Why take piano lessons?

So many people ask: Why take lessons?  Where do students use this experience? 
Here are some things that come to mind from my work with all ages of students:

• Some students study toward Royal Conservatory of Music Exams
• Some take the skills they have learned and transfer them to study other instruments
• Band and Choral programs in elementary and high schools benefit from the training that students recieve from private lessons
• Some students take the skills they have learned and become teachers themselves
• All students gain a sense of musical literacy and are able to transfer those skills to whatever style of music they enjoy, whether pop, jazz, classical, hip-hop or world music
• Studying classical music gives students a background in music history, and helps gain a greater understanding of our culture, arts and historical events
• Music study creates a generation of supporters of the arts, symphony programs, and other cultural events
• Students gain comfort in performing for a group, a skill which can be transferred to many areas of life and business
• Taking lessons creates a love of music; playing for fun and relaxation, sharing music for the joy of it, and embracing a journey that lasts a lifetime!