Fresh meat

[iphis]

hello there,
I'm a beginner in piano, I started to take lessons since last year...
and I'm now 16 year old    ( yea, maybe too late to start )

I listen to music like classical, extreme metal, rock, avant garde/experimental music, ambience, jazz and some sentimental.
dislike pop, pop rock and hip-hop.

  again, hello everybody.

[leahcim]

yea, maybe too late to start

You could try rocket science or brain surgery or even reaching a high shelf - something you can start later in life

Welcome, BTW, forgive my sarcasm, I just see those 20+ years my junior speaking as though they are 30+ years my senior too often I doubt 16 is too late.

[steve jones]

How ironic, Iv been witnessing people 20 years my senior, acting 30 years my junior. Ofcourse, being just 24 that would mean that my senior were behaving as if yet to be a twinkle in their daddy's eye... and who knows how they behave 


iphis,

Welcome dear newbie brethren! I to am fresh to the piano forum ranks. There is much to learn here so please if you have an questions fire way.

PS. Dont feed the trolls, it'll only end in tears 

[allthumbs]

Greetings

Welcome to the forum iphis

I think you'll find that you can learn alot here. Everyone is willing to help with their expertise with any questions you may have and debate their points of view with yours, so fire away!

Cheers

allthumbs

[lisztisforkids]

Hi, i started when i was 12 and am now 17. Some people told me that even that age was to late to start the piano. But i amm proving them wrong! Just work hard and get a good teacher.

[steve jones]

Ofcourse iphis, it does help to have a prodigal degree of talent, like myself (lol).

Btw, if you like experiemental music you would love some of my recent Csound creations!

[iphis]

Ofcourse iphis, it does help to have a prodigal degree of talent, like myself (lol).

Btw, if you like experiemental music you would love some of my recent Csound creations!

your Csound creation? what is that, might get interested 
for experimental piece, I like music from Peccatum, Ulver, Lacrimosa, Unto Ashes, Star of Ash, composers like Erik Satie, John Cage, contemporary John Zorn.

[piano_luvr]

WELCOME Iphis!! 

Oh please...it's not "too late" at all for you to learn piano!  It's proabably NEVER too late really.  Unless you want to become some concert pianist, people start at all ages.  Some start in their 30's.  Some haven't even seen a piece of piano music until they are in thier 60's!!  As long as you are breathing, and are of an able mind, you can learn piano! LOL* 

[spirithorn]

Iphis -
I agree with piano_luvr.  Starting at age 16, are you going to become a concert artist?  In all likelihood, no.  Can you learn to play at a very proficient level and gain a lifetime of enjoyment?  Most definitely, if you realize that there are no shortcuts.  A good teacher who is willing to work with you toward your specific goals will help immensely.

[steve jones]

your Csound creation? what is that, might get interested 
for experimental piece, I like music from Peccatum, Ulver, Lacrimosa, Unto Ashes, Star of Ash, composers like Erik Satie, John Cage, contemporary John Zorn.

I do loads of sound design in the computer. Thats what I do mostly these days (I started piano for a little light relief!!!  ). This year Iv been getting really into Csound - using the various granular synthesis and phase vocoder opcodes to process 'concrete musique' type recordings.

I should have a couple of sample CD's out at some point in the future, so all the best stuff will be made available.

Im also well into the following programs:

- Soundhack
- Metasynth
- Hyperprism
- Cubase SX (my main mixing / sequencing environment)
- GRMTools

Plus loads of other wacky stuff.

Right now Im saving up for a Kyma, those things look amazing!

[bernhard]

You could try rocket science or brain surgery or even reaching a high shelf - something you can start later in life

Welcome, BTW, forgive my sarcasm, I just see those 20+ years my junior speaking as though they are 30+ years my senior too often I doubt 16 is too late.

In fact someone mentioned a while ago that Naida Cole was giving up her concert career to study medicine

So, there.

[maryruth]

It's never too late to start the piano...

As a teacher, I teach both children and adults and the main thing I notice between the adults and children (age 5-11 or so) is that the adults expect more in less time and can grow frustrated that it all doesn't just happen in a few weeks.  But, I do think that adults do learn faster--catch on faster--as far as understanding conceptually what they want to happen--they just grow frustrated with their fingers.  I think it's because children are in the mode of overcoming coordination problems all the time, they haven't perfected much in life and they don't have a sense of perfection yet....adults do and it can be their downfall.

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day.  For example a 5-year-child draws a picture of what he thinks is a dog.  It's made up of a few sticks and circles and the child thinks it's the best dog he's ever seen.  We as adults look at the dog and wonder what the heck it is...We tell the child it's great and know that the dog will look more like a dog each year the child ages....SAME WITH THE PIANO NO MATTER HOW OLD.

You must be as patient with the process as you would be with a child's stick figure drawing...Practice, patience and time (and a good teacher) are the maim ingredients, I think.

[mcgillcomposer]

hello there,
I'm a beginner in piano, I started to take lessons since last year...
and I'm now 16 year old    ( yea, maybe too late to start )

I listen to music like classical, extreme metal, rock, avant garde/experimental music, ambience, jazz and some sentimental.
dislike pop, pop rock and hip-hop.

  again, hello everybody.

Welcome to the forum!

Don't be so worried about your age.  It's all about how you progress.  I know people who began very young (4 or 5) and don't play anymore.  Or those who wasted years with the wrong teacher.  Also, the fact that it is your own choice to start says alot for you.  Because you seem so interested, I am sure you will learn very quickly.

I started when I was 14 and am now 20.  At 17 I was accepted into 3 universities in Canada to study the piano and composition.  It was a combination of hard work and my love for music in general.

I wish you the best of luck!

- Andrew

[leahcim]

In fact someone mentioned a while ago that Naida Cole was giving up her concert career to study medicine

So, there.

I wouldn't doubt it - and there's John Carmack [and a few others that attempted the X prize stuff, no doubt] for the 30+ rocket scientists [if you've never heard of him, then you've never played quake or doom]

I don't think I'll be any worse / better because I'm not 5 or 15 - bar the fact that I'll run out of time at some point. Or in other words, I wouldn't have been a concert pianist if I'd started when I was 5 either.

That said you need a piano around, otherwise an argument about opportunity could be made. But if my 6yo wanted to play the piano, there's a digital there and nothing stopping him [unless he's fussy and waiting for a decent grand] he certainly hasn't shown much interest - perhaps he will if he sees someone playing it a bit better. But I don't see much point in lessons on the basis of "he's 6 and it'd be too late if he doesn't start now" because, I think, if he was Mozart II he'd be playing. OTOH, mebbe tomorrow or next year he will and he'll reach the same standard he was ever going to, whenever he starts, bar ill health or death.

That said, you'll say it's not talent. Ok, I'll say it's like the 80%/20% rule - the first 80% is "easy" compared with the last 20% and the gulf between them is probably negligable in some respects, but unbelivably huge in others.

Most that get the 80%, I'd say nigh on all that are over a certain age, but clearly nigh on all that are below it too, that'll be it. They simply won't do anything about being better even if they could. No matter how much they might protest that they'd love to be better or practise or listen to music. There are heaps more that will never try at all or won't even approach 80% so it's not a negative way of looking at it.

[iphis]

thanks for all those encouragements...
they do help me a lot