Nevertheless, the piano was still a bit like the Internet of the 19th century. It was a prominent social hub in the family room, the glue that drew society together. Instead of downloadable MP3s and Monday Night Football, one had a piano. Like a computer, the piano invites nimble fingers and a lot of mental dexterity. But unlike a computer, the piano requires you to put a lot into it to get much out.
Hard play builds self-esteem.
You might be learning to cook, practicing figure skating, finishing a crossword puzzle or playing a musical instrument. And music, which comes in so many dialects and cultures, which moves through us with its strange, special air, is the language of emotion. Author Michael Crichton once said that taking the time and applying the discipline to write was the best way he knew to really connect with life's experiences. In precisely the same way, studying music is a rewarding way to map human emotions. I am by no means a professional musician.