Scruton Piano Studio

The Phillip Glass' Words of Wisdom. The Music is About Listening and we must teach it from the first lessons. Credit: @Larecordingschool #piano #pianolessons

We usually think of Victoria Borge as a comedian. He was a very accomplished pianist!!

Rare video of Victor Borge 1982 extract from a documentary about language called “ Media Probes” #victorborge

Im so grateful my parents sacrificed to give me piano lessons. This gives new depth to my studio motto:
The Gift of Music Lasts a Lifetime

Trust me, when you’re 70-80 years old, you’re going to either regret that you didn’t or be grateful that you did do everything in your power to nourish your brain when you were in your younger years of life. Studies have revealed that playing a musical instrument (learning and practicing) builds more new neural connections (neuroplasticity) in the brain than almost any other activity on the planet.

Playing an instrument engages nearly every part of the brain at once, including auditory (sound), motor (movement), and visual (reading music) areas. This simultaneous activation strengthens neural pathways and the connections between them.

The process of translating written music (visual) into precise finger movements (motor) and hearing the correct sound (auditory) forces the brain to integrate information from different sense. This improves cognitive flexibility and the ability to multitask.

Unlike skills that are learned and then automated (like tying your shoelaces), playing music involves a continuous process of learning new techniques, memorizing passages and improvising. This constant challenge of mastering new skills maintains and strengthens neuroplasticity throughout life.

Additionally, long-term musical training can lead to both structural and functional changes in the brain. For example, studies show musicians often have larger gray matter volumes in areas related to motor, auditory, and visuospatial processing, as well as a larger corpus callosum.

Also, the act of learning new music helps create new synapses (connections between neurons), while repetitive practice strengthens existing ones. This is a key mechanism of neuroplasticity that allows information to be processed more efficiently.

Playing also requires complex cognitive control, including planning, attention and working memory. The brain strengthens the neural networks associated with these functions, which can lead to better focus and organization in other areas of life.

PMID: 29213699, 38178844, 20889966, 33776638, 25725909, 24672420

How fascinating!

I’m excited to welcome my students back for a new year!

Fun and funny - we all need to laugh!

Since 2015 I’ve used materials from Irina Gorin to teach with. Little did I know the journey this decision would lead me on. In 2020, I helped Irina update Tales of a Musical Journey method books, and this summer had a small part in helping to edit the newest book for older beginners - what an honour and privilege!