Why I Perform Classical Music

Many kids have asked why I only do classical music when I visit schools or play for an audience when I make appearances. Some kids don't even know what classical music is to begin with. I do classical piano because it builds creativity and more sophisticated, intellectual thinking.

If any parent is considering letting their kid try an instrument, they can easily search up on the web, "Does classical music make you smarter?" There is over 576,000 web results supporting this claim. Listening to classical music will make you better at listening, interpreting, and encourage creativity.

One experiment I like to tell kids to do is to try and study for 30 minutes, once with pop music from their favorite artist and then 30 minutes again, instead with classical pieces. I have done this myself and always find to be more productive with symphonies and nocturnes instead of the top 100 hits.

I also like to test the kids listening skills to see if they pay attention while I play. After each piece, I ask them what emotion the piece might be portraying. Through this exercise, this pushes the kids to think outside of the box and engage with the music the entire time I am with them. It's also very fun to hear what emotions or ideas they picture in their minds from each piece, for which I always play a huge variety of classical composers with different styles.

Classical music is also very calming. Whenever I need to relieve my anxiety, I play the piano. Not only do I provide music therapy to kids dealing with bullying, anxiety, or are simply stressed out, but I also give it to myself from my own practice.

Classical music and its benefits are truly proof of it being a form of mental medicine. It allows us to experience and express emotions, improve listening skills, and broaden our thinking skills. Below I have listed a few of classical piece recommendations to begin your journey in listening to classical music!

• Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op.18

• Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on the Theme of Paganini, Op.43

• Chopin, Nocturne in C minor, Op.48, No. 1 (piano)

• Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor (Scottish), Op.56

• Liszt’s Liebesträume, No.3

• Debussy’s Clair de Lune

• Niccolò Paganini — Caprice No. 24 in A minor, Op.1

• Puccini’s Nessun Dorma