This is how actor Anthony Hopkins answered this question in a interview for the March 2010 issue of Mens Journal :

"I paint, and I play the piano a lot - complex exercises in Bach and Chopin. It doesn't matter if I play them well or not. I practice and practice to keep supple the coordination in my arms, my hands, my fingers."

...thought some of you might appreciate that.

Yes, that is interesting.

I too feel younger since I started learning to play the piano, (and lost 35 pounds ); not that I can play a piano very well.

This thread reminds me of a song I wrote recently, “Every time I think about you, it makes me feel so young”. It is a country style song (even sang off-key just a little, but it was early in the morning when I recorded it ).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB5GrkXh_hU

Of course, staying young and feeling young are two different things… or are they?

Take care,

Rick

I recently watched his latest movie, "The Wolfman" in which he played the piano!! I observed his movements, and it didn't appear he was "faking it." No wonder, because he really is a player. That's great information about Hopkins, Opus45. Thanks for sharing.

In contrast, I also watched "Scott Joplin" on my Netflix streaming. Billy Dee Williams did an absolute horrible job of "fake-playing". His left-hand didn't "stride" at all when playing Joplin pieces. It was obvious they had no technical consultant for this film (or if they did, it was a really bad consultant)...

Anthony Hopkins......



There's that..... and the occasional meal of "liver with some fava beans and a good chianti"

(sorry, his name invariably gives me Hannibal Lecter flashbacks)

Playing music on any instrument is meant to help with cognitive function according to the medical experts. Cognitive function is the secret to staying young.

I have a huge interest in Ragtime piano and enjoy its often playful and comical melodies.

At times I often feel like a toddler finding his / her legs for the first time when stummbling around the piano keyboard. Does this count as staying young?

That must be the reason why people always still take me for a student and call me "little girl"....

"What's the key to staying young?"

A facelift. Go to the guy who did Susan Lucci, not the one who did Judge Judy.

So when Hannibal rocks out to Bach in his cell right before he cuts a guy's face off and breaks out of jail, maybe Anthony didn't have to act too hard -- I mean for the Bach, not the face thing.

Anyway, I couldn't agree more. I'm never going to be a great pianist, but practicing works wonders for staying mentally sharp and physically dexterous. For me its a bigger incentive for staying with it than the noise coming out of my piano.

'Key' to Staying Young

Hmmmmm.....Bb?

Cigars, booze and women (or men, or both - your preference).

JF

If you eat well and drink well, you hardly ever die!

"If you eat well and drink well, you hardly ever die!"

Oh, Chat--- please. Haven't you see the t-shirt: "Eat Right, Stay Fit, Die Anyway."

In moderation or as much or many as you want?

Good food and lots of excercise doesn't make you live longer.

It just makes it feel that way.

The key to "staying young" is to not wear out your joints. Muscle mass and tone is buildable/rebuildable but your joints and cartilage are not.

Your mind also functions similar to a muscle in that if not used and challenged, it can atrophy. Playing piano, (even many video games) are great for this type of mental stimulation.

The key to keeping weight off is to limit your starch intake. Not nessesarrily "carbs" but starch..(potatoes, noodles, breads).

Swimming and riding a bike are probably the overall best exersize you can do for the entire body that will improve muscle tone, circulation and aerobic activity levels on a low to non-impact basis. (easier on the joint wear).

With a few exceptions like a sweet potatoe, the darker the green the vegetable is (spinach, collard greens, swiss chard) the healthier. Eat fruit but not too much as it contains a TON of sugar.

Milk is best left for baby cows. WAY too much sugar/fat that outweigh the benefits. Get your calcium from better sources like low fat yogurt containing acidophilus/bifidus live cultures. Helps keep your stomach "flora" (good bacteria) in order.

Eat VERY slowly and chew your food until mushy consistency.

Always drink from a small diameter straw unless drinking water. When drinking water flavor it with lemon and drink as much as you can.

Eat sunflower seeds (in the shell) as a snack. The good fat will supress your satiety center as well as provide an excellent source of fiber without overeating.

Don't discount the power of chewing sugarless gum instead of high calorie snacks throughout the day.

I could go on and on but you get the idea. Simply apply common sense.

This great WELSH actor - sorry, you touched a nerve! - is so much more than his "silence of the Lambs character!

Yes - moderate doses of gluttony on all accounts.

JF

Wow, how did you manage that? I stopped exercising when I started playing piano because exercise was cutting into my practice time.

(Actually, a month of allergies followed by a cold is what initiated the stop in exercise, but getting back into it was impossible with my new hobby)

It's only been out of necessity and the subsequent weight gain of about 10 pounds that I started exercising again. And exercise DOES cut into my practice time, and that drives me nuts!

Dang, you should come up with a 'piano diet'. You could make millions. XD

Much talk about moderation in this thread.

We should consider what Ben Franklin said about that: "Every thing in moderation, even moderation."