Too old to start playing?

[ihavetoleave]

never too old.Just learn to play it

[go12_3]

A person can learn to play the piano, even when you're older....it would be a great thing to do for your overall mental health   

[fozzie58]

  Life is for living, I am 52 now and just started the piano, like you I always wanted to learn but coming from a poor family I never had access to one, but now I have retired early and while im so busy with my hobbies and sports I have took that plunge and started.

Of course uppermost in my mind was that It would be playing for my benefit only, that way i dont put pressure on my self, I told my new teacher Most important is that the lessons be FUN.

So I go once a week for 1 hour and love it so much then practice when I get home, but find my hand and back ache so much after a hour(need to work on flexibility in my hands) the teacher said a lot of that is using the wrong fingers while playing.

Anyway what I'm trying to say is I glad you are continuing on your journey - I wish you good luck.

I remember taking my driving lessons and how there seamed to be so much to learn, then one day it clicks and you dont really notice all the things you are doing at once.

I'm hoping the piano will be like that.

[gardenvarietycynic]

Interesting discussion and I would have considered myself in a similar position. I didn't start my piano instruction until about the age of 15, two years before the onset of college auditions. In the musical world, that's akin to learning to ride a bike around the age of....20 or so just in time for the tour de france (slight exaggeration  ). Needless to say, it didn't prevent me from getting into the music schools I wanted, didn't prevent me from winning competitions, and certainly did not impede the graduation process.

The advantages of beginning any form of education young are rooted in scientific (neurological) and psychological fact, but that should never cause one to undermine the sheerly remarkable capacity of the human brain and body for learning at any age. 

[tattiana]

Hello everyone. I'm a newbie here. Like many of us who have just started into piano lessons, the motivation and sincere replies given here are very welcomed. I'm in my first month of having lessons on my U1 which has just arrived from Japan. I have always dreamt of owning and playing on one. Now I have all the reasons to enjoy playing it as I've found a new love.. music. I'm 45.

[mom3gram]

I started from scratch at 63 - didn't even know there was such a thing as Middle C.   I'm having a ball learning to play.  You should do great - You've got a pretty big head start on me. 

[lizard101]

okay so lets see... it takes on average a young person from 4 to reach grade eight in 10 years.
THEY ARE FOUR.
i started when i was four and i took my grade eight in just nine years. so i took it at age 13. 
I WAS FOUR.
just general knowledge has led me to beleive that four year olds learn slower than 45 year olds so ir you're on about grade 2 then in about 5 years you should be getting onto grade eight depending on how quickly you pick up and how determint you are to play. right so im like 15 and i took grade eight 2 years ago and now ive picked up a grade eight sylabus and have learnt 4 of the pieces from it in 2 weeks and 3 out of 4 are full speed. i don't even spend that long on them. also, i have a second instrument and i started in year five it took me just 6 years to do grade eight .
BASICALY... you can do it!
loadss of little kids start at about five and theyve done it before year eleven or before they leave school. it also takes loads of determination and will to practice because i didn't realy enjoy playign the lower grade pieces because htey were boring but when you get over the boundry level of about grade 6 or 7 you will realy start to enjoy playing and put the extra work into improving your techniques and learnign more advanced, enjoyable pieces.

[csharp_minor]

when you get over the boundry level of about grade 6 or 7 you will realy start to enjoy playing

What? Don't put them off! I agree there are a lot of really dull lower level grade pieces out there, but there are a lot of nice pieces too! By the time you start grade 3 pieces they begin to sound very musical, and by grade 4 they sound really impressive and expressive. So beginners take note; you don't need to wait that long! Just listen to some of the abrsm exam pieces on you tube to hear for yourself.

[chris_goslow]

being 'too old' is a mindset.  worrying about the outcome is one of the biggest distractions to starting something that there is.   

enjoying the process is one of the best things you can do for yourself.  don't worry about being "too old." just enjoy yourself, do piano because that's something you enjoy, and embrace the possibility that there is no more perfect moment than right now to begin.

because here you are.

just my thoughts.

[whitedust]

I had a really bad teacher telling me.. ˝You will never be able to play this or that.... You should have started at least 10 years ago, now you're too old.˝ And I was only 18! Geez.

 I immediately ran away from her.

As long as you breathe, you never too old! Adjust situation to your self, not some outdated standards.

[birba]

As long as you breathe, you never too old! Adjust situation to your self, not some outdated standards.

You hit it on the head!

[redstar]

Matt, there is no such thing as too late for something. Especially if you consider playing piano as a hobby than you are definitely good to go... As a beginner you will always feel low and uncomfortable, but one day it suddenly hits you. You start to play more and more and you just won't get enough of playing. One day you will completely fall in love with a piano... Just never give up and keep playing 

[sharmayelverton]

Your never too old to start playing! You maybe to old to stand much of a chance developing a career as a concert pianist but i have no idea why that becomes so confused with needing to be a certain age to start playing! Play! Enjoy it! You may even be good!

[pianoamore1]

It certainly looks as though you already have some great responses here... just to add my "2 cents," I've had piano students aged 5 - 85. As far as age having anything to do with your adventure, perish the thought. What will ultimately be responsible for your success are your enthusiasm and commitment to keeping the journey fun for yourself. The only comparisons that you should make, if any, are the ones that show the difference between your previous results and the ones you are now enjoying. Right along with that, focus on each and every iota of progress that you make. Self-credit is important, so don't cheat yourself out of it : )

[_nisa_]

There's something that bothers me in this thread.
The question is "Am i too old to start playing?" And everybody (nearly) is answering in terms of performance... Can there be in the word "play" a connotation of enjoyment?
Are every asking person in this thread willing to become virtuoso and play international concert or do they modestly want to enjoy doing music?
I myself began piano at 5-6, don't consider me a good pianist, never did what it takes to become a top notch pianist but enjoy playing 2+ hours every day. Am i lonely to feel music for itself and not for elitism and competition?

To bring my point of view (among other answers) i think it is never too late to start playing IF you want to enjoy and not to compete. The hardest pieces are not necessarily the nicest ones (it's a matter of taste but simpler melodies are often more powerful).
If you want to play, why wondering such things. Just try and enjoy instead of torturing your mind and loosing time!

just general knowledge has led me to beleive that four year olds learn slower than 45 year olds so ir you're on about grade 2 then in about 5 years you should be getting onto grade eight depending on how quickly you pick up and how determint you are to play.

Yikes!
What is your general knowledge about?
To reaffirm what actual knowledge is about, the younger you are, the faster the learning. So a 45yo will learn with more difficulties than a 4yo.
On the other hand, i believe that 4yo is very young for music and you can be disturbed by physical limitations such as the size of your hands/fingers that makes impossible some legato and force you to jump from notes to notes, the size of your legs preventing you to reach pedals, ... However learning that early makes your relationship with music and the instrument more natural (innate).

[cvfaccio]

This is my first time on piano forum, although I'v been a member for nearly three years now.
I started playing when I was 10yrs old in Gibraltar at that time we started learning the sol fa method which was the Spanish method being used at the time. To cut a long story short, I got up to grade 5 and then I stopped playing. I then  took it up again and I'm now a grade 8 and a bit older 73yrs. As you say its the pleasure of being able to sit for hours and playing to your hearts content no matter what grade you have acheived.Carry on playing well done ciao Charlie Facio from The Rock of Gibraltar....

[lostinidlewonder]

This is my first time on piano forum, although I'v been a member for nearly three years now.
I started playing when I was 10yrs old in Gibraltar at that time we started learning the sol fa method which was the Spanish method being used at the time. To cut a long story short, I got up to grade 5 and then I stopped playing. I then  took it up again and I'm now a grade 8 and a bit older 73yrs. As you say its the pleasure of being able to sit for hours and playing to your hearts content no matter what grade you have acheived.Carry on playing well done ciao Charlie Facio from The Rock of Gibraltar....

Inspiring post, thanks cvfaccio! Maybe you can tell us why it took you so long to come back to the piano and what finally brought you back to it?

[svetmira]

Well, my guess is Matt should feel pretty reassured by now!

However, I’m pretty sure there’s plenty of people out there wondering the same thing, so I decided to add my two cents.

I am no expert in terms of music but I do know quite a bit about adult education. I’ve been teaching English to adults for about a decade and I’ve heard thousands of comments (no, I’m not being hyperbolic) like those of Matt in the first post: “I’m too old; I should have started as a kid or not at all; the young people in the class learn so much faster; etc”. And it is this kind of attitude what makes them give up (only to come back a few months later and start the cycle all over again, but that’s another story). What I try to make all my students understand is: children and teenagers don’t learn faster or better, just different. Kids do have some advantages over adults but adults have advantages over children, too. Some of them are:
-   Greater attention span
-   Greater retention (memory)
-   Easier understanding of abstract concepts
-   More “schemata” (world knowledge) which makes it easier to link old and new experiences
-   Intrinsic as well as extrinsic motivation
-   Etc

Think about it: it’s only a matter of making the most out of these advantages! It’s useless to compare an adult’s progress with that of a youngster because they are following different paths… but that’s no reason to believe they won’t arrive at the same spot in approximately the same amount of time provided the circumstances (f.e. time for practice) are similar.

Finally, let me say I’m 31, I took up piano 1.5 years ago for the first time and I am very pleased with my progress. And I can't help but smile every time I think I still have about 50 years to continue learning!

[wildman]

To echo what I said ago, it's your interest and passion that is the main driving force of your playing. No matter how ill you judge yourself based on others' abilities, you're surely on your way to become a great musician if you truly love the music.

[oceanic]

You can do anything you want, there's no rule.  If you are 35, in twenty years you will be 55, still playing and doing a wonderful job.  You can be anything you want in 20 years.  Remember nowadays its the age of 67 before you can retire, that gives you 32 years to think about something.  You can definitely be a professional piano player if you love it that much.

I'm brand new, bought a nice keyboard 64 keys, not an expensive one, am learning to play now.  I'm not aiming at professional, but would love to be good at it.  Tried the viola, not good, bought a flute even, didn't even learn the chords before I lost interest, but now a keyboard piano, that is something easy to play.  I have a lot more patience with it, but I'll see. 

Good luck on what you do, but don't count yourself dead yet, I'm 40 and trying, your life doesn't end learning yet, you have probably until your about 80 or so.  The older you get the better.

Good luck to you.

[wellrod]

I also think that is never too late to learn any instrument...

I started with 7 years old with accoustic popular Guitar... (now with 34 years old...) by the popular method "A La, B Si, C Dó"... making chords with popular music... all the people around me said that i'd never been a musician... i only had my parents to help and encourage me... after i decided to learn electric guitar, after electric bass, after keyboard, after transversal flute, after accoustic bass, after viola caipira (a 10 string accoustic guitar) and now the PIANO!!!

maybe i'll not become the best musician in all this instruments... but music is part of me... and doesn't matter if you will not be the best musician... only to be near the music, for me, is the most important... i sleep with music on my head... my dreams are with music... it's like a 24 hours radio in my head... yes... maybe i'm a little crazy... but music is my life... don't matter the instrument... only the sound...

And now, my great pleasure is to arrive at my house and try to pratice some piano exercises... the incredible sound that piano make into my body, makes me very happy... so, don't worry to learn all the things... only have great pleasure moments with your piano!!!

[chris_goslow]

And now, my great pleasure is to arrive at my house and try to pratice some piano exercises... the incredible sound that piano make into my body, makes me very happy... so, don't worry to learn all the things... only have great pleasure moments with your piano!!!

Niiiiiice.

[nula]

I'm close to 60 and just had lesson no.4. Doing very well because my motivation is high and I always preview and prepare ahead for next lesson, so get more from it.

I think a crucial thing for adult learners, though, is to find decent material. I've never understood (well I do, but I disagree with the reasoning) why some beginner material sees it necessary to subject adults to the Bah Bah Black Sheep/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star etc., torture. No better way to put adults off learning than to put that in front of them.

I think good material from lesson one forward should be mature. I'm using  Beyer Vorschule Im Klavierspiel Op.101 and even basic exercises sound like I'm making music (and I'm up to around page 23 now, I proudly add...).

So, 35? Come on, son, pull your socks up and get cracking...!

[magio]

It is never late for anyone to do something they really love!
Keep on and take care!!!
 

[jcamps]

Hi, friends,
I’ve read your messages about being too old to start playing piano, and I’d like to let you know a bit about my personal history.
When I was a very young boy (6 yo) I was taken to private classes of music, just to learn a little about rhythm, sound,… I didn’t like very much these classes but the best thing was that the teacher played the piano and, since lessons were given at her home, sometimes she had to go out (the phone ringed, someone knocked at the door…) so I had some seconds to play with the piano keys.
Sometimes, I started to study music more seriously, but never piano. First of all because I didn’t have any piano, neither I could afford it. So years passed, I started to work, several other commitments came on me… since this year, when I am 42, when I decided not to wait more!
At present I am taking piano lessons with a teacher, 1h hour each week. The first thing I told him was I wanted to play piano, not to pass exams, nor to give auditions…
I started on March 11th (historic day in my life), and last week I began to study Ravel’s “Ma mere l’Oye”. Maybe I wont be able to play it perfectly, but I am sure I am going to love it, even if it takes much time to practice on this piece.
I think often that I’d have started my piano lessons when I was younger. Naturally now my level would be –maybe- excellent. But on the other hand I think that I wouldn’t have noted the feelings I feel now, where on the keyboard there are not only my hands, but also life experience, music knowledge and the memories of all those long years of dreams on white-and-black dreams.
PS. Sorry about my English. I promise to improve it too  !!!

[magio]

Personally,I started playing the piano at a late age,when I was 11 years old.Maybe I should have started earlier.BUT nevermind!

[ask_why]

"Too old" is too subjective.  Too old for what?

If your goal is to be a professional pianist by age 37, then you are too old.  If your goal is to learn a skill that you will always enjoy, then you can never be too old...

[chris_goslow]

Don't ever look back.  If you are drawn to do something new and you're 92, great...
The moment you stop doing new things that you want to do is the moment you stop living...

Just my thoughts.

[magio]

I repeat that i started piano at 11,but i consider it already too old to start the piano.One should start it at 7!!!

[chris_goslow]

I repeat that i started piano at 11,but i consider it already too old to start the piano.One should start it at 7!!!

Lol, interesting idea.  However, what one "should" do isn't always possible.  Don't you think it's far more effective to simply start wherever you are, rather than where you "should be"? 

[magio]

Over 11 years of age,it is too old to start the piano.
That is an opinion which many piano teachers and piano students share.I started at 11,so i am just fine!
George

[chris_goslow]

George:

I think it depends on what your goals are.  If you are talking about having a career as a classical concert pianist, you MAY be right.  But I'm sure there are exceptions.  However, if you're talking about playing piano for enjoyment, for composition, or for a career in non-classical music, I don't agree.  I'm guessing you're taking the purely classical route.


--Chris

[magio]

And what about you??
 

[shostakovich188]

Hi everyone, I'm new on this forum and I'm figuring out it's options :-) I must ask all of you something - like the Matt who started this discussion my story is something like that. I started at the age of 7 to play piano and piano accordion. Later I quit piano, but I still practiced it a little bit. Now, I'm 22, I finished academy for accordion and during my education as a professional musician I had piano as a secondary instrument, but program for it was miserable in compare with real pianists. Also during studies I had piano. During studies I wanted to get back to piano, but never get a hard decision. Last year I started to take lessons for good and with collapsing day-night practices I passed exam to high school for pianists. My teacher was stunned 'cause she never taught that I could do it; I didn't really practice piano for a few years, just stabbing to keyboard. Now, I decided to start next year conducting studies in Belgrade (another 5 years) and planning after that to try academy for pianists.
My question is - can I do it?
On accordion we play everything that pianists play (WTC from Bach, Scarlatti, Rameau, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, etc). So far best pieces I played really good on piano are Prelude and fugue in d minor by Shostakovich, Barcarolle by Rachmaninov, Some Haydn sonatas, Scherzo by Prokofiev, but can I even dream to become a student pianist and a solid performer (maybe for chamber music)? I have good techique, but I miss a little bit power in fingers when it comes to some speedness, and ofcourse speed, but I have rather good control of sound. Can I achieve my dreams?
Please answer on this, I can't sleep for nights, my girlfriend is mad at me 'cause I'm practicing piano day & night, 'cause I simply LOVE IT!

[ukbuk]

Mattdean, I love this subject. I had always dreamt of playing piano but never had the opportunity to learn. I am 31 and have been taking lessons for 7 mnths and I love it. You are never too old and we never stop learning. I plan on doing exams next year because I want to be a teacher.
You are taking lessons, so you can do it:) proud of your progress.

Wow. I'm 31 too and have been playing about 4 months. Race you

[rmbarbosa]

I know a 60 old man who told me, five yers ago, he was interested in learning piano. "When I was younger, I couldnt but now I want to do everything I couldnt when I was younger" - he told me.
Now, He plays very - but very well indeed. And he learned alone, without teacher, because all teachers he knew told him that it was quite impossible to learn so old! and no one acepted to teach him. "they dont know that dream commands life" - wrote a portuguese poet.But it`s true.
When a man dreams, all is possible.
Good luck.
Rui.

[magio]

Well i was just joking!Starting at the age of eleven was only a personal choice...There is no should or must in life.Everyone do what they really enjoy!So do I...It's never late to start the piano.And It's true that i play only classical music at the moment but i like listening to all kinds of music,even death metal!Because music it's my life...

[mcmilldo]

Hi
I started the piano a couple of years ago and have passed the first three grades and hoping to do grade 4 next year. I am 66 and started when I was 64 and had no experience of any musical instrument. Don't give up keep trying its a great hobby.

[jimbo320]

Matt,
Don't be discouraged by your age or hearing someone better. Just learn and enjoy. Think of all the people who just continue to wish without acting and end up in the land of regret. I read your post and felt the urge to write you my story. Maybe or maybe not this will help.
I too wish I started playing the piano at an earlier age but as they say, it's never too late.
I am 59 and started teaching myself a year ago. I also use only my right hand because of an accident my left hand is useless. I used to play by ear bass, six and twelve string guitars. Sometimes in bands.
Not wanting to give up making music I figured on giving the piano a try. I've always loved the sound of a good piano player.
I'm teaching myself and enjoy it a lot. Hell, I can even read now, lol. Hearing others that are obviously better just shows me what I can do. Maybe not now, but with work, someday.
So believe me when I say that it's true about being never too late.
Never mind the others who are better or younger. Just enjoy learning and doing.

Musically, Jimbo   

[magio]

Jimbo you are just GREAT!
keep on my friend

[littletune]

Well you can always find someone who started learning when they were younger than you... and you can always find someone who thinks you're too old to start learning.  I mean I started learning piano last year at 11 and I was already too old for some music schools cause they only accepted kids from 7 to 9!    And even if you start at 7 there's always someone who started at 5 or even at 3! But who cares anyway! At first I was a little embarrassed cause I was playing those baby pieces that 7year olds (or even 5year olds) were playing, but now I don't care anymore  I just love playing piano soooooooooooooooooooooooo much!    So why would it even matter when you start?

[nystul]

I think the main disadvantage (so to speak) of being an adult piano student would be that you are no longer "awesome" in your own mind and "cute" to everyone else. A lot of kids don't have anywhere near the patience or focus to really polish a piece to performance level.  They will work on one piece for 6 months for a recital and then play it all choppy and slow down for the hard parts and have no expressive subtlety whatsoever and maybe hit a few wrong notes, and everyone will clap when they are done and say good job, and the kid will feel that they played the piece almost perfectly with just a few tiny mistakes.

Adults are too self-aware for that, and don't get the "just a kid" benefit of the doubt when playing for others.  Adults have expectations and concerns about how good they should be what they want to do.  It could be very frustrating if you let it be. 

It's just a completely different and unrealistic view of the situation.  Think about how many kids start playing when they are 7 or younger, compared to how many actually end up being concert pianists or ever playing as adults.  If you can get to the point of playing early-intermediate pieces with real emotion and consistency, you would probably be way ahead of most of the adults who took piano when they were 7 or whatever.  Most of them have no desire to play the instrument at all once they quit lessons!  The main thing would be to enjoy playing whatever you are able to and improving at whatever pace you are able to and not get caught up in long term goals and expectations.

[yukinvn]

My case is, somehow, the same with you..

I love to learn piano so much, since i was a child. But i couldn't.. Therefore, i had to contend myself with learning electric organ (which remind me of Piano). I had to stop my learning after few months due to my family's financial condition.

And, you know what? Nearly twenty years later, when I gain enough money, time & conditions, I buy a piano, and start my dream once again.

Perhaps, It may be hard for us to start learning piano at our age. But, we do have another advantages.. Do you know what it's? be more optimistic..
1/ Since we're adult now, we'll have the ability to analyze & reasoning. Therefore, it’ll be a little easier for us to remember than just learning by hard.
2/ Since we're adult now, we will know how to struggle with the difficult in order to achieve our target. We will be more patient & determine than when we were young.
3/Now we're doing what we really want to do, not something others want us to do.. therefore, we can play piano for hours and didn't feel enough.. (it's me)

I'm not sure if everybody feel that way or not, but it's true in my case.
Then, don't be puzzled. Pls remember that there're some one else like you, somewhere in the world.. ^^ such as me..

[jimbo320]

Thanks magio,
Being able to make music in spite of it all is thrilling me greatly. I hope my little story helped somebody......

Musically, Jimbo

[magio]

Be sure that your story helped everyone!It's an authentic and moving story,you have a heart of gold and willingness of steal! :-)
Music is life...

[birba]

Well you can always find someone who started learning when they were younger than you... and you can always find someone who thinks you're too old to start learning.  I mean I started learning piano last year at 11 and I was already too old for some music schools cause they only accepted kids from 7 to 9!    And even if you start at 7 there's always someone who started at 5 or even at 3! But who cares anyway! At first I was a little embarrassed cause I was playing those baby pieces that 7year olds (or even 5year olds) were playing, but now I don't care anymore  I just love playing piano soooooooooooooooooooooooo much!    So why would it even matter when you start?

You hit it on the head, Littletune!

[jimbo320]

To use a phrase from the movie Silverado:
 "The world is what you make of it. If it doesn't fit, you make alterations..."

Jimbo

[carolynjoseph]

If you have passion & hobies to be a good Piano player then must not do late, still you are young. Let's start from today!

[pianopuppy]

Hello

I'm new here just joined today and I've been browsing the threads and came across this.

I am *cough*37*cough* and started learning keyboard just over one month ago.  I am teaching myself (using books) and I try to practise most evenings.  Already I am seeing improvement... I'll start doing something like a scale or chord and of course at first I don't get it at all, my fingers are all over the place  but I persevere, keep doing it over and over again, and then the more I do it the easier it gets and I look back and realise that I've made progress, and that I'm now managing to do something that a couple of weeks previously, I was sure I would never be able to do.

I know it's early days, but I can see genuine improvement in what I can do (even though I am still only at the basics) so I know that, in say a years time, I will be a lot further ahead than I am now.

So no, I don't think it is possible to be too old to learn.  I think that, as long as you want to learn and you are enjoying the process, then you will make progress.

Anyway, hope that helps

[sephethus]

I took piano for about 7 years when I was young, but from a crappy teacher and about all I could do was play classical pieces reading notes off the page.

Last year I turned 36 and bought a Yamaha DGX640, hired a jazz improv teacher and began learning to create music, while simultaneously learning how to play classical music on my own.

It really doesn't matter when you start, it just takes about 10,000 hours of constant learning challenges on the piano to master it as well as any great pianist out there. For those of us with a full time career, that may take 5 or 6 years or more depending on our other responsibilities.

I love that this board exists, and that there is plenty of material out there on the internet that can help me master it as efficiently as possible, and spend those 10,000 hours doing it right.