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Why you need to take weekly piano lessons

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: London Piano Institute, Motivation, Piano Lessons, Piano Playing Facts 20 Nov 2017 Comments: 0 Tags: piano instruction, piano lessons, piano tuition

The importance of taking your piano lessons weekly. Why you need to persist and persevere to become the pianist YOU want to be!

Beginner-Piano-Course-with-Celine-Gaurier-Joubert-in-London-Mayfair

Taking weekly piano lessons is the best way for you to make SERIOUS improvement in your piano playing!

At the London Piano Institute we offer excellent quality weekly piano lessons in London.

It is our utmost desire to help YOU as an adult succeed at playing the piano and we will do everything in our power to help you learn!

Success is build upon a solid foundation.

We do not neglect important foundational elements.

We want to help you learn and get ‘there’ as quick as possible, without compromising quality!

In this article, you will discover why weekly piano lessons is paramount.

Learning how to play the piano is something that many adults want to do!

In my daily teaching studio, I often hear adults tell me: “I have always wanted to learn the piano! It was a dream and finally, I can make it a reality!”.

I personally think it is wonderful to hear someone pursue their dreams!

We have one life and we have to make the most of the time that we have and definitely DO SOMETHING just for us!

If you are considering piano lessons, then you absolutely need to read this article.

In today’s world we get bombarded with information and how-to-instructions!

You may have watched several YouTube piano tutorials and even tried to play a little by yourself.

What we lack is good-old-fashioned world-class piano instruction and that is what we have set out to offer you at the London Piano Institute!

So without further ado, lets go right into the reasons why you need to take piano lessons with an excellent piano teacher in order to become proficient at playing the piano!

Weekly piano lessons with a great teacher can motivate you and help you with your piano-workout discipline!

Learning how to play the piano requires a frustrating component (for some) called practice!

If you want to get better at playing the piano, you will absolutely need to practice and put in the required time to improve.

Practising piano is not always fun!

It is sometimes boring and at times downright frustrating!

If you play the same piece for the umpteenth time and make the same mistakes over and over again, you WILL feel like pulling your hair out!

However, do not despair!

If you have a great piano teacher who provides you with excellent piano instruction, you can simply ask him or her what to do!

Tell them you are frustrated and share your feelings…

If they are any good, they will DEFINITELY motivate you to get better!

Of course, whining does not help, you should only speak to him or her if things are tough. (In that manner)

A great teacher will then remind you that every single pianist in the world has been at EXACTLY the same place again and again.

Frustration and hard work is part of the process of becoming a pianist.

You do not become a pianist without working really hard and developing excellent habits to conquer the complex world of playing music!

What a great teacher will do for you here is to get you to believe in yourself again and take up the baton and start practising again!

So the motivation that you will get from excellent piano lessons are of itself of tremendous value!

Weekly piano lessons will help you develop the correct technique, habits and mindset

Playing the piano requires a proper technical foundation.

Without a proper technical foundation, the building will crumble. (In this case your piano playing)

By studying the piano with an excellent piano teacher you will learn how to sit correctly, play correctly, move your hands correctly and so much more!

You cannot hope to learn this by yourself on YouTube!

It is too complex and it requires the input of a professional who has spend years learning the art and craft of piano playing!

You need a SOLID technique and that can only be acquired with the help of an excellent piano instructor during your piano lessons!

By taking weekly piano lessons you are committing to the process of learning the piano

process

Learning how to play the piano is a process that takes time and effort.

By attending weekly piano lessons with a great piano teacher, you are showing that you are a committed individual and that you are taking it seriously!

My very best piano students study with me at least twice on a weekly basis.

Some of our students at the London Piano Institute even attends classes on a DAILY basis.

Is this overkill?

I personally do not think so!

If you want to improve your playing you need quality input.

You need excellent weekly tuition.

You may not have enough time to attend on a daily basis, but once per week should be the bare minimum if you want to see serious results.

Of course, attend your weekly piano lessons is commendable, but you also need to attend your daily private piano practice if you want to see results!

You will increase your piano playing incrementally on a weekly basis (until it explodes!)

pianist

Do not be fooled!

We do not make progress in life with one big change and suddenly see the success that we’ve always wanted to see.

No, real change happens day by day.

“We are what we repeatedly do!” the great philosopher Aristotle said about 1700 years ago!

The key word here is: “repeatedly”.

By taking weekly piano lessons, you are creating the best possible environment for you to thrive as a piano student!

Sure, it will take time, effort and great education, but by showing up to your piano lessons on a weekly basis you will definitely make great progress!

One of the reasons why we (generally) do not allow a lesson per fortnight in our standard courses at the London Piano Institute is because we know that it generally does not work well.

We have discovered over the years that it is the weekly appointment in person or via Skype that makes all the difference.

The truth is, anybody can learn how to play the piano.

All you need is excellent piano instruction on a weekly basis and the ability to practice what is necessary on a daily basis.

Everything else is superfluous!

After some years of arduous study, you will play the piano!

It is basically a mechanical process.

It requires dedication, effort, and weekly input!

Weekly piano lessons will help you to benefit from EXCEPTIONAL growth!

Growth

Your primary goal when it comes to learning how to play the piano is to get better at playing the piano!

By taking weekly piano lessons with an excellent piano academy in London you are proactively choosing to become a better pianist.

Weekly piano lessons will help you benefit from exceptional growth.

Exceptional growth happens when apply yourself wholeheartedly at every lesson with your piano teacher.

Missing lessons, rescheduling appointments is not the way to grow.

The secret is attending every week of the year… yes up to 52 weeks a year if possible. (Of course we do take breaks, so in reality you will really receive 48 lessons per year if you attend weekly)

In my opinion if you want to really get explosive piano growth, then you should attend EVERY opportunity at hand.

Be at every concert.

Attend every masterclass.

Participate in every seminar… and throw yourself in with plenty of zeal and zest!

The more passion you apply to your learning the better you will become! (In a shorter period of time)

In conclusion:

Your piano future is in your hands.

You are the master of your fate.

You decide your limits!

I recommend that you do everything possible to improve.

If you are able to, I suggest attending twice weekly!

My best success stories come from students who see me for 2-3 hours each and every week.

Remember you get out what you put in!

You must make the choice.

YOU must decide to be great!

Success will happen when you choose.

So to conclude: get the best quality piano lessons on a weekly basis to give yourself the BEST chance of becoming the pianist that you deserve to be.

Mix that up with regular, focused practice and the sky is the limit!

Yes, I believe YOU can succeed!

Famous people who play the piano!

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: Piano Stories 19 Apr 2017 Comments: 0 Tags: celebrity, music, piano, piano lessons

Discover famous individuals who also play the piano!

Here at the London Piano Institute, we believe that anyone can learn to play the piano. If you’re willing to learn and dedicate your time, you can do it – no matter your experience, age, or Twitter follower count! Did you know that these famous faces are also proficient at the piano?

Clint Eastwood

Fact of the day: as well as being an actor and a director, Clint Eastwood is also an accomplished pianist! Before becoming an actor, Eastwood seriously considered pursuing a career in the world of music. He didn’t give up his passion for the piano once he became one of the world’s most famous acting stars, however, as he composed the score for his own films such as Mystic River, Changeling, and even Million Dollar Baby.

Britney Spears

Despite being constantly on the go since the late 1990s, America’s favourite pop princess has taken on the task of learning the piano in her spare time. You can see her perform one of her biggest hits, Everytime, in this vintage clip from an ABC special about her life on the road.

Richard Gere

If you’ve ever seen Pretty Woman, then you will have seen Gere’s piano ability for yourself. Not only did he play the solo piece featured in the classic film, he also composed it himself! His interest in music started early on his life, playing several different instruments when he was in school – including the piano, and even composing pieces for his high school’s productions

Condoleezza Rice

Probably the most accomplished player on this list, the former U.S Secretary of State learned how to play as a teenager. Before doing her degrees in both Economics and International relations, she dreamed of one day becoming a professional concert pianist

Robert Downey Jr.

When he’s not starring in blockbuster films like Iron Man and the Sherlock Holmes series, Robert Downey Jr. is also a keen pianist. He’s played the instrument and had an interest in music for many years, performing in bands and even releasing his own album in the early 90s before becoming one of the world’s best loved actors.

Want to follow in the footsteps of these A-list celebs? We can help! Get in touch with the London Piano Institute to book lessons with a professional teacher with years of experience guiding adult learners

How to choose a suitable piano for you

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: How-To 12 Mar 2017 Comments: 0 Tags: buying first piano, how to buy a piano, piano lessons, purchasing a piano

An article on how to select a suitable piano!

Selecting the right piano for you is absolutely vital. In this article you will discover a few tips to help you find a piano that will bring you years of musical pleasure!

Set a realistic budget

Pianos can be costly especially grand pianos. Therefore it is vital to set a realistic budget.

If you plan to purchase a digital piano a budget between £280 and £700 should do.

For upright pianos we recommend a budget of between £1800 and £5000.

For grand pianos a starting budget could be around £3000 for a good quality second hand instrument.

A good Steinway grand can be as much as £100,000 so be prepared to pay if you are looking for a very good quality instrument.

The beautiful Steinway Alma Tamada was sold for $1.2 million at Christie’s in London in 1997.

What a truly magnificent instrument!

Talk to your piano teacher

One of the best places to go for advice when picking out a piano is to your teacher. They should always be your first port of call as they’ll have a good understanding of the level you’re playing at and plenty of knowledge to help you pick out the right piano for you to practise on. They may also know of people that are selling used pianos and can point you in the right direction.

Do some research

Don’t just buy the first piano you see. Instead, do plenty of research into the different types of pianos available within your price range. This could be something you discuss with your teacher and fellow students, as well as reading online reviews and magazines and visiting showrooms so you can get a feel for the instrument.

Visit our recommended digital pianos on the London Piano Institute

We do recommend a few high-quality digital pianos on our webpage and if you are looking for a good quality digital, simply look no further.

Here are two pages that you can browse with a selection of digital pianos:

Make sure you try (properly) before you buy!

When you’ve got a good idea about the type of piano you want, it’s an excellent idea to try playing on a few different ones too, this will allow you to see how comfortable you feel and how you like the sound and touch of it. If possible, take an experienced pianist with you so they can try playing on the piano as well and give you feedback on the one they personally prefer.

Inspect the instrument thoroughly

Once you’ve decided, make sure you fully inspect the piano to check that it is fully as described.

Remember a piano with a cracked soundboard may be worth far less than the asking price.

It is vital to have a piano technician or someone who really knows when buying a second hand instrument. (Especially if it is an expensive instrument)

New spaces available for lessons on Tuesday and Wednesday evening – book now before the slots get booked up

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: Piano Courses 10 Feb 2017 Comments: 0 Tags: adult piano lessons, City piano lessons, group piano lessons, Mayfair piano lessons, one-to-one piano lessons, piano lessons

WARNING: Space is limited – act now!

As you may know, space is very limited at the London Piano Institute.

Especially evening slots.

We currently have the following LIMITED evening openings at the moment:

Openings in the City from March 2017:

Tuesday 7pm, 8pm
Wednesday 7pm, 8pm

Openings in Mayfair from March 2017:

Tuesday 6pm, 7pm

Book your piano course now before it is too late!

Group piano tuition: (Lessons take place in the City)

We also have space in our group piano courses on the following slots:

Monday 8pm
Wednesday 6:30pm

Contact Stefan at enrol@londonpianoinstitute.co.uk today to avoid disappointment.

Remember we specialise in outstanding piano tuition for adults and we love helping you learn!

You are NEVER too old to start and we believe that you are talented.

You just need excellent education along with daily practice to achieve your boldest musical dreams!

We look forward to helping you learn!

The surprising productivity benefits of piano lessons

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: Career development, Motivation, Stress Relieve 06 Jan 2017 Comments: 0 Tags: piano lessons, piano lessons benefits, piano lessons career, piano lessons productivity

Learning to play the piano has MANY benefits and will make you a much more productive individual!

Finding the time to pursue any hobby can be a challenge, especially when you’re juggling a demanding career and the daily pressures of a home life. But that doesn’t mean you should give up learning a new skill or stop taking part in something you enjoy. In fact, taking up piano lessons could give your productivity a boost and help you achieve more when working.

Many people already know that simply listening to music can help you focus and concentrate in a work environment. Melodies can encourage the release of dopamine, which can give you a boost if you’re lacking motivation or feeling fatigued. Research has found that those listening to music complete tasks quicker and are more likely to come up with creative ideas. The increase in productivity was linked to music improving the overall mood and, as a result, having a positive impact on output. However, learning to play a musical instrument can give your productivity an even great boost!

Increase your ability to learn

Picking up new skills is always useful regardless of your current age or position. Taking up an instrument has a positive impact on brain connectivity and spatial intelligence and research even suggests that it can give your IQ a small boost. These benefits can make it easier for you to pick up new skills and improve your workplace productivity.

Boost your creativity

If you work in a creative industry learning to play the piano can give you another creative outlet that can benefit your career.

Creative thinking can be a positive in any career and help you plan new, effective ways of tackling problems.

Every time you practice the piano you will have to use your creative side! The great thing about learning to play the piano is that both sides of your brain gets a super workout!

Improve your concentration and multitasking abilities

Learning to play the piano requires a lot of concentration and your ability to focus will increase as you get better at playing this beautiful instrument!

Also, by playing with both hands, your multitasking abilities will skyrocket in time!

Becoming better at multitasking is a definite asset in any demanding professional career!

So, by learning to play the piano you can kill several birds with one stone!

On the one hand you will increase your IQ, become more productive and learn how to multitask better! On the other hand, you will have lots of fun whilst learning and reduce your work related stress!

You can only benefit from learning to play the piano!

Learning the piano will make you relax!

In this modern world we are often required to be switched on at all times!

We have hundreds of emails, texts and other things screaming for our attention! (Isn’t it a little ridiculous!)

One of the greatest gifts of learning to play the piano as that you will forget everything at work and discover a wonderful world of music!

You will leave your stress behind and discover the world’s best relaxation technique: “learning to play the piano!”

Now more than ever, Londoners are discovering the joys and benefit of joining a piano class!

You deserve something for you – just for you and learning to play the piano may be just what you have been looking for!

For more details on our courses please visit the following pages:

What to expect from your first year of piano lessons

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: Beginner Piano Guide 04 Jan 2017 Comments: 0 Tags: adult piano lessons, piano lessons, piano skills, what to expect piano lessons

Learn what you can expect during your first year of piano playing!

Yes, It can be daunting attending your first piano lesson but you’re not the only one that’s been in that position and your teacher will understand. Whether you choose to have private or group lessons you’re likely to want to know how quickly you’ll progress and develop your new skills.

Of course, everybody is different and how you progress will depend on a whole range of factors, from your natural aptitude for musical instruments to how much time you spend practising outside of lessons.

At times, it can be frustrating if you feel like you’re not picking up playing the piano as fast as you’d like but it’s important to remember that patience is needed and often you’ll find the more you relax and enjoy it the better your playing becomes over time!

Your first few lessons

Your first piano lesson is likely to be a gentle introduction; We won’t expect you to be playing anything instantly at this stage!

The basics, such as sitting at the piano correctly, positioning your hands and how to touch the keyboard properly, are often the first steps taken and are important for building on later in lessons.

If you’re entirely new to music we will also explain how musical notes are written and what each one means in relation to the piano keys. Of course, some actual playing will be involved too and a scale or simple melody is likely to be where you start out.

The first steps towards success is always laying a strong and solid foundation and that is what we aim to do in the first steps of your piano journey!

After six months of piano lessons

Many people taking up piano overestimate how much progress they’ll make in a short period. Learning the piano is a challenge, though a rewarding one. For many people after 6 months of piano lessons they find that they can read most of the notes on the staff and play several scales pretty well!

You should be able to play simple musical compositions with both hands and your co-ordination should improve a lot at this stage.

If you are working through Carol Barratt’s book ‘The Classic Piano Course Book 1’ (you view it here), you should be about half way through or perhaps a little further on!

The first 6 months is really all about laying a strong foundation to build upon for the future.

At the London Piano Institute we have a policy to make sure that all our students learn how to play piano properly even if it means more time, effort and focus!

We may take a little longer to get you to play exciting pieces of music but in the process we make absolutely sure that you learn how to play using the correct technique. (From the first lesson!)

We are also very serious about note reading and we want you to be very comfortable when it comes to reading a musical score as well as understanding the markings on the musical score!

After one year of piano lessons

After a full year of lessons, you should feel comfortable sitting at the piano and hopefully you’ll find playing more relaxing, fun and rewarding.

Playing the piano means you’ll be able to develop and work on the skills you’ve gained during the first year to further develop your playing abilities and the work certainly isn’t over after a year of lessons.

However, some of the foundational building blocks are now in place for you to grow from.

Please note that it can take many people several years of piano lessons before they become competent pianists!

You should by this stage (depending upon several factors) move unto the graded examinations if that is your cup of tea or work on more complex compositions of a relatively easy standard. (Around grade one)

If you had previous experience as a child, you may move unto higher grades such as grade two or three depending upon your level of playing after one year of lessons.

Of course if you are studying jazz piano with us, you should start to be very comfortable with the basic triads and seventh chords and start to feel a bit better about improvisation and how to improvise over easy chord changes.

It is always very difficult to predict where you will be within one year of lessons, as it really depends upon the amount of time you practice, how many lessons you take per week and your dedication/passion in thinking about the piano outside of the lessons!

A student who takes four lessons of one hour on a weekly basis who practice for two hours daily will most definitely see a far better result than the same student who attends a 30 minute class per week with 10 minutes of daily practice.

It is therefore imperative to practice diligently and apply yourself faithfully in your piano journey!

If you do not have too much time, then be willing to take more years to learn!

The piano will always be around for you to play on and you will achieve your musical goals as long as you stick to it and practice daily!

Time will do the rest…

The best advice is to just get started an immerse yourself in music! Do not be overly concerned about your progress within the first three years and follow your teacher’s advice to a tee!

If you do that and practice daily, success will most definitely come!

Course options with the London Piano Institute

If you are just starting out and you are wondering which course options to choose from, please visit our dedicated piano course page here.

We will be delighted to help you on your journey to learning and mastering the piano!

A Beginners Guide to the Piano

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: Beginner Piano Guide 05 Nov 2016 Comments: 0 Tags: Beginner Piano Guide, Beginner Piano Lessons, Piano for Beginners, piano lessons

A guide to help you in your first steps of your piano playing journey!

When you’re starting out with the piano, there are some basics that everyone needs to know. Here are some of the most important things, including a glossary of key terms, and some basic techniques.

Questions that you may have:

First, let’s tackle two of the most basic questions you might have when starting piano lessons:

What is a scale?

Scales are a succession of notes played one after another. The two most common scales are the major and the minor. In most cases, as in the major and minor scales, scales consist of seven notes, but some can vary in length. A scale helps to determine the key of any given piece.

What is a chord?

At its most basic, a chord is a set of notes you play at the same time. Most standard chords have three notes. You can build chords by playing every other note of a scale.

Which book would you recommend for an absolute beginner?

We’ve grown really fond of Carol Barratt’s “The classic piano course”.

Carol Barratt is an excellent author and she has compiled the ultimate starters piano book. (In our opinion).

You can find more details of her book here.

Which digital piano do you recommend?

We’ve compiled a few lists.

You can select between three quality digital pianos here.

Alternatively, if you are only starting out take a look at our recommended digital pianos with stools here.

Ten Key Terms

When you start playing the piano, there are some phrases that you will often read and that your teacher will probably say a lot. Some of them you may have heard before. Here are ten of the most common and what they mean:

Allegro – Play quickly

Moderato – Play at medium tempo

Andante – Play medium slowly

Largo – Play very slowly

Staccato – Play short and sharp

Legato – Play smooth and connectedly

Piano – Play softly

Forte – Play loudly

Crescendo – Gradually increase sound

Decrescendo – Gradually decrease sound

The Basics

Piano posture

Throughout your life you’ve probably heard many people talk about proper posture and what’s good for you, and in piano you definitely need to learn the correct posture to play with the best technique from the outset.
You should sit close to the front of the piano stool, with feet firmly on the floor. When you’re playing your elbows should be slightly in front of you – if they’re at your side then your stool is too close to the piano! You should always remember to sit tall, but loosen your arms and shoulders. Your sitting position should feel natural and not forced.

Finger numbers

The finger numbers for playing the piano are incredibly simple, and once you learn them remembering them is likely to be a doddle. They go as follows:

Finger #1: Thumb
Finger #2: Index finger
Finger #3: Middle finger
Finger #4: Ring finger
Finger #5: Little finger

Hand positions

When you first learn to play, your little finger and thumb will tend to naturally play flat. However, if you learn to keep them tall (with the exception of the thumb of course!) early on your technique will be much stronger as you go through the learning process. You should learn to play with firm fingers but loose arms and shoulders at all times!

As you get more advanced, many different hand positions will apply depending upon the sound you want to produce. Celine Gaurier-Joubert our master instructor will definitely be able to help you to develop a formidable sound on the piano!

Here at the London Piano Institute, lessons are taught by professional and experienced pianists – so you’ll learn the right techniques from day one! To book your lessons – get in touch today!

Can playing the piano increase your IQ?

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: Music and the brain 03 Nov 2016 Comments: 0 Tags: piano lessons, playing piano intelligence, playing piano IQ, playing piano studies, research playing the piano

Learn why you can seriously increase your IQ when you learn how to play the piano.
Playing the piano is good food for your brain and amazing for your future well-being!

Playing a musical instrument can be a fun way to pass time and gain a new skill, whether you’re a complete beginner or have been playing for years. But could picking up an instrument boost your intelligence too? Research suggests that it could have a positive impact on your IQ as well as other measures of intellect

According to research from the University of Zurich, regularly playing a musical instrument changes the shape and power of the brain. It found that musicians have structurally and functionally different brains when compared to non-musicians. In fact, it’s indicated that playing music can increase IQ by up to 7 points in both adults and children. While the parts of the brain that are improved are linked to control motor skills, hearing and storing audio information these areas can also improve other skills used every day, such as planning and emotional perception.

The study also looked at how learning to play a musical instrument affects pensioners with positive and surprising results. After just four or five months of playing an instrument for an hour a week those over the age of 65 were found to have strong changes in the brain, demonstrating that taking up playing the piano can have a positive effect at any stage of life.

Research suggests that the benefits of playing a musical instrument go beyond improving IQ too. One piece of research from Boston Children’s Hospital found that musical training improved executive functioning, a set of cognitive processes, including working memory, problem solving and planning. Executive function enables people to process information quicker and regulate behaviour and is linked to academic achievement. The senior investigator for the study said the findings show taking up a musical instrument could help both children and adults that are struggling with executive function abilities, such as the elderly.

Additional research has also indicated that it’s never too late to benefit from playing an instrument too. According to study results from the University of Liverpool, non-musicians exposed to just half an hour of musical training began to change the way they processed music and language, boosting many different skills in the process.

The benefits of playing a musical instrument go far beyond intelligence indicators too. With the added advantage of helping to relieve stress and giving individuals a creative outlet, learning to play the piano can transform lives.

Looking for stress relief? Turn to the piano

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: Motivation, Piano Tuition Advice, Stress Relief 27 Oct 2016 Comments: 0 Tags: benefits of playing piano, London Piano Institute, piano lessons, piano reduce stress, piano stress relief

Stress can kill you! That is why you need to learn to play the piano and get rid of work related stress!

Young man playing the piano to relieve stress

We all feel stressed at times as we go about our daily lives and try to juggle different aspects, whether it’s the pressure of a demanding job or a hectic home life that’s causing stress levels to rise. However, stress can have a negative effect on our health and it’s vital that we take some time to relax and unwind, and turning to the piano could help.

Did you know that stress accounts for over a third of all work related ill health cases? During 2014/15 UK workers took 9.9 million days off work due to stress, with workload pressures, including tight deadlines and too much responsibility, and a lack of managerial support being the biggest reasons Brits are stressed at work. If stress isn’t tackled it can lead to people feeling burnt out, unmotivated and simply exhausted. Studies show that playing the piano is one of the most effective ways of helping to reduce stress levels.

In fact, simply listening to classical music has been found to have a whole range of stress relieving benefits. A study from the Royal College of Music’s Centre for Performance Science found that it physically reduced stress, with audience members of a classical show experiencing a reduction in levels of stress hormones cortisol and cortisone after the performance. Research from Oxford University further backed up these findings. A study suggested that some pieces of classical music, including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Nessun Dorma by Puccini, could even lower blood pressure. The findings indicated that musical therapy to help calm people can be effective and doesn’t need to be tailored to each individual.

Playing the piano can bring even more benefits. A Japanese study measured the positive effects of different creative activities – playing the piano, moulding clay and calligraphy. While all activities were found to help reduce levels of stress, playing the piano was the most effective.

Aside from the stress reducing benefits backed up by research, simply doing something that you enjoy can act as a stress relief. Taking some time each week to attend a piano lesson means you have something extra to look forward to even at the end of a busy day. In order to improve your skills and develop as a pianist you’ll also need to fully focus during lessons, helping to push stresses out of your mind while you concentrate on playing correctly.

6 Ways to Escape the City Without Leaving London

Posted by: Stefan Joubert In: London 23 Oct 2016 Comments: 0 Tags: days out, escape, London, piano lessons

Time to get away from it all? Read our guide to doing so in London!

6 Ways to Escape the City Without Leaving London

We believe that London is one of the greatest cities in the world, but sometimes you just need to get away from all the hustle and bustle of city life. In a city so expansive this can seem like an impossible task, but London is full of hidden gems and fun activities. Here are our top 6 recommendations for the times when you really just need to find an escape.

Curl up with a book

Reading is the ultimate form of escapism, and there are many incredible book shops where you can get cosy in comfortable chair and read the afternoon away. Marylebone Road offers one shop that is in any readers dream – Daunt Books. Daunt is an independent bookseller on Marylebone Road and the stunning Edwardian interiors offer a setting that is straight out of a romantic novel.

By Diliff – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29866814

Get close to nature at the London Wetland Centre

When shown a picture of the wetlands you’d be forgiven for thinking it was out in the British countryside, not at the heart of the country’s capital. The London Wetland Centre offers some incredible opportunities for wildlife spotting – including rare plants, birds, beetles, and bats. The wetlands are even home to some Asian short-clawed otters – making it the perfect escape for nature lovers!

Take up piano lessons

Another great way to find an escape is through taking up a new hobby, and piano is a great skill that can have a number of health benefits as well as introducing you to a network of friendly and like-minded people. With The London Piano Institute, lessons take place in Mayfair or the City of London, in the heart of the capital’s most prestigious areas. Perfect for lunchtime or evening lessons with outstanding piano instructors!

Find a unique shopping location

London is full of secret gems when it comes to unique shopping experiences. A great place to escape and do some retail therapy is St. Christopher’s Place, just off Oxford Street. The side street is full of independent boutiques and al-fresco eateries, just look out for the landmark purple clock!

Visit an art gallery

Just like reading a good book, contemplating art also has the ability to transport you to a different time and place. London has some of the best art galleries in the world, so why not check out the latest installation at the Tate Modern or see some of the classics for yourself at the National Gallery?

Where do you go when you need an escape from the city? Let us know!