How much time will It take me to play well the piano?

[guille6]

So as the title says.
It makes me a bit disappointed that some people say that starting to play the piano at the age of 16 is too late. I wish I could compose and play relatively well, but if I won't be able to do it at last, I don't know if It's worth the trouble...
What are your thoughts? :S

And how much time would it take me to play good (having one hour lessons/week and practising a few hours everyday)?
Aproximately*

[alfrunner440]

Hi,

Don't believe everything you hear. It use to be that if you were older than 12 - 14 you were washed up as swimmer. Take a look at the age of the swimmersi in the past Olympics.

Age does have something to do with it, however that is only when you start to get into you sixties and seventies. if you are 16 or a bit older there is no problem starting to learn how to play the piano.

All you need to do is find yourself a good teacher(i.e. one that you like and likes you and also will listen to what you have to say and not think that he/she is a know-it-all). Practicing is a matter of preferance. practicing two hours per day (if you have the time) with a break in the middle is fine. On the other hand, if you cannot do it consistencly everyday and start skipping, it is better to practice 30 to 40 minutes every day versus playing 2 or 3 hours and then practicing two day later again. All that you gain in the 2 to 3 hours session will be totally lost. So the bottom line with paractice is be consistent and set aside a time that you will practice, faithfully, everyday.

[quantum]

IMO, part of the joy of playing the piano is that it is a lifetime pursuit.  You continuously work to improve and better your playing.  What was good yesterday, can be further improved today. 

It makes me a bit disappointed that some people say that starting to play the piano at the age of 16 is too late.

Too late for what?  Maybe if you wanted to enter college as a music major by the time you were 18 it may be late.  However, such traditional rites-of-passage should not define your ability of becoming a good musician.  I've witnessed 60 year olds entered as college music majors. 

You don't need to become a professional musician in order to become a good musician.  There is evidence right here on the Pianostreet Audition Room: playing that is on par with commercial recordings by people that make a living through a non-music profession. 

[nj61]

also, playing very well needn't be the same as playing for enjoyment.  Of course it is important to practice etc so that you can get to playing interesting things, but it is not necessary to be technically perfect in every regard in order to enjoy playing piano. I long ago realised I would never be an excellent pianist, I just want to be good enough to enjoy playing the piano for myself.  Perfectionism can be very damaging, it would be a shame to miss out on the joys of music for fear of not being perfect! 

Go for it

[dcstudio]

define "well"  everyone seems to have their own opinion on just what playing the piano "well" means.  after 44 years of playing--some days I think I play "well" and some days I  know that I play not so well.  lol.  

as for being disappointed in what "some people say" -- aren't we all from time to time.  It is a lifetime pursuit--and there is disappointment, but there are also great rewards if you can stick with it.

[mahlermaniac]

I am 30 and I started to learn to read music for the first time in my life three months ago, and playing notes on a keyboard. As of four days ago, I started playing the piano. Will I be "good"? Who knows. Am I already finding this a valuable experience that I am enjoying? The answer is yes!

[bronnestam]

I am 46, and even though I started taking lessons when I was 11, I have spent the last 25 years in the middle of nowhere, practicing very little, making zero progress ...    Now I have started to play seriously again, and it is like beginning from the beginning again ... but I'm making progress and I love it! What if I had listened to this BS about being "too old" Should I have denied myself the great joy of playing?
 

[nolohagonica]

Hola
I started taking piano lesson when I was about to turn 27 years old. It's been 13 months since that. I know I am not a child so to learn how to play the piano it will be harder for me, but that isnt a problem, on the contrary, it's such a challenge!