can a 33 years old begginer become a pianist.

[javierchomer]

Ok, here is the thing. I am ultra obsesive.

So I started piano lessons 3 months ago. I am currently taking classes 2 times per week, going to 3 times per week. I am practicing between 5-7  hours per day. But If I could make some money with it I could dedicate more time to it. I would commit my entire life to piano. I also study while traveling to work.

Thanks a lot.

https://m.youtube.com/?client=mv-google&rdm=4ndn6mhzl&tsp=1#/watch?v=7Q78_8T3i9s

 I played this one after 2 months of beginning to learn the piano.

https://m.youtube.com/?client=mv-google&rdm=4ndn6mhzl&tsp=1#/watch?v=1z8Dwn2qayY

I played this music after 3 months. Yet there were parts were I didn't payed much attention to the rythm.

I also never take days off or take holidays just because I always practice.

[swenghk]

     If one thinks about it enough, what is the requirement of being a pianist? Being able to play the piano. Depending on how much you want to invest in it, you could certainly become a pianist. As far as recieving the PROFESSIONAL training usually required to become a concert pianist ,at age 33 most conservatories wouldn't acept you (the cut-off is usually 21). This does not mean that you can't play as a career though, at 33 you are still young and I took piano for only a year and a half before I was accepted into a conservatory as a piano performance major, that being said, say in a few years time, you decide you are ready to make the next step, you could work on a cruise ship as a musician, you could play in bars or clubs, you could join a band.
     You may be headed in the other direction though, maybe you want to play classical piano. In that case, the only requirement of playing on a stage in front of a large group of people is to know something that they want to listen to. Once you get to that stage, the pieces will automatically start falling in place.

Good luck to you! I wish you well on your musical adventure! And never, ever forget that no matter what, if you want to do it, you can do it. I had people tell me that I couldn't get into music school and I proved them wrong. So prove anyone wrong who says you can't become a pianist at 33.

[idreamofpiano]

33 years old is a good age, i think. i wasn't able to watch your video, but they tell me if you start later in life, that you probably won't be a concert pianist. wish you luck with your journey! and don't listen to anyone who tells you that. make it your mission to prove them all wrong !=)

[quantum]

With regard to professional training: 
I am not aware of any Universities in Canada having a cutoff age for admission.  If you can get yourself to an acceptable standard for the audition, university will give the opportunity for training as a professional musician.  Actually being a mature student is becoming more common here. 

[ionian_tinnear]

With regard to professional training: 
I am not aware of any Universities in Canada having a cutoff age for admission. 

I'm packing up, selling house, and moving to Canada!  At 54, I'd loved to go to music school!  How do I get a visa?    jk

[jimbo320]

I hope that age really does not apply because I started learning at 57.
Inner drive, passion and dedication are the important things to possess and it sounds like you got those covered....
Good luck, Jimbo

[thompson_321]

Ok, here is the thing. I am ultra obsesive.

So I started piano lessons 3 months ago. I am currently taking classes 2 times per week, going to 3 times per week. I am practicing between 5-7  hours per day. But If I could make some money with it I could dedicate more time to it. I would commit my entire life to piano. I also study while traveling to work.

Thanks a lot.

https://m.youtube.com/?client=mv-google&rdm=4ndn6mhzl&tsp=1#/watch?v=7Q78_8T3i9s

 I played this one after 2 months of beginning to learn the piano.

https://m.youtube.com/?client=mv-google&rdm=4ndn6mhzl&tsp=1#/watch?v=1z8Dwn2qayY

I played this music after 3 months. Yet there were parts were I didn't payed much attention to the rythm.

I also never take days off or take holidays just because I always practice.

If you want a career, you should be in a music college or university practicing for 9 hours a day without compromise. Maybe this is not what you want. It's what I want. I am 30, and I am in a similar situation to you. But whatever you do, work hard and do not compromise you talent or your intellect for anything EVER. Especially at 33.

[countrymath]

If you want a career, you should be in a music college or university practicing for 9 hours a day without compromise. Maybe this is not what you want. It's what I want. I am 30, and I am in a similar situation to you. But whatever you do, work hard and do not compromise you talent or your intellect for anything EVER. Especially at 33.

Practice 9 hours a day is nonsense and useless

[themanwhowas]

Have you seen Disneys 'Tangled'? There's a guy in his 30's/40's with a hook for a hand that becomes a concert pianist!

[thompson_321]

Practice 9 hours a day is nonsense and useless

All serious concert pianists practice this long in conservatoires and music schools. You are the one talking nonsense. I suggest if you are going to lie to me, you should do it somewhere else and not on this website.

[sucom]

From my own point of view, while at music college and working towards a recital, I would consider practising at least one hour every day on each piece or on each movement of a piece.  This would give me around 6 to 7 hours practice each day which I would consider to be the minimum effort required 'for a performance'.

On top of this, there is also the time spent just 'playing' other music for sheer enjoyment and pleasure taking the time spent daily at the piano higher still. 

I think it's possible that those who are actively engaged in performance are rather dedicated people who consider the whole idea of practice to be a pleasurable experience.  Time has a habit of passing unbelievably quickly when engaged in a pleasurable experience so the whole idea of many hours of practice is very credible indeed.

[nanabush]

I don't think practicing 9 hours a day is healthy.  How do you work?  If you are a student at a university, you have classes and stuff, and must have other stuff to do to balance it.  I think maybe 4-6 hours would be what a lot of students would do, but 9?!?

[lelle]

I read that practising for more than 3-4 hours a day is just a waste of time, thoughts?

[countrymath]

All serious concert pianists practice this long in conservatoires and music schools. You are the one talking nonsense. I suggest if you are going to lie to me, you should do it somewhere else and not on this website.

All serious pianists WORK 9 hours daily. Practice is their work, not their study.

[mcdiddy1]

All serious pianists WORK 9 hours daily. Practice is their work, not their study.

That is a common myth. I feel any general, dogmatic statement that applies to all possible situation is not true. There are plenty of concert pianist who regularly have performances on major stages who have families, teach, and other endevours. Locking themselves up in a room for the entire day is silly and does not realistically happen. When you are young and have loads of time, you may have crazy long practice sessions 5 - 7 hours but once you reach a certain level you can get away with playing an hour or two to maintain repertoire or prepare for a performance as long as you do it consistently.

Being hihgly skilled at the piano means you are very efficient in your practice at the piano. Pianist do not need 9 hours of practice because they can sight read difficult works very well, solve problems very quickly because they have seen them before. Majority of time is spent on interpretation and memory and this should not take 9 hours to do.

The idea that concert pianist play from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon in order to playing is silly and unrealistic. The only exceptions would be emergency concerts and such.

This is a summary of what two concert pianist told me they experienced in there music learning. Simple truth is being a concert pianist is combination of aspects that come together dealing with musical experiences,  connections, and intense practicing in their youth. Telling a 55 year old to practice 9 hours a day to become a concert pianist is unrealistic. I am not saying becoming a concert pianist at an older age is impossible , just extremly improbable. Being a greatly skilled pianist is more realistic.

There is a big difference between someone who is aspiring to be a concert pianist and one who is actually is. If you are young and practice consistently a large number of hours  among many other factors you can become a successful concert pianist. When you reach that level, how way you practice should change completely.

[countrymath]

That is a common myth. I feel any general, dogmatic statement that applies to all possible situation is not true. There are plenty of concert pianist who regularly have performances on major stages who have families, teach, and other endevours. Locking themselves up in a room for the entire day is silly and does not realistically happen. When you are young and have loads of time, you may have crazy long practice sessions 5 - 7 hours but once you reach a certain level you can get away with playing an hour or two to maintain repertoire or prepare for a performance as long as you do it consistently.

Being hihgly skilled at the piano means you are very efficient in your practice at the piano. Pianist do not need 9 hours of practice because they can sight read difficult works very well, solve problems very quickly because they have seen them before. Majority of time is spent on interpretation and memory and this should not take 9 hours to do.

The idea that concert pianist play from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon in order to playing is silly and unrealistic. The only exceptions would be emergency concerts and such.

This is a summary of what two concert pianist told me they experienced in there music learning. Simple truth is being a concert pianist is combination of aspects that come together dealing with musical experiences,  connections, and intense practicing in their youth. Telling a 55 year old to practice 9 hours a day to become a concert pianist is unrealistic. I am not saying becoming a concert pianist at an older age is impossible , just extremly improbable. Being a greatly skilled pianist is more realistic.

There is a big difference between someone who is aspiring to be a concert pianist and one who is actually is. If you are young and practice consistently a large number of hours  among many other factors you can become a successful concert pianist. When you reach that level, how way you practice should change completely.

Totally agree.

[arturgajewski]

I played this music after 3 months. Yet there were parts were I didn't payed much attention to the rythm.

I also never take days off or take holidays just because I always practice.

Without much commenting the links you posted, I am wondering how come after three months of obsessive training you still don't have rhythm coming from the back of your head? One would think that rhythm would be totally under control with such practice schedule as yours.

Obviously you love piano and piano loves you and I am jealous of your free time to commit to your piano.

[javierchomer]

     If one thinks about it enough, what is the requirement of being a pianist? Being able to play the piano. Depending on how much you want to invest in it, you could certainly become a pianist. As far as recieving the PROFESSIONAL training usually required to become a concert pianist ,at age 33 most conservatories wouldn't acept you (the cut-off is usually 21). This does not mean that you can't play as a career though, at 33 you are still young and I took piano for only a year and a half before I was accepted into a conservatory as a piano performance major, that being said, say in a few years time, you decide you are ready to make the next step, you could work on a cruise ship as a musician, you could play in bars or clubs, you could join a band.
     You may be headed in the other direction though, maybe you want to play classical piano. In that case, the only requirement of playing on a stage in front of a large group of people is to know something that they want to listen to. Once you get to that stage, the pieces will automatically start falling in place.

Good luck to you! I wish you well on your musical adventure! And never, ever forget that no matter what, if you want to do it, you can do it. I had people tell me that I couldn't get into music school and I proved them wrong. So prove anyone wrong who says you can't become a pianist at 33.

Thanks a lot for your advice. I will give me best to achieve my dream.

[javierchomer]

33 years old is a good age, i think. i wasn't able to watch your video, but they tell me if you start later in life, that you probably won't be a concert pianist. wish you luck with your journey! and don't listen to anyone who tells you that. make it your mission to prove them all wrong !=)

Thanks a lot for your comments.

[javierchomer]

From my own point of view, while at music college and working towards a recital, I would consider practising at least one hour every day on each piece or on each movement of a piece.  This would give me around 6 to 7 hours practice each day which I would consider to be the minimum effort required 'for a performance'.

On top of this, there is also the time spent just 'playing' other music for sheer enjoyment and pleasure taking the time spent daily at the piano higher still. 

I think it's possible that those who are actively engaged in performance are rather dedicated people who consider the whole idea of practice to be a pleasurable experience.  Time has a habit of passing unbelievably quickly when engaged in a pleasurable experience so the whole idea of many hours of practice is very credible indeed.

Thanks a lot for your comment. I will need a lot of practice.

[javierchomer]

That is a common myth. I feel any general, dogmatic statement that applies to all possible situation is not true. There are plenty of concert pianist who regularly have performances on major stages who have families, teach, and other endevours. Locking themselves up in a room for the entire day is silly and does not realistically happen. When you are young and have loads of time, you may have crazy long practice sessions 5 - 7 hours but once you reach a certain level you can get away with playing an hour or two to maintain repertoire or prepare for a performance as long as you do it consistently.

Being hihgly skilled at the piano means you are very efficient in your practice at the piano. Pianist do not need 9 hours of practice because they can sight read difficult works very well, solve problems very quickly because they have seen them before. Majority of time is spent on interpretation and memory and this should not take 9 hours to do.

The idea that concert pianist play from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon in order to playing is silly and unrealistic. The only exceptions would be emergency concerts and such.

This is a summary of what two concert pianist told me they experienced in there music learning. Simple truth is being a concert pianist is combination of aspects that come together dealing with musical experiences,  connections, and intense practicing in their youth. Telling a 55 year old to practice 9 hours a day to become a concert pianist is unrealistic. I am not saying becoming a concert pianist at an older age is impossible , just extremly improbable. Being a greatly skilled pianist is more realistic.

There is a big difference between someone who is aspiring to be a concert pianist and one who is actually is. If you are young and practice consistently a large number of hours  among many other factors you can become a successful concert pianist. When you reach that level, how way you practice should change completely.

Thanks a lot for your advice ad comments. So that gives me a chance, considering that pianist performers only pactice a lot when they are young. Maybe after long years of hard work a lot of the pianist get tired with doing long hours trainning.

[javierchomer]

Without much commenting the links you posted, I am wondering how come after three months of obsessive training you still don't have rhythm coming from the back of your head? One would think that rhythm would be totally under control with such practice schedule as yours.

Obviously you love piano and piano loves you and I am jealous of your free time to commit to your piano.

The thing is that I paid more attention to putting the fingers in the right place rather than paying atention to the rhythm. Now my teacher told me to focus more on rythm instead of on just memorizing new songs. I maid more effort in to playing the songs but not in the rhythm.

Thanks a lot.

[javierchomer]

I don't think practicing 9 hours a day is healthy.  How do you work?  If you are a student at a university, you have classes and stuff, and must have other stuff to do to balance it.  I think maybe 4-6 hours would be what a lot of students would do, but 9?!?

Thanks a lot for your advice. I own some properties, and I make money from there. I do not work much. I work a bit in real states.

[pmwpmw]

I tried to view you youtube clips, but they wouldn't work. I admire your determination and I think the best idea I could offer is for yuo to perform in front of audiences. That improves your playing faster than anything. Eventually the nerves will go. I promise. After about 15 performances in quick succession - at least, that's what I found. Use the music festivals. Try and play every one or two weeks. The adjudicators comments are usually excellent - very encouraging and lots of great tips.
The second idea is: use a metronome. Not all of the time, but slow you down in the tricky passages. Be secure and relaxed, hand seperately if needs be, and gradually increase the pace. My third idea: quick bursts of speed. For example, I practice scales in varying rythms. I start the scale in, say, two notes per beat but double that up once I've progressed up the keyboard. Then I slow it down again before the turn at the top. All this works very well. PW

[mcdiddy1]

Thanks a lot for your advice ad comments. So that gives me a chance, considering that pianist performers only pactice a lot when they are young. Maybe after long years of hard work a lot of the pianist get tired with doing long hours trainning.

It depends on what your definetion of concert artist is. Some pianist have had one or two major performances and consider themselves "concert pianist". To what level are you trying to achieve? If you want to become an international star winning competitions around the world and playing with the world's best orchestra then I do not think you can compete with someone who has been playing since they were 3. However as an adult student you can be completely capable of performing a concerto or two with a community orchestra or performing solo recitals at a community center. I personally think these are more realistic and admirable goals for adult students.

 Neurologically and physically the adult body is wired different from younger students. Younger students able to absorb knowledge much more effienctly and quickly. For example students are able to be completely fluent in multiple languages at ages as young as seven because of how immersed they are in an environment with uses for both languages. They did not have to learn by doing worksheets or learn slowly or have a "teacher" because it was just a part of their life.

I just personally feel it would be better to have a goal of just playing music at a level that you want to play at and strive for that rather than trying to compete with people who have an advantage in many aspects. If you can play the pieces you love and enjoy making music then you can achieve the same happiness concert pianist have when they perform. Concert pianist do it because they can and they enjoy it. If they had to choose between being a concert pianist and just being able to play music they want whenever they want to they would probably choose the latter. I say that because the negative aspects of competetion, pressure, stage fright, dealing with egos, and stress maybe worth the glamor of being a concert pianist for some but not everyone would be able to cope with it all the time. 

[yarnold]

33 sounds incredibly young to me! I am 67 years old and returning to the piano 55 years after my last  lesson (yes, I was 12!) I have passion and I am addicted -but boy do i get tired and achey! Dont give up-you can do whatever you want if you try hard enough, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.Never put a limit on anything you have a yearning or a passion to do, -and good luck with your career!!

[ethure]

just be careful to not hurt your fingers like Chopin! take proper rests~~~

[coffee_guy]

your playing is passionless. I don't know if that comes with practice, or is a natural inclination. For someone that loves the piano, where is the passion in the notes you are playing?

[pianowolfi]

your playing is passionless. I don't know if that comes with practice, or is a natural inclination. For someone that loves the piano, where is the passion in the notes you are playing?

Well it's easy to say that when somebody is still so much busy with getting the notes together!

I also teach adult beginners and I think they're all passionate, without any exception. But it takes quite a bit of time and patience to get to the point where you can express your passion through your playing. The coordination between your hands, the rhythm, the flow, all that which is evidently already there for many people who started as a child, all this has to be learned from scratch! And I don't think it's impossible! In two years it will sound much different from now! But it's important to keep in touch with your body and don't tense up! And don't force things! Let them just develop!

[coffee_guy]

Listen, you are 33 and you got some serious catching up to do. There is nothing wrong with that. I may be able to offer you some help.

Robert Schumann (a brilliant song writer if you don't know) created a very crafty invention for limbering up the fingers of piano players. If you use it for a few hours a day, it might help your playing considerably. I highly recommend you invest in this device. (I can't say the name because of patent protection). But, with an internet search, you can track one down easily.  The next time you post one of your videos, we will all notice the difference it has had on you.

Good luck to you!

[pianowolfi]

Listen, you are 33 and you got some serious catching up to do. There is nothing wrong with that. I may be able to offer you some help.

Robert Schumann (a brilliant song writer if you don't know) created a very crafty invention for limbering up the fingers of piano players. If you use it for a few hours a day, it might help your playing considerably. I highly recommend you invest in this device. (I can't say the name because of patent protection). But, with an internet search, you can track one down easily.  The next time you post one of your videos, we will all notice the difference it has had on you.

Good luck to you!

Oh yeah such a good advice. To recommend a device that ruined Schumann's fingers forever.
Get the f*** outta here, troll.

[keypeg]

What the coffee_guy character is referring to is a device that Schumann invented which damaged his hand(s) to such an extent that he could no longer play professionally, and became a famous composer instead.  It is a cynical horrid post.

[mistermoe]

Listen, you are 33 and you got some serious catching up to do. There is nothing wrong with that. I may be able to offer you some help.

Robert Schumann (a brilliant song writer if you don't know) created a very crafty invention for limbering up the fingers of piano players. If you use it for a few hours a day, it might help your playing considerably. I highly recommend you invest in this device. (I can't say the name because of patent protection). But, with an internet search, you can track one down easily.  The next time you post one of your videos, we will all notice the difference it has had on you.

Good luck to you!

You disgust me!   

[coffee_guy]

what's more pathetic is you guys getting suckered into all this person's troll threads. If you believe this guy is for real, you are beyond stupid. If he is not trolling, my advice is more sound than yours (blowing smoke up his behind). That is not going to help him get better.

Sorry to break it to you, there is a troll here, and I am just trying to set the bait for him and you uptight nerds are getting way to involved.

[dcstudio]

don't believe anyone who says you can't do it.  A lot of people who failed at music LOVE to tell others how it's IMPOSSIBLE.   Believe me--nothing is impossible.   It's the piano--it's not rocket science.

[nyiregyhazi]

don't believe anyone who says you can't do it.  A lot of people who failed at music LOVE to tell others how it's IMPOSSIBLE.   Believe me--nothing is impossible.   It's the piano--it's not rocket science.

Fueling an improbable delusion helps nobody. I'm afraid to say that the guy does indeed play in a remarkably dry and empty way for someone of enthusiasm. I believe this is as much due to technical problems as musical ones though. He needs to acquire the physical "feel" for playing confidently and rhythmically first. Sadly this is still altogether absent and instead there are a series of disconnected finger prods with little musical context. Spending hours of practise with such rigid arms is not going to lead anywhere special any time soon- be it rocket science or not. If he's really doing 5 hours per day, I'm sorry to say that most of that time is currently being wasted. If he starts by sorting out his basic technique then he can start to think about aiming for a high standard next. To encourage him to think what he is currently doing might lead to professionalism would be well and truly cruel, not supportive. All the hours in the world won't make that happen unless MAJOR changes are made. If he's even half serious, he needs a massive wake-up call.

You cannot move like that and hope that putting hours in will compensate for lost time. This calls for some urgent attention to the basics, or there's really no chance of serious progress. A large number of hours will do more harm than good, with the current style of movement. Working hard is no guarantee of progress, unless you know what you are striving for.

[keypeg]

I'd like to go off on a completely different direction.

Javierchomer, you said that you have a teacher and you take three lessons per week.  Some questions:

Does your teacher know that you want to become a professional pianist if possible?  Are you taking private lessons, group lessons, or a combination of both?  Has your teacher told you what direction he wants to take you, or goals that he wants you to work toward, or guided you in how to practice and approach your music?  

The problem with all this speculation is that it's only been three months and nobody knows what this teacher has in mind, whether he knows his student's goals, and if he does if he is taking them seriously and working toward them.  Different teachers have different approaches and some aren't overt about them: they sneak in the skills they want to give.  One teacher may give priority to the physical aspects of playing, another may want reading abilities and experiences with a pile of pieces to be the first background, and another may think theory or ear is paramount.  And some simply go through a roster of repertoire or method books with no goal in mind at all.

If it hasn't been done, I suggest telling this teacher your goal.  You want to know what kinds of things you need to learn to do (and what kinds of things you need to learn) in order to become a good pianist and a good musician.  How do you get there?  How do you practice and how do you study?  This teacher may or may not be able to answer this.  But this is the starting point.

A forum cannot tell you much.  Also, the big thing that is missing is what and how you are being taught.  The feedback of what people are telling you cannot keep that in mind because it's not known.

I'm not a teacher and the amount of piano training I've had to date is negligeable.  But I am a serious student and I did have some years as an adult on another instrument, and raised a child who made it to a music program in college as a late starter but still in his early teens.

[dcstudio]

All serious concert pianists practice this long in conservatoires and music schools. You are the one talking nonsense. I suggest if you are going to lie to me, you should do it somewhere else and not on this website.

all truly professional or serious pianists learn to think outside the box.  they don't argue with others about theory or who is a better pianist.  they concentrate on letting the music come out naturally.  they have nothing to prove musically, that is how they do what they do.  there is nowhere they are more comfortable than at the piano and nothing they'd rather do than play.  It's a wonderful 

[mcdiddy1]

all truly professional or serious pianists learn to think outside the box.  they don't argue with others about theory or who is a better pianist.  they concentrate on letting the music come out naturally.  they have nothing to prove musically, that is how they do what they do.  there is nowhere they are more comfortable than at the piano and nothing they'd rather do than play.  It's a wonderful  

I think that is a pretty interesting statement. I think the earlier post about the person in questions goals is really important. For me a serious pianist does not necessarily translate into a professional pianist. A professional pianist is a pianist who gets paid for playing the piano. That does not necessarily mean they are particularly have the skills of a concert pianist, but just fulfill a function.  A concert pianist is a pianist who has great technical skill, musical maturity and makes a living on their performances.

All the original poster wrote was can a 33 year old beginner become a pianist. A pianist is simply someone who plays the piano so clearly he already is. When you bring in getting paid for your services I think you could work hard and become a pianist in a mall or church or an accompanist.  As far as being a concert pianist it depends on what your definition is. Bet in my opinion getting a huge amount of technique at an older age is like a deciding to enter the Olympics for gymnastics at age 40. You can get pretty good and be fairly respectable but there are so many obstacles put in your way to reaching the top in the world. The physicality of the body works against you, the competition of other players who have done it since they were 3 is against you, and mental aspect of just doing some things innately is against you.

There are many students of concert pianist who do not go on to have stellar musical careers. I think the most challenging thing to teach students is not the technical aspects of playing piano but the work ethic. Students may practice a great deal of time but often do not have the fortitude to examine the motions of professional pianist, experimenting and learning how their bodies functions, noticing the movements of each finger, how each part of their body plays a role in they're playing. The motivation to truly analyze how they play and dissect it in my opinion is generally not seeing in adults because of all the realities of struggle and obstacles in their way which makes it seem to be not worthwhile. I think the humans have the potential to do whatever they desire to be and if that person is aware of the struggles and challenges they can turn their obsessiveness toward something that will move them closer toward their goal.

[dcstudio]

thanks McDiddy    your statements are quite interesting as well.  Always learning, aren't we...isn't our job great?

[coffee_guy]

lol @ all of you being taken in by all this idiocy. The dude practices 9 hours a day? 3 Lessons a week? Needs advice? Please stop feeding these trolls, so we can have serious piano discussions.

[dcstudio]

we can have a serious discussion even though the string is bogus.  3 lessons a week? yeah I'd have trouble seeing some of my students that often. 

[mcdiddy1]

thanks McDiddy    your statements are quite interesting as well.  Always learning, aren't we...isn't our job great?

Thank you, learn something new everyday. I think it is wonderful.

lol @ all of you being taken in by all this idiocy. The dude practices 9 hours a day? 3 Lessons a week? Needs advice? Please stop feeding these trolls, so we can have serious piano discussions.

The validity of his practice and lesson schedule is debatable, but I think the discussion about what the pitfalls and obstacles that face adult learns is a pretty topic to discuss. Maybe he will learn a thing or two or maybe someone eles in a similar situation will gain some insight from various points of view. I agree with you that is silly to practice 9 hours a day and expect great results. If you practice well, you do not need to practice excessively but I personally feel ignorance should be delt with education or simply ignoring it rather than verbal attacks and sarcasm.

[keypeg]

lol @ all of you being taken in by all this idiocy. The dude practices 9 hours a day? 3 Lessons a week? Needs advice? Please stop feeding these trolls, so we can have serious piano discussions.

Coffee_guy, if you are already well on the path of being a good pianist, did you start in childhood?  If you have not walked the path of adult student, then you won't know what can and does go wrong. If you did, then this series of threads would make sense.  It does to me.  That is why I wrote the post with the questions that I did and am waiting for the OP's answer.

[keypeg]

Thank you, learn something new everyday. I think it is wonderful.
The validity of his practice and lesson schedule is debatable, but I think the discussion about what the pitfalls and obstacles that face adult learns is a pretty topic to discuss. Maybe he will learn a thing or two or maybe someone eles in a similar situation will gain some insight from various points of view. I agree with you that is silly to practice 9 hours a day and expect great results. If you practice well, you do not need to practice excessively but I personally feel ignorance should be delt with education or simply ignoring it rather than verbal attacks and sarcasm.

It is possible to practice a fair number of hours and get results even in the beginning stages if you know how to divide up your time into various sub-goals, and how to take breaks.  But this assumes GUIDANCE by a teacher who is aware of those goals, knows how to handle them, knows what and how to teach ---- who will set the proper sub-goals in the first place.

There is a major problem for adults wishing to begin an instrument seriously.  It is a tricky situation.  Those who want it as a hobby have no problem finding a niche and some kind of instruction.  Please do read my post and the kinds of questions that I asked, folks.  There is a reason for them.

How many of those who are writing in have actually been in that situation?  How many of you began as an adult for the first time, and were serious about it?

[nyiregyhazi]

"I think the most challenging thing to teach students is not the technical aspects of playing piano but the work ethic. Students may practice a great deal of time but do they have the fortitude to examine the motions of professional pianist, experimenting and learning how their bodies functions, noticing the movements of each finger, how each part of their body plays a role in they're playing."

Apologies if I'm being pedantic, but doesn't that suggest the very opposite of the first sentence to be true? Was that a typing error? What this guy's playing shows is that having a strong work ethic doesn't produce quick results without due attention to the technical aspects of playing.

[dcstudio]

people are quite passionate on the issue of technical prowess versus natural musicality aren't they? personally I think technique is just a bit overemphasized.  A lack of technical training in childhood tends to produce musicians that feel somehow lesser to those that received such training.  I have always been told I had excellent technique--funny, I was allowed to develop that myself in spite of too many years of piano lessons.  Not to say that technical training has no importance--quite the contrary actually.  It's all equally important isn't it?  Don't all the pieces make up the puzzle? why do we all split hairs about which piece is paramount? I am asking this seriously, I'm not trying in any way to sound overbearing or self-righteous--though I know at times I do...  I am passionate, too. 

[nyiregyhazi]

Not to say that technical training has no importance--quite the contrary actually.  It's all equally important isn't it?  Don't all the pieces make up the puzzle? why do we all split hairs about which piece is paramount?

Because whichever piece is missing is indeed of paramount importance? The problem is when people don't understand all the pieces so they just harp on about one of them, regardless of circumstances. Personally I'd generally talk more about developing proper actions in the hand, as this is what I regard as the most commonly underdeveloped aspect. However when seeing someone who is so clearly suffering from the intention to keep his arm braced, that's the piece I'd focus on.

You can't put together a puzzle unless you have access to all the pieces. Quite how taking attention away from technique might help with that is beyond me.

[pianowolfi]

lol @ all of you being taken in by all this idiocy. The dude practices 9 hours a day? 3 Lessons a week? Needs advice? Please stop feeding these trolls, so we can have serious piano discussions.

From all of my experience I can say that many adult beginners after a few months sound and look exactly like this. So I have no reason to assume that the original poster is in any way a troll. Actually he has come quite far within these few months. Of course the question if he may become a professional concert pianist is a totally different question. But I don't think it's a good idea to discourage people by making fun of them and giving them completely wrong information, like you did.   

[mcdiddy1]

"I think the most challenging thing to teach students is not the technical aspects of playing piano but the work ethic. Students may practice a great deal of time but do they have the fortitude to examine the motions of professional pianist, experimenting and learning how their bodies functions, noticing the movements of each finger, how each part of their body plays a role in they're playing."

Apologies if I'm being pedantic, but doesn't that suggest the very opposite of the first sentence to be true? Was that a typing error? What this guy's playing shows is that having a strong work ethic doesn't produce quick results without due attention to the technical aspects of playing.

Thanks....yes it is a typing error...i mean do not have the fortitude...etc..