I now regret slacking off....

[musicluvr49]

I've been playing piano since I was like 6, but I only got really serious about it when I was about 13. If only I had practiced more when I was younger...
Has anyone else had an experience like this?

[pianisten1989]

I started playing, at all, when I was 14. It kind of sux...

[ingunite]

Yes, I regret being a lazy bum. I regret it almost as much as giving much grief to my poor piano teacher and parents. I used to prop a book on the music desk and read pulp while mindlessly running through my scales and Czerni. I am sorry to say I was an ultimate slacker from the age of 8 when i started the lessons 'til the age of 17 when the lessons were ended. Ten years later I started on the rocky path of an autodidact. 

[musicluvr49]

Autodidact... I'm guessing that means self-taught?

[ingunite]

Sorry about the poor choice of words. I should have said "independent studies", or something like it.
I was referring to self-teaching (how's that for an awkward phrase?) after quitting formal piano lessons and not playing piano for a considerable period of time. It does not fit the definition of "autodidact" which would mean learning something without the benefit of previous instruction or experience.

[notanotherusername]

Hey, don't feel bad. Like pianisten, I was 14 when I started. If you're willing to put in the work you can accomplish a lot!

[nataliethepianist]

Yes. I took piano lessons when I was 5 for about a year and a half with my sister and a few friends. I don't really remember if I didn't like it or if they convinced me I didn't like it, but I quit. Then when I was 11 I started again, and when I was almost 14 I started playing Classical piano and I am now very serious about it!

Good luck with your studies.

- Natalie

[invictious]

I quit piano three or four times, because constantly I thought I was totally hopeless with the piano.

Back then I used to learn pieces sloppily and just thought 'to hell with it.' I also played all ff as loud and as unmusically as possible.

It was during those off-periods when I was not at the piano, then I really realised my love for music. Now I think my attitude is changed completely, and I think my playing has improved greatly.

Doesn't change the fact that I am still a hopeless pianist.

[nanabush]

I never had a motivating teacher!  I had the most basic/standard lessons for ever!  I did really well on my exams, but we moved so damn slowly!!!!  I never did recitals, festivals, or anything.  I was just in my own little bubble playing, while at the other end of town there were a load of amazing teachers sending their kids to competitions, recitals, etc.  My second teacher was a lot better, but my first one really just pretty much said the same script each lesson: "play all of your scales.  Ok good, play your pieces.  Ok good, see you next week"

Sooooo annoying!!!  I'm at the East end of Ottawa in Canada, and in the West end there are all these very prestigious teachers that are constantly sending students to the University.  I consider myself the 'freak accident' student from the East end that actually ended up pursuing music.  It's painful knowing that there were other kids my age who actually liked music, but had outstanding teachers, only 20 minutes away from me!!!! AHH

[hastur]

I wasn't so much slacking off as I was robbed of the opportunity to start early. I'm now 22 years old and wish my parents had pushed me to take piano lessons from a young age and am just now picking up the piano. I'm currently teaching myself to the best of my abilities but look forward to taking formal lessons as soon as possible. I've got a long way ahead of me to reach my goals, but I've got faith in my stubbornness and am more than willing to put in hard work.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I've been playing piano since I was like 6, but I only got really serious about it when I was about 13. If only I had practiced more when I was younger...
Has anyone else had an experience like this?

Yep... except  I started later than you! At first I was really excited to learn piano... then that kind of diminished, and I felt like I was being forced to practise... I'd argue with my parents over piano a lot! But at the same time I refused to quit, because I "liked piano, just hated practising"  Now my parents want me to play piano LESS, but I like it now. 

 :

I never had a motivating teacher! 

it makes me a little sad when I look back into my old books and see no notes or pencil markings from the teacher at all... we never even talked about dynamics or articulation or time periods or anything at all... it was just about playing the notes right. I kind of guessed the dynamics and my teacher never said anything about it. When I switched teachers I was totally confused, I didn't know there were so many details involved!
BUT I don't really want to blame my teacher ... I mean she was a nice person Maybe she thought teaching me all of that would bore me to death... I was probably the quietest student in the world.
Oh well, it's never too late. Because I love music now!!

[madvillain]

I wish i stuck with piano my first try (age 10 i think)
and also I had saved more this past year so I could've kept my lessons up