I know this sounds quite strange, particularly coming from a blog the is all about giving information and encouragement to retirees to learn to play the piano, but hang in there because there is very much a point I want to make.
One reason that you should not learn to play the piano, is because you started to learn when you were younger and possibly didn’t live up to your full potential. Sure, that’s disappointing but isn’t there some area, some aspect of our lives where we all have unfulfilled our potential in some way? I know that I have achieved a lot with music, but there are other areas of interest that my potential has gone unfulfilled.
Another reason why you should not learn to play the piano is because it is great for keeping your mind working. Neuroscientists have well and truly established that using the brain is a great way of helping keep you free of dementia as you age. Playing the piano is also great for keeping your fine motor skills and keeping dexterity in your hands and fingers.
Friends or family might recognize musical talent within you – you might be good at singing or playing the guitar and they think that you would be really great at learning to play the piano and they might encourage you to do so. They might be correct about your musical talent, however what other people think, no matter how well meaning they might be, is actually not a reason to learn to play the piano.
Another reason I have heard why mature people should learn to play the piano is because they have plenty of time. I don’t dispute that the majority of retirees would indeed have plenty of time on their hands to take up an activity that could take up many hours a week. Quite frankly, any activity is worthwhile pursuing in retirement but it doesn’t necessarily mean playing the piano is the best option for a person.
Learning to play the piano in retirement so that they can fill a need in church, is another reason I have heard of and it is not a great reason to learn to play the piano. There might be a need, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a certain person is obliged to fill that need.
My point is this – the only valid reason for a person to learn to play the piano in retirement is because they have a great desire to learn to play the piano specifically. All the other reasons listed above are really just icing on the cake. The real reason any retired person should take up learning to play the piano is simply because they want to. It is the only reason that matters.