Is 12 too late to start playing piano?

[collectivecolors]

Hey, I've posted on here a couple times, but never really thought about when was it too late to start playing piano. I've had 4 months of lessons, and can play a Sonatina by Tobias Haslinger among other Baroque, Romantic, and Classical pieces. I am aware most students start lessons at an early age but at the time I wasn't in a position where it was an option. Until I started taking lessons I would piddle around on the piano and kind of figured out my own piano "code" to know which notes to play for small little insignificant compositions that normally got set aside halfway through. I was thinking, that maybe because of the fact I'm older then most students when they begin I have an edge in the fact that my brain is more developed and I can make progress sooner because of that and better muscle training.
So, what do you think? Please don't candy coat your answers.
Thanks,
Lydia

[keyboardclass]

I was thinking, that maybe because of the fact I'm older then most students when they begin I have an edge in the fact that my brain is more developed and I can make progress sooner because of that and better muscle training.

Yes, your brain is more developed but you'll never have the infrastructure that a 5 and 6 year old will have developed.  Still, at twelve I doubt anything can stop you.

[binghamtonpiano]

It is never too late to start playing piano. Unless you are looking to be the top concert pianist in the world, you can start at any age. I have students who are in their 40's, who are just learning.
Try playing some other styles too. You'll be amazed at what you can do!

[cjp_piano]

12?!?!?!?  I have a student who didn't start until he was in his 60's!!!  He just passed grade 10 exam last year!

[collectivecolors]

Thanks, for all the answers. No, I wasn't thinking of being a concert pianist, but mostly just to challenge myself. I hope I can find something to do to make money to do with playing piano, but if it doesn't happen it's no big deal.

[faa2010]

Thanks, for all the answers. No, I wasn't thinking of being a concert pianist, but mostly just to challenge myself. I hope I can find something to do to make money to do with playing piano, but if it doesn't happen it's no big deal.

I really like your way of thinking!!, Thanks for reminding me, an adult, to keep positive!!

[m1469]

It seems to me that, nearly across the board, one of the biggest hurdles to overcome for a learner at any level is a certain type of "self-awareness."  Adult starters and "late starters" who already have a sense that they are starting from behind (or practically from underground) have to overcome that to even take a single step, and probably many times along the way.  As well, even prodigies usually experience a drastic change once they are out of the protected, child-mind bubble, and become more aware of the world, of other people and pianists as equals, of themselves, and sometimes just their age later in life.

I do wonder what a child prodigy, who apparently has something intrinsic that other people don't, would accomplish if for some reason they slipped through the cracks and started after nobody cared anymore?

These are simply questions in my mind.  

[mcrosbie]

I started taking piano lessons at age 11.  I fell in love with teh piano at the age of 4 and tinkered on my aunt's piano when I stayed at her home.  Anytime I got near a piano, I wanted to play by ear.  Unfortunately, my parents could not buy me a piano until I was 11 years old.  I begged and begged for one and for lessons.  I had an excellent teacher who had been an opera singer as well.  He was from England.  He started me with the grade one John Thompson course. The thing about the John Thompson course (that is quite old) is that it introduces the student to advanced concepts right away.  Each new lesson introduces the student to new information.  I was very keen and I practiced an hour a day right from the beginning.  I whipped through books one, two, and three of John Thompson and within six months was also learning to play the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto grade one repertoire.  At the age of 12-1/2, I took the RCMT grade 3 piano exam and obtained a grade of 76%, which was an honours mark.  I continued to progress and completed my grade 5 RCMT exam at the age of 14.  I did the grade one rudiments exam at 14 and was preparing for the grade 7 exam and studying for the grade two rudiments exam at age 15, but became overwhelmed with the pressure as I was also taking academic courses in preparation for university and having a social life - swimming, skating etc.  My parents allowed me to quit, but I never quit playing the piano as I loved it.  I took it up again at age 35 and did the grade 6 and 7 exams and obtained first class honours.  I also did the grade 2 rediments with a mark of 89% (first class).  Recently at age 61 I have resumed my piano studies.  I tell you this for your encouragement.  All the best to all who desire to study the piano - it is never too late.  (At age 60 you do learn more slowly).

[collectivecolors]

Thanks for all the answers!
My teacher started me on John Thompson's too and it always cracked me up whenever they're would be some kind of word that is NEVER used today (check Theory book 2 stories).

[bringdowntherain]

Ah yes, I started on John Thompson as well...the good ol' days. 

[kellyc]

First to answer your question. NO its not to late to start playing Piano.  Now as to how far you go thats different and very hard to answer.  What skills where you born with. are you very bright or average. Do you have a good memory, etc.  Do you have a good learning setup ? How supportive are your parents.  Are  you an outgoing person who feels comfortable performing in front of people? Only way to find out really is to give it a try for a few years and see what happens.

Kelly

[collectivecolors]

Hey Kelly. I haven't had the chance to talk to others who have taken lessons to see how soon they started playing certain pieces I think I'm doing well. I've been taking lessons for five months and I've been playing intermediate pieces, (sonatina's, minuets, etc.) nothing that I've heard people discuss as something difficult but not the very bottom of the learning curve. I have a pretty good memory, as in by playing pieces and practicing them I start get muscle memory which means I can practically play any piece after I've learned it.
Not exactly sure as to what you mean by "learning setup" but I've basically got a room with a piano in it that I go in and my entire family basically leaves me alone in there.
My parents, are really supportive of this and I think I'm really lucky for that.
I've played some of my pieces that I have learned in front of my family (the most people I've played in front of were my 2 aunts, my grandmother, my mother, 2 cousins, and my uncle).
Although, I have yet to play in front of a crowd of people I don't know.

Again, thanks for all the answers

[jaggens]

Hi Lydia,

I think it is never too late to start learning the piano. What are your goals?
Do you want to become a concert pianist? Or would you like to play nicely on a good level and enjoy the piano playing process?

Concert pianist - it might be a bit too late. But miracles happen. I know a boy who started at age of 13 and became a piano teacher. He is not a greatest pianist but is able to play on a high level and give concerts. Also one of the greatest pianists in the world - Arkadi Volodos started at the age of 8. This is not 12 but he is worlds top.

But to play for yourself, your friends, also adding quite difficult pieces into your repertoire later is not a problem at all.

Also you have got a good point - you are more mature than a young child and so your learning process can be more effective.

Your posting seems to be written by a mature person.

Wish you an insightful piano journey.
Jaak

[danhuyle]

I started learning piano in 1996 at age 11. To answer the question no.

The age you start learning piano is irrelevant. There's people here on the pianostreet forums who play virtuoso pieces after 6 years.

I was cluelss how to play with a metronome in my first 9 years learning piano. I started playing with a metronome in 2005 and then learning how to control rhythm from 2005 to 2011.

[sunshine_keys]

I started at 13. And I just finished level 4, a year and a half later. : ) You can do it!

[irrational]

I started playing at 37. Well I did "teach" myself a little in my mid 20s. But with what I know now, that was not really playing.
My own approach is that I love the sound and tactile feel of a piano. I play purely for enjoyment and realised after starting that the goal I had initially was way too low.
I think the most important thing is to love and enjoy what you do. Then you'll naturally play much better.
From my point of view 12 is plenty early to do anything as long as you are willing to put in the work. I practise about 1-2 hours a day and the progress is clearly audible and visible over a 2 month stretch. Although I wouldn't try to push it. For me there is no rush to accomplish high grades as soon as I can. I will play a licentiate when I feel I am capable enough.
Jsut be confident and willing to learn.

[collectivecolors]

Again, thanks for all the helpful replies I am glad to know this isn't a laughable notion. I do hope to somehow, figure out how to incorporate music into my future career, but if I can't I'll probably keep it as a hobby.

[pianoplayjl]

No, it's never early or too late.

[mosis]

Yes, your brain is more developed but you'll never have the infrastructure that a 5 and 6 year old will have developed.  Still, at twelve I doubt anything can stop you.

don't listen to this kind of nonsense. the only thing that's stopping your from learning like a 5 year old is all the misconceptions and societal programming that has polluted your otherwise pure mind.

now is as good a time to start as ever. i am 23 and am learning faster than i ever have; i remember what it was like learning things as a child and i have held onto that sense to this day to great return. if i can do it, so can you. what one fool can do, another can

don't fret! think yourself a child and you will learn as one

[pianoplayjl]

Yes, I reckon the older the person is, the faster learner he/she is.

[cjp_piano]

don't listen to this kind of nonsense. the only thing that's stopping your from learning like a 5 year old is all the misconceptions and societal programming that has polluted your otherwise pure mind.

now is as good a time to start as ever. i am 23 and am learning faster than i ever have; i remember what it was like learning things as a child and i have held onto that sense to this day to great return. if i can do it, so can you. what one fool can do, another can

don't fret! think yourself a child and you will learn as one

I somewhat agree that we are led to believe it's harder to learn things as we age. BUT it is true to some extent that children do learn quicker when they're younger. I, for example, lived in Japan until I was 6 years old, and I was totally bilingual, could speak fluently in both Japanese and English, I could mix them in conversations and still distinguish between the 2 and understand both! Am I a genius? No, I was immersed in both languages and absorbed them both.

Later in life, I studied German, but after 4 years, still was not anywhere close to where I was with Japanese as a child. Children are more sponge-like than adults, and there is science to prove some of that.

But you're right that we can overcome anything and still learn things as we age.