Approximately two weeks ago, I decided to take up the piano. This is because I like music, always wanted to play the piano, was looking for a relaxing hobby, and hoped it might help my thinking process. Inexpensive Japanese electric pianos have gotten really good so the entry cost is low and if boredom sets in, electric pianos are easy enough to sell on-line.

Interestingly, during these two weeks, my recall rates for my RTK Anki deck have skyrocketed. The long-term recall rates have increased the most, jumping some 15% points most days (e.g from ~70% to >85%). Short-term recall rates jumped less, but are up ~5% to >90%. Of the ~two weeks, I had ~two mediocre days; one was due to lack-of-sleep.

Obviously, this is not a scientific sample. But for me, this very rapid & significant improvement is very motivating!

I have been following the basic piano tips from a book called, "Fundamentals of Piano Practice" by Chuan C. Chang, which is available as free PDF (there is a nearly finished 2015 version on line as well as completed older revisions). Chang has some basic comments on memory and insists on the music student memorizing virtually everything and practicing "in the mind's eye." I think the book could be quite useful for people who play an instrument, but not useful for those who do not.

I try to practice piano 3 times per day in 30 minute chunks, memorizing everything and playing to a reasonable level of proficiency. I find memorizing beginner level notes and lyrics to be surprisingly easy. But that on top of memorization, individual finger coordination, correct pedal action, proper timing, good tone, singing, etc. are a real challenge. No question this has helped limber my fingers and brain.

Previously, I played other instruments but don't remember any impact on memory. Maybe the piano is special. But I wasn't using Anki then so had no quantitative basis for measurement.

FYI - Running 20 minutes per day also helps improve my memory and learning.

Have outside activities helped your Japanese and/or memory?

I run 6 x 5k every week and have been playing the piano for ~22 years, so I guess my memory would really suck if I didn't

I recently started doing the local Parkrun, which looks like it will improve my running/fitness to no end. A timed run vs other people works wonders for the motivation.

The thing that has most improved my memory for Japanese to an extent that anything else pales to insignificance is ... learning Japanese . I used to dread adding words with new kun readings or words ending 人 or words with 連濁 issues etc but now I just don't care - it's all easy.

Are you going to make some Youtube vids of your playing? It's a great way to focus your practice if you have the patience for it (and time). My most recent unloved effort is here, uploaded well over a year ago and still haven't bothered to do any more

Most of my music practice recently is just whistling (actually surprisingly challenging, depending on what you're trying to whistle), but I've been meaning to practice piano more; currently my electric piano is just taking up space...

Anyway, I thought I'd ask for a good way to practice using both your hands at once. I can play the left hand parts and right hand parts separately, but when I try to play them together, the whole thing falls apart. I never had a problem syncing hand movements playing the violin or guitar, but I can't seem to keep things in time when trying to play piano.

As for memory... playing music (or even just listening to it) is linked to increased intelligence and memory, but I think that's just because it's a mental work out. I haven't been without music since before I was ten years old, but I excelled at mental tasks back then too, and there's no way I could determine if my introduction to playing music made any significant difference.

sholum Wrote:Anyway, I thought I'd ask for a good way to practice using both your hands at once. I can play the left hand parts and right hand parts separately, but when I try to play them together, the whole thing falls apart. I never had a problem syncing hand movements playing the violin or guitar, but I can't seem to keep things in time when trying to play piano.

Take any simple melody, preferably one you know by heart, and with your left hand just strike the major chord for the key the melody is in at a steady rate. Try doing the same melody with the accompanying chord as whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes.

Most left hand parts serve as rhythm and harmony, so this is good practice for those. Of course sometimes it gets more complicated than that (and certainly it's always more complicated than just the major chord for the key the piece is in!).... but, well, if you have basic timing down that should be easier too.

(The above won't work with more complex melodies because they'll have clashing notes. Works fine with a lot of traditional and popular music though. If it can be played as a DAG chord progression on the guitar, it's perfect for this.)

Since you play other instruments you may also have music notated with melody on the staff and harmonizing chords above the staff... you can also use those chords for a next-level practice that is still simpler than trying to play a full arrangement. Also a little easier on the ears than the monotony of a single chord.