“Music heals me.”

So says Lang Lang, Chinese virtuoso pianist, educator and philanthropist who has had a profound impact on the world of music.  He unites excellence and accessibility unlike anyone else, and builds bridges between Eastern and Western culture.  He was the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and many of the top American orchestras.

Along with Mika, he was a judge on the British TV series ‘The Piano’ hosted by Claudia Winkleman.  Pianos were installed at several British train stations and amateur musicians were invited to play their own choice of music – which commuters stopped to watch – and the gradually increasing audiences were captivated and applauded enthusiastically.  Judges Lang Lang and Mika then had to choose one performer from each location to play at an end-of-series concert – the first being at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  The series was inspirational, and included pianists from all walks of life and the stories that unfolded were very moving – of how music had helped them overcome physical and mental difficulties – one example being a youngster whose foster parents had bought him a piano – which changed his life.

Speaking in a recent interview, Lang Lang told how he had been lucky enough to work with kids facing a range of health problems all around the world.  He said:  “Music is the best medicine.”  He said he loved how students – especially people with autism – responded to music – it improved their communication skills – and he was delighted when one of his autistic students subsequently became a piano teacher.

He said music has always helped him – even now – he finds travelling fatiguing: “It makes me angry – but I start playing Bach or Chopin and I just come back to a wonderful feeling.”

For those of us who never learned to play an instrument (although it’s never too late to learn)– listening to music is the next best thing.  And this interview with Lang Lang provides yet more proof that music is healing.  More and more studies demonstrate this – from the notes resonating from a singing bowl, right through to a complicated piano concerto – music heals.  Chanting and singing are also healing, going to church, attending a concert, or joining a choir are uplifting, sharing music with others.

#music #ThePiano #HealingMusic