Learning piano aids recovery of brain tumour patient

When Mayuko, an IT specialist from Edinburgh, UK, was diagnosed with a form of brain tumour two years ago, she understandably faced a whole range of emotions, alongside countless hospital visits and two major surgeries.

Thankfully, after a lengthy and successful operation, Mayuko has grasped hold of life and dived into learning a new skill — playing the piano.

It is widely recognised that learning any kind of new skill can improve the outlook for those who had other brain conditions such as stroke and dementia.

Mayuko read a book by Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, which inspired her to begin learning the instrument.

She explains:

“I was deeply moved to learn that his passion for music, and his fierce energy to keep involving music in his life after he was diagnosed with cancer, kept working until the very end.
“I started learning through online materials, mainly YouTube videos, around three weeks after my second surgery, and then I found the one that teaches you to play my favourite piece, composed by Maestro Sakamoto.
“The key was to play every day no matter how I felt — even 5 minutes — but when I felt good, I often played the piano longer, which was very enjoyable and soothing. It took me two months to perform as I did in the video.”
“Learning piano hugely helped me, both mentally and physically, to the point that I cannot imagine how I would have been without it. I am still playing the piano, have started playing a different piece of music by Sakamoto, and am now learning properly with a piano teacher when I can. I still get moments of low mood and tense feeling, but when it happens, I tend to sit at the piano and start playing – and it helps!”