坊間關於成年人學琴可以減壓等文章已很多，我還有甚麼可以加呢？。
在回答這個問題之前，我覺得需要思考一下成年人和兒童心理上最大的區別，因為”益處”是非常視乎對象是誰。成年人和兒童心理上最大分別，我覺得，就是人生經驗之不同。例如我覺得小朋友不會明白Brahms在他的作品中(例如Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2) 表達對他師母Clara Schumann 的苦戀– 成世「祝君好」。再者，人生經驗之不同等同於對自己認識的不同，因為我們對自己的認識是透過經驗造就的。再推理下去，根據德國哲學家Schopenhauer (叔本華)的說法，理解音樂和理解自己是有關的(註1)，所以成年人應該比兒童更能了解音樂。
當你明白了音樂背後的情感，你便可透過彈琴把這情感”放手”出來。”放手”完的感覺似英國詩人John Milton (名著Paradise Lost “失樂團”的作者)所說的 “calm of mind, all passions spent” 。這種”明白” ，然後“放手”，是只有成年人才會享受到的益處，尤其兒童往往只會要多一點，捉緊一點，不曉“放手”。
最後，我想同大家分享一下我彈的Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2:
[English Version]
There has been a huge amount of books, discourses in general, about the benefits of learning piano for adults, such as stress relief. Is there anything else I can add?
Before answering this question, I think it is worthwhile to pinpoint the biggest psychological difference between adults and children since benefits depend on the recipients. I would argue that the difference in the scope and the depth of life experience constitutes the most prominent psychological distinction between them. For example, I don’t think children would understand the unrequited and indelible love expressed by Brahms for Clara Schumann – who is married to his mentor, Robert Schumann – in his music, for example his Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2. This difference in life experience is tantamount to the difference in self-understanding since we discover ourselves through experience. This difference in self-understanding, according to the German philosopher Schopenhauer, produces a difference in understanding music.[1] Adults should understand music better.
Once you have understood the feelings and the emotions, you have something to release, to let go – such that afterwards, “calm of mind, all passions spent”, as John Milton would say. This “understanding” and “release/letting go” of emotions, I would say, is a benefit reserved for adults only; not least the children tend to grab instead of release.
Finally, I would like to share with you my rendition of Brahms’ Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2.
[1]Roger Scruton, Modern Philosophy: An Introduction and Survey(London: Bloomsbury Reader, 2012), 249.