Too old to learn piano ? Too old to be a teacher?

[musickid2011]

Hi all, i am still a piano student at the age of 25 , still under grd 7 and in the slow progressing now. Everytime i just wonder what is the purpose to learn piano? The answer always the same because i like it and love it.

Although its sound a good reason, i still feel confused that what i can do after finish my grd 8 or even diploma? Am i going to be a teacher or do i really like it to be my career? Some of my friends they are already a teahcer at my age and i am still in learning and it's make me feel a bit upset tho.

I really hope i can go up to the performance level but i don't know whether i can continue until there or not since i have such negative feeling and thinking about myself.

Hope can get some advice from you guys.


Thanks

[elota]

Hi, You are not alone buddy. I'm a mother of three, 33 years of age and i'm planning to write trinity grade 6. I know i'll never make it as a performer, but like you, I love piano. So... I took it up again about a year ago after a gap of more than 10 years.

[faa2010]

I am also 25, and in 2009 I presented the ABRSM Theory Grade 5 and got an outstanding grade (9.0 = E).  However, I need to enhance my repertoire, re-learn basic and old issues even though I have been learning piano for almost 9 years.

I hope to become a better pianist despite not been a professional.

[aintgotnorhythm]

I am quite a few years older than you and I have long made peace with the fact that I am not going to be a concert pianist, or win an Olympic medal, or score the winning goal in the World Cup or ....

That doesn't change the fact that the first thing I do in the morning is go to the piano and murder a couple of Bach preludes (well, maybe not exactly the first thing but pretty close). Or that I still put in total effort and concentration whenever I swing a golf club or get on a sports field or play a game of cards.

What I am trying to say is, just keep doing what you love doing and accept it for what it is.

Then again, if you still want to achieve your piano goals then I would suggest reading Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice by Matthew Syed. Though it is oriented towards sports I think it applies equally to other disciplines like learning the piano.

[musickid2011]

Thanks for all your replied, very appreciated for the advices and especially from Elota. A mother of three still learning piano and aim for the goal, this already inspired me not to give up and do the best of me into my piano , my music.

I will keep it up and don't let myself feel regret in the end.

Cheers

[elota]

Thanks You know i've been going around looking for a piano teacher but still can't find anyone who can teach me because all the accomplished teachers already have  too many students (There are about 4 or 5 in my town i think. in case you are wondering where that is, it s small tonw in one of the most remote areas in India). so i'm just going to have to try it on my own. maybe get a teacher to at least hear me play once or twice before the exam. lets see how far i can go. Am relying mostly on the internet for guidance and tips. Good luck to you too

[yarnold]

I am 67 years old and a 'returner' to the piano! I had lessons from age 8-12, then didnt touch the piano until i was 45. Then there was another 20 year gap before I started again 5 weeks ago. This time around I find that I really love piano, and I am enjoying playing more than I ever thought possible. You're never too old if you have passion!

[musissacrum]

I was an absolute beginner at 69. Am now 73. Progress is slow, but I love playing.
I hope my teacher (as for age I could be her grandfather) has patience with me.
I know I will never be a virtuoso or a teacher, but that doesnot stop me.

[nickadams]

I am quite a few years older than you and I have long made peace with the fact that I am not going to be a concert pianist, or win an Olympic medal, or score the winning goal in the World Cup or ....

That doesn't change the fact that the first thing I do in the morning is go to the piano and murder a couple of Bach preludes (well, maybe not exactly the first thing but pretty close). Or that I still put in total effort and concentration whenever I swing a golf club or get on a sports field or play a game of cards.

What I am trying to say is, just keep doing what you love doing and accept it for what it is.

Then again, if you still want to achieve your piano goals then I would suggest reading Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice by Matthew Syed. Though it is oriented towards sports I think it applies equally to other disciplines like learning the piano.

wow that is a really fantastic response, aintgotnorhythm.

[oxy60]

I was an absolute beginner at 69. Am now 73. Progress is slow, but I love playing.
I hope my teacher (as for age I could be her grandfather) has patience with me.
I know I will never be a virtuoso or a teacher, but that doesnot stop me.

Of course progress is slow. What do you expect? At our age things don't go so quickly. As a teenager and twenty something three hour practice sessions were the norm. A performance or two a week was standard.

These days I play the pieces I like and slowly learn new ones that I WANT to play. I sit down at the keyboard once a day because I want to hear the music, not to prepare for a lesson or performance.  I think of myself as my own classical music station where I control both the playlist and the interpretation. 

[gsmile]

Of course progress is slow. What do you expect? At our age things don't go so quickly. As a teenager and twenty something three hour practice sessions were the norm. A performance or two a week was standard.

These days I play the pieces I like and slowly learn new ones that I WANT to play. I sit down at the keyboard once a day because I want to hear the music, not to prepare for a lesson or performance.  I think of myself as my own classical music station where I control both the playlist and the interpretation. 

You're the perfect example of playing just for the love of piano. I applaud you because you're the type of wholesome person I want to be when I'm older. Keep it up and don't stop playing!

[oxy60]

Thank you very much for your comment.

I'm not alone in pursuing music at an older age. A good part of the "blues" and "jazz" scene here in Southern California survives on the talent of older musicians. I could tell endless stories about them.

On the classical piano side I only know about the few who write here. In the past one could hear pianos being played in the neighborhood and possibly one could meet the player. With the advent of digital and earphones there seems to be nobody playing piano.

This site provides more than just a forum. Without it a piano player in So. Cal. would have some tough going.

[stephenv]

I am now 63 and I started piano lessons "again" at 25.  I have never regretted it.  Oh I think if I had been better trained from age 4 on...I might have become a concert pianist..but who knows...I'm not sure I could have withstood it psychologically speaking...performance can be extremely stressful and the public fickle.

I think having a love for music and being invovled in practicing the piano and learning more and more..is a fantastic place to be!  In all this time I have never become bored with practicing and learning.   I even took pipe organ lessons...you might consider doing that at some point in time.
Learning a Bach prelude and fugue on pipe organ is a priceless experience. 

I want to encourage you to continue....as long as you LOVE the music and the experience.