Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.  Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord!

             by 

                Ms. Denie Riggs

The final stage of "Growing Up" is the age we call Seniors. For many of our aging parents, this period is filled with long, lonely days, as they yearn for times gone by. Often they succumb to depression and feelings of worthlessness, as the world passes around them.

But some of our senior citizens are laying down their knitting needles and are reaching for a keyboard… and rightly so. A recent research study performed at the University of Michigan indicated that group keyboard lessons has many benefits for our seniors.

In this research study, performed over a period of twenty weeks, men and women met for one hour weekly to study the keyboard. At the end of this period, blood tests indicated that these seniors had an increase of the hormone that counteracts aging. This hormone fights wrinkles, calms high blood pressure and has many other medical benefits. These men and women also admitted that their bouts with depression were not as severe and did not last as long after their keyboarding experiences began.

The senior men and women who participated in this study were already active in their church and other senior groups. This indicates that it is not just the ‘meeting together’ that enabled these benefits…but the actual music study.

When we play the keyboard (or piano) our right brain hemisphere and left brain hemisphere flow together. No other activity that we can participate in achieves the same result as this form of music study. While the benefits of music are greatest in early childhood, they are there no matter what stage in life we find ourselves.

• Another study several years ago indicated that adults who practice the piano daily recover from strokes further and faster than adults who do not play the piano.
• We have all heard about how music helps to ward off Alzheimer’s disease, keeping our brain functioning longer.

But is it too late to begin music lessons? Can a senior citizen really learn to play the piano? YES! Usually it is not as easy as it is for the younger set, but with desire and practice it is achievable. And most of our seniors have a lot of both.

Music can enhance our later years, bringing fulfillment and joy to crown our days. A sense of accomplishment, the joy of music to fill the hours; as well as wonderful physical benefits may be just what the doctor ordered!

Come on seniors; let’s make music!

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Copyright © 2002 Perfect Praise, Inc.
Last modified: February 14, 2008