Even though the adult brain is quite impressive, it is not invulnerable. Some disorders appear in the prime of life, while others may come about by accuident.  Whichever the case, these problems can become a  major challenge to those who develop these medical problems. In some cases, piano lesson can help, if those lessons are given by someone who has training in health care and disabilities. PFA offers that service.

Are you disabled, or do you have a diagnosis that you believe may impede piano lessons? We will work within your diagnosis and become a part of your healthcare team. By understanding how a disability works, we can then alter the lessons to help you with your particular problem. Dr. Marcie is not only an expert in piano instruction, but in rehabilitation.

Age-Related Disabilities:

Some medical problems do not present themselves until adulthood—headache, migraine, back pain, depression, anxiety, stroke, multiple sclerosis—can strike adults at nearly any time in their lives. Even in these disorders, the ongoing ability of the adult brain to change and improve can be brought on by studying piano. It is well known and documented that adult brains change through experience and do so throughout the lifespan. Since piano training generally involves many, if not all, of the brain's functions, it becomes an ideal arena for rehabilitation with the idea of regaining function. This specific type of training has to involve someone with extensive training in neurology, rehabilitation and piano.

The idea of utilizing the brain's ability to change (plasticity) in the treatment of certain disorders is one of the newest directions in neuroscience research. Its potential lie in the brain's own “repair” strategies. However, the idea of using brain plasticity, at the piano, to re-gain function is very new and much research is needed. One question may be about whether such plasticity in the adult brain can combat conditions present since childhood? We believe that, in certain cases, that is so.

With the idea of plasticity being at the forefront in adulthood, we then turn to the 2nd in line, memory. We all know memory to be the lifelong compendium of virtually all our cognitive abilities. It is not possible to get through our day without usinig the different types of memory-- long term, short term, working memory, visual memory, emotional memory. We continually compare new experiences against what we have stored away in these memory forms; our memory plus new experience then becomes new memories, and guides us through our day.

Memory is exquisitely amenable to stress, so we also look at stress levels, what stresses the person, and how it affects that person over the long run. Then there is a certain age-related slowdown. It is only in milliseconds, but we begin to notice it when we age. Disabiities may make it worse. Not all kinds of memories are equally affected, however:  playing a musical instrument is much less affected by the age-related slowdown.

However, the most common age-realated problems that may not be disabilities are:

• slower responding to questions and outside stimuly
• problems in attention-shifting (from one thing to another)
• slower reflexes
• sleep problems
• memory lapses

These are problems that affect all of us, and have little bearing upon learning piano. It is the curriculum that must be adjusted to fit the personal needs of the student.

Neurodegenerative Diseases tend to appear with aging, but these diseases are still rare. Even though these diseases--ALS, Alzheimers, Huntington's, Parkinson's Disease do occur, they are noncommon and are not a natural result of aging.

• If you have a particular health problem that you believe may prevent you from learning piano, phone me so we can discuss it.
• If you have a disability that may be partly treated by working at the piano, please give me a call.
• Even if you believe your disability is so extreme that you cannot work at the piano, still give me a call. I have work with patients with severe brain damage from stroke, hypoxia (sudden cardiac death survivor), and other severe neurological insults. Call, and we can talk.

Dr. Marcie