How long?

[pasnu]

How long do you need to practice daily to become really good at playing the piano?

[jmd1921]

Well, let me start by saying that's a REALLY broad question. For being a good pianist, you should practice more every time, but gradually. That is to say, the first 6 months or so you'll be able to play for like, 40 minutes before you start getting tired (at least I did), but after the first year, for example, i'd practice for about 2 hours or so daily. Concert Pianists (and I don't really know this from personal experience, but thanks to what I've learned in the forum) practice almost 6 or 7 hours a day (correct me if I'm wrong).

Classically,
Jmd1921

[nataliethepianist]

Well, this is a very difficult question to answer! I am going to take my friend Stella and myself for examples. I love the piano, play it all the time, and because of this I have advanced quickly, even though I have been playing classical piano for only 8 months. Stella has been play piano for 8 years, and has not advanced as quickly as I have because she practices for only 30 minutes a day. When people start out, they will practice for maybe only 15, 20 minutes, where as an advanced player might practice for 4 to 6 hours! And I believe concert piano maybe practice double that, to the question below!

And then it all comes down to your natural ability to play this instrument! It is a big factor, in my eyes, and can determine the kind of student you will be and how quickly you will progress!

Good luck with your studies.

- Natalie

[brogers70]

You don't really give enough information to allow a really clear answer. I'd say that for an adult beginner with some previous training in another instrument that an hour a day for the first year or two followed by one and a half to two hours a day for the next 3-5 years will get you to the point where you can play a lot of interesting music, Bach inventions, suites, and a few of the P&F from WTC, many Haydn sonatas, a fair number of Mozart sonatas, Schubert Impromptus, some movements from Beethoven Sonatas.

That assumes you work hard while you're practicing, are quite motivated, and get help from a good teacher.

[sucom]

I would say that if you want to become really good on the piano, you should play lots of different music and not just the pieces a teacher gives you.  Don't measure your progress by how much time you spend practising pieces that your teacher has given you.  Instead, measure your progress by how much you have improved on set pieces during each practice session.  And then............ play some more - anything and everything; pieces you like, lots of different styles just for the sheer enjoyment over and above your regular practice.  This will really help your sight reading and improve your dexterity.

This is what I did - do - and I can't help but notice with my own students that those who tend to practice pieces I give them, but who also 'play' other music because they really like it, are the ones who make the most progress.