modern or classical songs that they love until later. This isn’t true. Don’t worry, either, as there are simplified versions of most songs, allowing you to play without being overwhelmed.

As for how to read music, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with:

1. Note positioning on the page and on the piano
2. Treble vs bass, or, in other words, which hand does what
3. Sharps and flats, How to match the sharps and flats you see on the page onto the piano.

Learning How to Play

Once you have everything that you need to play, it’s time to start practicing:

1. Find middle C and become familiar with basic tunes.
2. Learn how to match a metronome
3. Improve your playing posture
4. Have fun with it

Piano can be learned via an app, online tutorials, or even in-person coaching, so find the approach that works best for you. All that matters is that you practice, so get started and keep at it.