It feels like we’re finally talking more openly about mental health these days. We know now how much anxiety and depression overlap with issues like chronic pain, neurodegeneration, and addiction. At the University of Washington NAPE Center, where I work, these topics are front and center in our research. We’re constantly exploring how mental health challenges affect the brain and what can actually help.
For the elderly, this is especially important. Older adults face so many unique challenges, from neurodegeneration to isolation and loneliness. It’s heartbreaking how often these factors feed into depression and anxiety, leaving so many seniors stuck in cycles of poor mental health.
This is why I was fascinated to come across a study showing how something as simple as 6 months of piano lessons could drastically improve mental health in this population. But to be honest, I wasn’t surprised.
As someone who’s been playing piano for years, I’ve felt its benefits firsthand. No matter how hard a day has been, sitting down at the piano is like pressing a reset button. The stress lifts, my mind clears, and there’s a sense of joy that takes over. It’s such a simple but powerful and healthy way to feel better, and that’s what I want my students to experience too. Sure, I want them to learn their scales and rhythms, but more than that, I want playing piano to bring them joy and add something meaningful to their lives.
Reading about this study and seeing the actual numbers behind the mental health benefits of piano was both inspiring and validating. It’s such a clear reminder of how transformative music can be, especially for those who need it most.
The study:
This six-month experiment involved 30 participants aged 60–75, all of whom were new to piano. Twice a week, they attended two-hour piano lessons, which included a mix of skill development, improvisation, and a game-based learning approach to keep things engaging and fun.
The goal wasn’t to turn these participants into concert pianists. It was to explore how the act of learning piano could improve their mental and emotional well-being.
To measure the impact, participants completed several assessments before, during, and after the program:
- Taylor Anxiety Test: Scored out of 50 to measure anxiety.
- Beck Depression Inventory: Scored out of 63 to measure depression.
- WAM Emotional Health Questionnaire: Measured Well-being, Activity, and Mood on a scale of 1–10.
The initial results were eye-opening. Anxiety and depression levels were high, and emotional health scores were low:
- Anxiety: 35.5/50 (high anxiety)
- Depression: 38.5/63 (high depression)
- Well-being: 4.6/10 (low)
- Activity: 4.8/10 (low)
- Mood: 4.6/10 (low)
3 months into playing piano:
At the halfway point, the changes were already noticeable:
- Anxiety dropped to 25.5/50, moving into the average range.
- Depression decreased to 29/63, nearing the upper limit of average.
- Emotional health scores climbed into the average range:
- Well-being: 6.1/10
- Activity: 6.3/10
- Mood: 6.2/10
The researchers called this an “adaptation period.” Participants were still getting used to the lessons, but even so, the improvements were statistically significant.
6 months into playing piano:
By the end of the program, the improvements were undeniable:
- Anxiety: 16.5/50 (lower limit of average)
- Depression: 17/63 (lower limit of average)
- Emotional health scores reached high levels:
- Well-being: 7.9/10
- Activity: 8.1/10
- Mood: 8.1/10
In other words, these participants experienced a complete turnaround. Anxiety and depression levels were cut in half, while Well-being, Activity, and Mood surged to their highest levels.
Why does piano work so effectively?
What makes piano such a powerful tool for mental health? The study’s game-based learning approach likely played a role. This method made lessons interactive and fun, encouraging participants to stay engaged and motivated. Beyond that, the researchers identified a few key reasons why piano lessons were so effective:
- Emotional expression: Improvisation and creative play gave participants an outlet to process emotions and release stress.
- Mental engagement: Learning piano is a mental workout, stimulating memory, attention, and problem-solving skills—critical areas that often decline with age.
- Very importantly – social connection: Group lessons provided a sense of community and reduced feelings of isolation, which are common in older adults.
- A sense of achievement: Piano gave participants a tangible sense of progress and accomplishment, boosting their confidence.
What if this were more widely known?
I can’t help but think about how many lives could be changed if programs like this were more widely available. What if retirement homes offered music lessons to residents? Or libraries and community centers created free or low-cost music programs for seniors?
With results like this—showing such a dramatic reduction in anxiety and depression—it seems like such a simple, natural solution to boost mental health. Not only could it help prevent loneliness and depression, but it might also protect against other conditions that tend to overlap, like neurodegeneration or chronic pain.
Final thoughts
This study is proof of what many of us in the piano community have always known: music changes lives. It’s more than just an art form—it’s therapy, exercise, and emotional healing rolled into one.
And for anyone wondering, Is it too late for me? Absolutely not. Piano can make a difference at any age and any skill level. Whether you’re teaching, learning, or just considering picking it up, the takeaway is the same: piano isn’t just an activity. It’s a way to enrich your mind, body, and soul.
Have you experienced the emotional benefits of piano in your own life or with your students? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading!
Source: Song J, Guan K. The Impact of Piano Game-Based Learning on the Mental Health of Elderly Individuals. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2025 Feb 3. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001820. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39894963.
The Scientific Pianist 
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