When did you start playing the piano?

[llamaman]

When did you start playing? Please also state the exact age as well.

I started at age 10. (11 now).

[ako]

I started playing on and off at 3, learning from my aunt. Started having formal lessons with a teacher at 6.

[chozart]

a bit before I turned 11

[llamaman]

Wow Ako! Early learner

[chopet]

The first time I actually tried to play a piano was on holidays at around age 5 or something. Just a couple of nursery rhymes, a hymn tune. Had lessons for a few months at age 8 but had no piano to practice on. My teacher moved house and I had to stop for a few years. Started again at age 13 and had lessons until age 17.

[Barbosa-piano]

 The first time I ever tryed to play a piano I was about 4 years old. At 12 years old I started playing, when I learned by myself. I am 15 now.

[ako]

Wow Ako! Early learner

My aunt is 12 years older than me. We lived together when I was very young. When she was practicing her pieces, I would be messing around bothering her. So she decided to teach me the very basic stuff.

[steinwayguy]

Great topic for the repertoire board.

[frederic]

Ha was just gonna say...

[ted]

I pestered my father into teaching me the notes and to read and write simple music before I went to school - about three or four I suppose. Although it was real music, it was pretty rough and there was certainly nothing of the prodigy in me. It was, however, an excellent foundation for later piano lessons, during which much "spade work" could be skipped.

[Waldszenen]

When I was 9.

[pianobabe_56]

Ditto... 9 yrs. old

[greyrune]

late starter at 17, i'm 19 now, wish i had at least 5 years under my belt.

[sevencircles]

I heard that Volodos didn´t really start to play piano until he was 17. Before that he only knew some chords and simple melodies.

[026497]

I am a late starter, 12(15 now).

[shasta]

5

[greyrune]

I heard that Volodos didn´t really start to play piano until he was 17. Before that he only knew some chords and simple melodies.

Well that's a comfort, there's hope for me yet.

[bassoonypiano]

At age 8 I started taking lessons, but now I regret not practicing the way I should of back then. I barely practiced at all but I stuck with it. I'm an ok player but I think I could of been much better had I not wasted my time those first 6 years. I only started seriously practicing about 3 years ago, wish I had started earlier! Although I guess I have to factor in the 2 times I broke my left wrist and the months I had to postpone lessons.

[Jacey1973]

7

[rc]

I began at 19... Began taking piano and music (too) seriously after finding this place about 8 months ago and seeing the possibilities. Got over my ego 3 months ago and found a teacher.

I'd been playing guitar since I was 7 though.

No sense in thinking in limitations. Better to dream of what you will achieve than to lament what you haven't already achieved.

I love music and the challenge of learning piano, especially sharing what I've learned. I owe a lot of my progress to the questions and sage advise in this forum. Thanks.

 

[guru_of_time]

I started when I was 7. I wasn't completely serious about it until about a year and a half ago...something just snapped and I was like "I wanna become as good as possible." So, I've been working my butt off ever since lol

[vaiva]

I don't remember the time, then I first tryed to play the piano by my self
I just can say, that I started to have lessons with a teacher at age 6 and half.

[rebel1ns]

i started when i was 5; then i quit and after a half year i began with another teacher when i was 6

[Teddybear]

I was 19. I've been playing for 3,5 years now, but I started serious practising last autumn when I began my studies at a conservatory. Before that I couldn't practise that much (first I didn't have a piano, then my neighbours went crazy, so I was too scared to play at home), plus I didn't play at all during the summers because I started thinking then that I'm never going to make it to the higher levels anyway.

T

[pokeythepenguin]

4

[stormx]

36 

[Bouter Boogie]

6 

[pianote]

5

[edgemont]

50

Wow!

[musicaannie]

Hey.I started playing at around 5 years old.I'll be 13 in august this year.=)I'm taking my diplomaABRSM this september.

[Waldszenen]

50

Wow!

Never too late, mate, never too late.

[eusebius27]

i was 5

[Siberian Husky]

19

[whynot]

3... and cheers to Edgemont @ 50!!! 

[alraydo]

I was picking out melodies on Grandma's piano at age 3 or 4 . . . started lessons at age 7 and have been playing ever since.  (now age 30)  ...although throughout high school I needed to be forced to practice.

[026497]

i was 5

Are you kidding? How can a five years old kid sit down for an hour to play the piano? Plus, some of my friends who started to play the piano at 3, but at the same grade with me. I think it is not very useful for kids to learn playing the piano before they are able to finish their meal by themselves(unless they have EQ 200).
What did you start with (piece or scale) when you were five? Weather it was the idea of your parents or you? 

[viking]

I started playing the piano in the suzuki program at the age of 3 (three) years.  I am not lying, it was a program designed for extremely young students.  Although my IQ is higher than average (im not going to tell you what it is) it is completely possible for a student to start from age 3 to 5.  My sister has just started at age 4 and is doing extremely well.  At the age of 3 I began with the twinkles, and then progressed to scales, arpeggios, and many other short pieces.  It might be bad for some students to start that early, but in my limited experience it hasnt hurt anyone that I know of (only 3 people). 

[pet]

I started with a teacher at age 4.  I think if you see a child that is that young that really wants to play the piano, you should send them!

[montiverdirocks]

Great topic for the repertoire board.

Steinwayguy, shat can I say?

AMEN!!
BTW I started playing as soon as I came out of the womb- I'm cool like that

[jbmajor]

24.....I don't even wanna think how good I'd have been by now if I started as early as the majority of you on here have.

[etudes]

since 2003
which i was 17.5 now am 20

[phil13]

I started at 12... now I'm almost 16

[aya_heller]

Started at 16.  I'm 18 now.  So depressing, I know a girl who is 16 and in grade 10 u.u I wish I started earlier. ; ;

[prometheus]

22

[jas]

I started getting lessons when I was 14, but I began playing about a year before that. Bad idea -- I picked up all sorts of bad habits.

[thierry13]

I started getting lessons when I was 14, but I began playing about a year before that. Bad idea -- I picked up all sorts of bad habits.

Exactly me. Except I began touching piano at early 14 and began taking lessons at late 14, almost 15. I'm going to turn 16 in less than a month 

[prettypianoplaying]

I started when I was 7, finished lessons at 17.

[perfect_pitch]

9. I've only been playing for 10 and a half years. But I will never quit playing Piano.

[lyret]

I started when I was 7-8 and I've been playing for 9 years now.

[yamagal]

Was picking out tunes on a toy piano at age 3 (gift from my grandparents - my very musical grandfather played 4 instruments).  I longed for a real piano and lessons, but my parents did not buy a piano nor start me with formal lessons till I was 10.