I was startled when I saw this headline in the newspaper - TAKE NOTE: PLAYING THE PIANO RELIEVES STRESS. OH MY GOSH, that explains why I have been on the verge of throwing open my windows and screaming at the top of my lungs that I am mad as @#$% and not going to take it anymore!
MY PIANO IS INACCESSIBLE!
No wonder I have been having trouble being my usual, sunny self. In the midst of the frenzied campaign season and hysterical rantings by everyone with an opinion on anything, some days I think my head might explode. Then factor in all those short sale negotiators I deal with on a daily basis and it's a wonder I'm not locked away in a padded room. My current house has no good place for my piano, so it is crammed into a corner in the formal dining room, out of sight and out of mind, neglected and ignored. And apparently this neglect is contributing to a state of mental stress!
According to the article, music has very definite therapeutic benefits for a range of mental and physical health issues. Scientific evidence shows:
- Relieves depression in adults
- Helps children with Attention Deficit Disorder
- Relieved stress and improved mood for nursing students in the study
- Improved immune system and performance in corporate workers
- Relieved loneliness and boosted self-esteem in senior citizens
This is a picture of my piano from old MLS photos, in my living room in Colorado about five years ago. I officed at home then, right around the corner from my piano. I hardly walked past it without stopping to play it for a few minutes.
I have noticed for a long time that I have been missing my piano playing time. I am no virtuoso, far from it. But I love to play, mostly hymns, in quiet times, alone. It kept me balanced, in tune. This new revelation could really explain a lot!
According to "The Piano Guy" Scott Houston, host of a Public Television How-To show, "A good approach for both beginners and experienced music readers is to focus on chords and interpretation, rather than reading note for note. This approach allows you to tap into the health-enhancing and stress-relieving benefits of recreational music-making quickly and easily." He goes on to say that creating music actually imparts an artist's high!
Next time you turn on the TV and hear more reports of the sky falling in, political mud slinging and the financial markets crashing, crank up the music and sing your blues away! Bring on some kind of version of that ARTIST'S HIGH! It beats saying UNCLE and just may bring a smile to your face. At least until the next time you turn on the TV....
Comments(3)