Too old to start playing?

[mattdean]

Afternoon!

As a guy of 35, am I too old to learn how to play the piano?  I've always wanted to learn but only recently have been able to afford the time and money that it requires.  I have been having lessons for around a year now, I haven't done any exams yet as I recently changed tutor due to changes in location.  I'm currently finishing Michael Aaron Lessons Grade 2 but I'm starting to think I'm not getting anywhere!  I really do want to take it as a serious hobby but I keep feeling maybe I'm too old to really get anywhere with it.  I know good piano playing takes years of dedication.  My teacher says I'm doing really well but the student before me is 11 and she is amazing!  I just feel a bit stupid when I walk in early for my lesson and sit there listening to her - she's like a Mozart compared to me!

I don't want to give up, I really enjoy it and I can see that I have made some progress - I just feel down because I keep thinking I should've started lessons as a child and that I'm too old for it!  

Are there any forum members who started playing around my age?  What are your experiences?  Are you making progress?  

Help please!  I need a bit of reassurance!

Matt

[kris_k]

I am young and unexprienced. I don't know wheather it affects.
I came here to post only to cheer you.
Don't give up!!!!

[ponken]

I think you can still learn to play the piano well. Don't give up if you really want to play the piano. Good luck!

[gyzzzmo]

Stop comparing with others. If you want to learn to play it, do it

[pianisten1989]

Maybe you won't be any Horowitz... But Richter started playing seriously at the age of 19 (or so I've heard), so ofc you can start playing...

[stevebob]

When I read the title of this thread, I assumed you were merely contemplating learning piano.  But you started a year ago, so you already answered your question:  of course you're not too old!

Adults experience learning differently than children.  For things like musical instruments and foreign languages, for example, it can seem that achievement comes faster and more easily when you're young.  In any event, everyone brings a unique combination of talent, ambition, time and effort to such a task.

Even if the typical child progresses more rapidly than the average adult student, though, there are trade-offs.  If "education is wasted on the young," it's because the life experiences of adults give us greater depth of understanding and a stronger appreciation for the things we find meaningful.

Only you can decide whether piano study is satisfying and enjoyable enough to merit the energy you expend on it, but it sounds as though it is.  As hard as it may be to do so, try to stop comparing yourself to others.  For any person in any field of endeavor, there will always be some who are more accomplished and others who are less proficient.  Nobody is ever "finished," so enjoy the journey. 

Best wishes and happy practicing!

[royandrew]

Young kids do have an advantage i think. But it should matter if you enjoy learning/playing piano. Everybody who started late wishes they had started earlier. I say dont give up as long as you enjoy it.

[mattdean]

Well, thanks for the replies and the boosters!:)

Are there any other students out there of a similar age and experience?  How are you getting on? 

I think maybe a problem I have is that I really want to run before I can walk! Lol!

Have any of you guys also followed the Michael Aaron course?  Is it a good one or would you recommend an alternative?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

I

[rejoyce]

Matt I started taking lessons through an online course when I was 45 (five years ago). I do it for personal enrichment and that is all and the lessons have done very well in serving that purpose. The site is learnpianoonline if you want to check it out. I used to regret not having lessons when I was a child, but there are a lot of children who hated lessons when they were kids and don't want anything to do with the piano. Go figure! I don't know anything about taking the exams and all because that's not my goal, so I don't know what to tell you there. Just enjoy the ride and don't look in the rear view mirror 

[keyboardclass]

I started lessons at Uni at the age of 30.  I didn't find a good teacher till I was 40.  Now I'm 54 and a qualified piano teacher.  Sky's the limit if you meet the right person.

[mattdean]

rejoyce and keyboardclass,

You've both made my day!  THANKS!

I really appreciate all the comments left here, but to have people with similar (later!) experience reply with what you have said is a real motivational pill!

rejoyce, I'll look up the online tutor this evening.  Keep it up and yes, I gain enrichment from the piano also!

keyboardclass - incredible!  A real story of inspiration!  A piano teacher?!!!  Well done you!

Matt (a very happy 35 year old beginner!)

[rejoyce]

Great! You will not be disappointed. She just started doing classical too!

[csharp_minor]

Personally I think adults can learn faster than kids, if they put in the effort and have an interest. The only reason kids seem to pick up things quickly like languages and music is because they can be more exposed to it than us. Adults have many other commitments, and hurdles in life that prevent them from having the time or money to do what they want .

Although it’s funny after two years of compulsory French lessons in school at the age of 11 I didn’t hardly learn anything! because I wasn’t interested. Yet I decide to learn Spanish now, and in under a month I have learned way more now than I did at school with an apparently more pliable brain. You just need to have the interest in the subject to pick it up.

but the student before me is 11 and she is amazing!

Don’t compare yourself to the young student; she has probably been playing the piano for much longer then you have, if you put in the time she has you can do it too! The problem with adults is that they can get too self-conscious about things and their progress. The only difference about the younger student is they may be more likely to be able to do piano for their career, were as adults already have one! But as keyboardclass has mentioned even that has been turned on its head!

I have been playing for about 2 years now I’m 24, and am an early intermediate. I have irregular lessons but with help and encouragement from my teacher I’m playing grade 4 – 5 pieces now, and have grade 2 piano. I’m not too bothered about exams at the moment, but they are a good progress checker.

Keep going!

[pianoreporter]

Hi Matt,

I am happy to see that you are feeling somewhat relieved that you are not alone in this matter as there are others, as well as myself, that started learning the piano in our thirties.  I went to college to learn piano at the age of 31.  I was the oldest one in this particular class and it was totally embarrassing.  The other student’s ages ranged from 18 to 25 and they already knew how to play at a higher level.  These students wanted to be professionals.  I just want to learn as a hobby.  I was so intimidated.  However, I kept on because I really wanted to learn this beautiful instrument.  It is sometimes hard not to compare.  I truly understand how you felt and feel.  At the same time, comparing is the best thing to do if you want to be discouraged.  We are all on different levels.  We all learn differently.  You have to keep focused on how you learn and what works best for you.  I will continue to keep you in mind my fellow-piano-man. 

Stay blessed,

www.Pianoreporter.com

[lostinidlewonder]

Hi Matt,
You are never too old to learn a musical instrument, I taught a lady of the young age of 86 and she had never played piano before. Although she didn't progress very far she did make progress. You want to have your own goals, what pieces do you dream to play, where do you want to be at the end of the month/year etc. Don't worry about what other people do, there will always be people out there who do great work and might make your efforts seem lesser. Everyone has their own musical path and journey, enjoy your own, it does not have to be a concerting pianist path, but it certainly should be a path that you enjoy, are excited about and willing to work hard with.

[doryanne]

Hi,
I started tasking piano lessons last year when I was 30 and made very nice progresses. I have had the same feelings as you: frustration that I cannot play better especially when seeing the kids how nice they play, the feeling that I don't play well enough and so on.
Like gizzzmo and stevebob said, stop comparing yourself to others, it is not helping you at all! Looking at how I play objectively, I realize how huge my progresses are: at the beginning of last year I didn't even know the notes!! Of course it takes hard work and patience, but the satisfaction that I have when I succeed in playing a piece it is huge!
Besides if your teacher says that you made nice progresses, he/she must be right 
Don't give up, you will feel sorry later, believe me! Like you, I feel sorry that I didn' start when I was a child, but then I remeber how lucky I am to be able to do it even now!
Here is a link I found on this forum with some very good advices:
https://www.soundfeelings.com/free/piano_myths.htm
Good luck!

[mattdean]

 

doryanne, lostinidlewonder, pianoreporter, csharp minor and to you others who have posted above - I can't tell you how much your kind words and advice mean to me!

When I found this forum I was feeling really down about my piano experience and progress but now, just a few days later, I really feel as though I'm worrying over relatively nothing and I just need to get on with what I have always wanted to do and ENJOY it now that I can! 

I've just put my coffee down, I'm ignoring my cat Max (who keeps demanding fuss!) and I'M GIVING YOU ALL A BIG HUG!

THANK YOU!

I'll check out any links you mentioned later.

rejoyce - I found some many helpful tips on learnpianoonline - tick-tock!

I'd better get on with some practise now that I have a bit of time. 

Matt

[doryanne]

You are very welcome!
When I first wanted to start taking piano lessons, I had a lot of doubts related to my age. Somebody even discouraged me (an old piano teacher)
I was very sad so I  posted a question on a different forum. You cannot believe how many people replied and encouraged me and told me to go for it. It was very helpful so I do the same when I have the chance 

[brogers70]

Matt, you can definitely learn to play substantial, serious music on the piano even if you start very late. I started when I was about 40, now I'm 51. I had never played piano, though I'd been a good classical guitarist when younger. At first it was painfully slow. I spent hours and hours doing scales and arpeggios and going mindlessly through Hanon until my wife was about ready to take an ax to the piano. After 5 years of that I could barely play a two part invention without awkward stops and jolts and I would scan through the Hayden sonatas looking for Adagios. And I couldn't play for even family or friends without choking. I was frustrated, but even so, it was fun to learn bits of great music, even badly.

Then I ran into CC Chang's book "Fundamentals of Piano Practice." It helped enormously. I threw out Hanon and cut back on the scales and arpeggios (by then I knew them pretty well anyway). Chang gives very specific advice about how to isolate the difficulties in a piece and how to work on them. I followed the advice in his book and developed a much more efficient way of practicing. Five years after that I am playing most of the Schubert Impromptus, lots of the Mozart Sonatas, including the A minor K310 (great piece), preludes and fugues from WTC I in C minor, d minor, D major, Eb Major, Janacek's On an Overgrown Path, Brahm's Intermezzo in A major. You wouldn't pay much to hear me play, but you wouldn't run away screaming, either. And it's great to know this music from the inside.

There are a lot of posts in this forum from a guy named Bernhard who also has excellent suggestions on how to organize your practice https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,5767.0.html. His approach is similar to Chang's.

The things I've found technically really hard are few. Fast scale passages and big leaps are no problem, but it's really hard to get a smooth, long trill, and maybe that is a question of not enough neural plasticity at our age to get enough ultra fine control of that particular motion. So I think the Waldstein Sonata and Op. 111 will always be out of reach. That still leaves a lot of great music, though. So keep at it.

[tan_wit]

Hi, I'm 41 this year, older than you. But I'm begining to play like you. I think nobody too old for learning everything, or no. Try it & do it, Good luck.

[keyboardclass]

Fast scale passages and big leaps are no problem, but it's really hard to get a smooth, long trill, and maybe that is a question of not enough neural plasticity at our age to get enough ultra fine control of that particular motion. So I think the Waldstein Sonata and Op. 111 will always be out of reach. That still leaves a lot of great music, though. So keep at it.

The only thing that's out of the question is the 5 times as much time needed to strengthening the muscles, tendons and ligaments at our age.  What we should have is a less volatile chemical soup swashing about inside, which makes for a more considered aesthetic.

[db05]

I wonder about that too. I started piano at age 18, but had a good start since I was already playing guitar for 2 years at the time. So my hands were flexible. I think Michael Aaron is good, although I used Thompson (a similar one that's very common here). I would also recommend First Lessons in Bach and Piano Pieces for Children. Very nice pieces there.

[sharmayelverton]

Your not too old to start playing.

[scottmcc]

I think it all comes down to having realistic expectations...one is never "too old" to start playing for fun, but if your goal is to go to conservatory, then you should probably start when you're a little kid.  everyone talks about how much faster kids learn, which is certainly true for the kids that "get it," but what about the great majority of kids who don't make progress, don't practice, and drop out of lessons?  the fact is that most people who try anything hard don't fully succeed, but that doesn't mean it's not worth doing.

in your initial post you said you felt your learning had reached a plateau.  We all reach them periodically.  the key is to change your approach and instead of trying to keep going in the same direction, look in a new direction.  so if you've got a piece that you're just not getting anywhere on, set it aside for a few days/weeks/months and try a new one, or a new practice routine, or something.  when you return, you will be rusty at first but then in general be amazed at how much progress you made without even realizing it.

one thing that I do a lot is listen to music, even exceptionally difficult music, and try to follow along with the score.  as a result I have a stack of scores that I'll probably never be able to play, but it helps me to learn, especially in terms of sight reading.

by the way, I'm 30, and while I dabbled in various instruments as a kid, I didn't seriously take up the piano until 2 yrs ago.

oh yeah...with any musical instrument it takes at least a year of serious study to really get much "real music" to come out, and even the great masters are never happy with their playing!

best of luck!

[dss62467]

Bah!  Too old, too schmold.   If you were taking up ballet, I'd say yeah.... but it's piano.  You sit the whole time you're playing.  I did see one post that said adults can learn faster than children, and I think that's a valid point.  As an adult, I play WAY more than I did as a child.  I've made so much more progress in the past 2 years (I'm nearly 43 and just started lessons again at 41 after quitting when I was 16 with 7 years of lessons behind me) than I did when I was younger.

Just enjoy it and remember, this is really good for your brain.  Keeps you sharp as you enter mid-life and beyond.   How's that for motivation?

[mattdean]

Thanks again all of you for the encouragement and advice

I'm just so glad that there are so many of us adult 'beginners' out there!  We're not alone!!!  Group hug!  In a way (and it has taken me some time, and your help to work this out) aren't we lucky as we're doing this NOW, we WANT to do it and we're ENJOYING it?!  Here's to us!

Just an update on my 'progress' : I'm now on Aaron's Grade 3 book and my teacher says she wants me to do my Grade 2 exam ASAP and so I've been busying myself practising the pieces.


Matt

[zylus]

Hi Matt,

Nah, you're not too old. If you enjoy it, don't let anything stop you! Don't compare yourself to any of those younger students either. If you're going to compare, only compare to the "you" of the past. We all run up against walls in life whether it be playing piano or elsewhere. When you're up against the wall, try to open the door. If that doesn't work, try the window. If that fails, sit on the floor and cry for just a minute. Then get up and blow a hole right through the wall. Like someone else said, it's all about trying a different approach until you get the desired result.

I am 35 as well and am just recently returning to "serious" study of the piano after almost 12 years. It's hard and I often wish I had never abandoned something I enjoy so much. But career and family came first and only now am I finding the time to reconnect with my lost instrumental friend. Imagine how I felt about my playing when I saw Pollini in an all Chopin concert a few weeks back!

Hang in there my friend!

[wildman]

"like a Mozart compared to you"?

You'll never get anywhere if you keep thinking everyone's better than you...I just enjoy playing (I'm a beginner), instead of proving my skill on others. Have fun playing everyday, and before you know it you've mastered every single piece you thought you coudn't learn in the beginning.

If you want to master the instrument, do it as a hobby and not as a chore.

[pavb2]

I started at 39 and rightly or wrongly took the approach that if I studied and put the effort in logically in 5 years I should be better than when I started.

On reflection the first couple of years where the hardest because I couldn't see progress but persevere because after this things seem to fall into place and progress is exponential.

I've just reviewed my own playing and am trying to take a more "scientific" approach to practice (on other thread) but find this equally as challenging and exciting as starting again.

Good luck

[dss62467]

You'll never get anywhere if you keep thinking everyone's better than you...I just enjoy playing (I'm a beginner), instead of proving my skill on others. Have fun playing everyday, and before you know it you've mastered every single piece you thought you coudn't learn in the beginning.

If you want to master the instrument, do it as a hobby and not as a chore.

This is so true!  I quit when I was 16, after 7 years of lessons, because someone came in and could play as well as I did after 1 year.   At least, that's what my assessment was.... our teacher didn't agree.  Still, the kid was on his way to being very good.   I should try to find him on Facebook and see how he made out.   That was 26 years ago.

[doryanne]

in your initial post you said you felt your learning had reached a plateau.  We all reach them periodically.  the key is to change your approach and instead of trying to keep going in the same direction, look in a new direction.  so if you've got a piece that you're just not getting anywhere on, set it aside for a few days/weeks/months and try a new one, or a new practice routine, or something.  when you return, you will be rusty at first but then in general be amazed at how much progress you made without even realizing it.

This is so true, scottmcc! I did the same last week, I set aside a piece which was too difficult for me especially in this period when my job exhausts me! I decided to... postpone it though I really love it, but I know I will paly it someday 

[albertf1]

I am enjoing reading the posts from you kids concerning if you are too old to learn how to play the piano. I'm 72 and restarted playing 2 1/2 years ago. I took lessons for 3 years while in high school but then, the US Navy, college, marriage, career, etc. I retired 14 years ago and met many of the goals I set for myself in retirement. Then I decided to start playing the piano again. I purchased a new Kawai RX2 and found a teacher. I took lessons for 1 1/2 years. I feel that I was making good progress, but I also felt that I was rushing through each week to meet the challenge of each week's lesson rather than playing each piece well. With the help of this website, I'm now teaching myself with what I consider great success. I learn each piece in level 2 in succession. I am now up to Lemoine, Study in A Minor. I have the learned pieces equally divided by day of the week and play each of the day's pieces that day. This approach keeps me in practice for all of the pieces I previously learned. I do not do a new piece unless I learned the piece that I'm working on my satisfaction. The mp3 recording help me understand how the piece should be played (tempo, rhythm, dynamics). At the same time I take  on the challenge of much more difficult music as a stretch. I take my time to play each piece to learn it correctly.I have working on Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor, which at this point in time, I can play fairly well with consistency. Other examples of music I play are Johannes Brahms Waltzes Op 39, nos 1, 2 and 3 and Ernesto Lecuona's Malaguena(the advanced version). I have the joy in the knowledge that I will play this wonderful instrument and this wonderful music for many years to come. I don't believe that I'm too old to learn and to play. Life is a joy and time is precious. Get on with it my friend.

[thalberg]

Matt,

I have been teaching piano for about 12 years and I have taught many adults.  If you are truly finishing Michael Aaron grade 2 after only one year, then you are making faster progress than any adult I have ever taught (probably because you actually practice rather than making excuses).  I just want to add this perspective.

Thalberg

[xxholyghostx]

Hi I chose to play beethovens spring sonata on the piano for my end of year assessment at college, but I am having some trouble with the chords in the first part. I am trying to play the chords that I see on the sheet but it doesnt sound right I don't know why. It just doesnt seem like the chords writing are the correct ones. Does anyone know the chords for this on piano? I would like to know whether I am playing the right chords or not.

thanks

[rejoyce]

I am encouraged by all of these uplifting posts. Especially from albertf1. Let's keep it up!

[scottmcc]

Hi I chose to play beethovens spring sonata on the piano for my end of year assessment at college, but I am having some trouble with the chords in the first part. I am trying to play the chords that I see on the sheet but it doesnt sound right I don't know why. It just doesnt seem like the chords writing are the correct ones. Does anyone know the chords for this on piano? I would like to know whether I am playing the right chords or not.

thanks

I am unaware of a spring sonata by beethoven.  the sheet music to all of the beethoven sonatas is available on this site for free; perhaps you should check the score?  if you were to provide an opus number and measure number, people would also be able to provide more assistance.

[xxholyghostx]

Im sorry it is beethovens sonata no.5 in F major (spring) op.24 (1801). It is meant for piano and violin but I am only playing the piano part and seem to find the chords slightly confusing. I do have the score but all the chords I try don't sound like what I hear from the original. I cant seem to play the right chords even from the beggining allegro. So any help would be great thanks.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Mf-EtVJbpVEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=beethoven's+spring+sonata+score&source=bl&ots=5dr2uZhS35&sig=Au52J1nC6txk-a2UsZqIxBySgEY&hl=en&ei=FkDXS67BOYeFOM7h0L8G&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCYQ6AEwCTgU#v=onepage&q&f=false

[scottmcc]

this should get you started:  https://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/b/b8/IMSLP04223-Beethoven_-_Violin_Sonata_No.5__score_.pdf

am I the only person here that knows about imslp?

[xxholyghostx]

thanks scott

[alex150]

I started at 40. Look at https://howtoplaypiano.webnode.cz  - it is easy way to play!

[kelly_kelly]

My viola teacher used to play in the Milwaukee Symphony, where the concertmaster was about 50 and had begun playing in his 30's. I'm not suggesting that happens to everyone, but clearly it was a good thing that he didn't give up, and you shouldn't either! 

[dss62467]

this should get you started:  https://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/b/b8/IMSLP04223-Beethoven_-_Violin_Sonata_No.5__score_.pdf

am I the only person here that knows about imslp?

I found out about it a couple weeks ago... maybe from you.  Great place to get sheet music.  Did I ever thank you?

[kris_k]

Congrats
Since the last time I checked, there was a lot of people viewing and replying. The world is very kind isn't it? Keep progressing. 

I found out about it a couple weeks ago... maybe from you.  Great place to get sheet music.  Did I ever thank you?

Little noting, Some pieces are blocked ( ) and long blocked ( [TB] ), for example Rhapsody on the theme of paganini by Rachmanioff. It was splendid place.

[windy138]

Oh. Don't think like that. Don't let your age make U give up this amazing thing. My mother is 40 years old, but she still learns playing piano with me. Hope that U 'll be a good pianist





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software outsourcing company

[seymourtom]

I learned the basics as a child but only started to get back into it seriously about three years ago - and I am now coming up to 67!  I do not expect to ever achieve any great standard but play for pleasure and enjoy whatever progress I can make.

I can play to intermediate stage clasical and go for jazz piano lessons with a professional, which has been great fun.  Remeber too that even a simple piece played well gives great pleasure to those around us - non players do not generally differentiate between hard and easy pieces - they simply enjoy the melody.  So stick with it - you have 32 years to reach where I am now.

[benjaminpiano]

some cool books that you can read is Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else, by Geoff Colvin and Outliers, the Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. 

Each talk about how people get good at things like piano, and the only thing that separates concert pianists from you is the amount of practice.  It also says that at no matter what age you start, as long as you practice a lot, you can be just as good as anyone else.  A reason why it may seem that you have to be young to start playing the piano is because younger people just have so much more time to practice.  most people when they get older have a job and maybe a family and they don't have enough time to practice. 

As long as you put in the time you will become good. 

[butterfly79]

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.

[gnutela]

Hi, another oldie here. I'm kinda reluctant and anxious to play piano as well.. my wife just bought one for our 7 year old kid but i want to learn how to play too. could anyone suggest an easy piece to play? thanks and have a good one

[steponme]

@gnutela - You should choose a song that you like! Something that would really motivate you to start piano. I remember being given pieces to learn by my teacher... I wasn't very fond of them and so neglected practicing piano. A few years later, I had a song I really wanted to play and started again That changed how I look at practicing piano completely

[mudbucket]

I know of someone who is almost 70 and just started. He is definitely progressing too... so you know what. It is NEVER too late.

I also have a friend at 25, managed to convince him to start