Piano and Pushups

What on earth do pushups and piano lessons have in common? You may find it difficult to believe, but piano lessons and pushups go hand in hand. They both require repetition. They both demand determination and discipline. When done on a regular basis pushups produce muscle. Repetition is a requirement for strength training. Likewise, repetition in playing the piano is a necessity. Without it, there can be no improvement on the piano.

I have several students do pushups daily along with their lessons. Repetition trains students to be thorough, to continually strive to do more, and it forms habits. Anything done repeatedly trains the individual to persist. Habits are extensions of daily routine. The daily routine is a reflection of what is repeatedly done. What we repeatedly do, day in and day out, becomes a very large part of who we are because it is where we choose to spend our time and energy.

If an individual has never or rarely done pushups they are not accustomed to the rigor and necessary strength needed to perform. Strength is about repetition. Playing the piano and improving requires that we practice day in and day out. If we miss a day of doing pushups we weaken our ability to improve our strength. If we miss a day without practicing the piano we likewise weaken our ability to play the piano. Practicing perfects our capability and enables us to improve and be the very best we can be. Playin the piano and doing pushups go hand in hand because they help us determine our own success on a daily basis.

Written by Jerald M. Simon
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