The Piano Gallery
You're never too old to learn a new skill and that has never been truer than at the Piano Gallery in South Jordan. For more than 10 years, The Piano Gallery has offered the Music Wellness Program, a piano instruction program specifically for older adults.
"It's more than a hobby of music playing, it's a lifestyle," says Jonelle White, program director. "It's one of the best kept secrets in the valley. It's a really, really neat thing for seniors."
The program consists of one-hour group lessons that include singing songs and playing music as well as concerts, workshops and parties. Classes are offered for free and seniors can be involved for as long as they want to, with different level classes depending on a person's skills.
"There are people who've been doing this for eight years," Jonelle says. "Most people that come join us took music as a child but couldn't follow through with it because of money or time issues, or they've always wanted to learn but never got the chance. We have a lot of fun teaching them how to play but it's really about enjoying life."
The program was developed by the organ company, Lowery after studies found that music was consistently linked with better emotional and physical health. "I don't like to use the word 'organ' because people think of two things: churches and funerals," Jonelle says. "But they're a lot more advanced now. They have saxophones, trombones and drum [effects] so when you sit down to play, it's like you're playing with a whole band."
The classes focus on music that was popular during the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s and features artists like Laurence Welk and Glen Miller. The program has grown in popularity so much that it's now available all over the nation as well as in England and India. The Piano Gallery also offers a special incentive for seniors who are nervous about trying the program.
"Of course the classes are free but we also offer to install an instrument in their home at no cost for the first 10 weeks that they participate in the program," Jonelle says. "If they don't like it, we pick it up."
Classes are held Mondays and Tuesdays and Jonelle encourages those who are interested to come by and sit in on a class to see if it's something they'd be interested in signing up for. "We have classes all day so they can drop in anytime between 10 am and 4 pm," she says.
The Piano Gallery has also recently begun offering adult piano classes and is planning to offer lessons to children in the near future. The Piano Gallery, which offers everything from digital, upright and grand pianos of all shapes and sizes, is also the number one piano selling company in the Intermountain West.
The Piano Gallery is located at 10888 South 300 West and is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on programs and classes, call 801-553-2678 or visit www.ThePianoGalleryStore.com. For more information on the Music Wellness Program, call Michele Barnard at 801-815-2750.
