Can I reach grade 8 standard by the age of 30 if I started piano at age 17

[whatyougot]

I am 19 and started playing when I was 17. Is it possible for me to reach grade 8 standard by the age of 30. I have also been playing guitar since I was 16. It would be good to read responses from people who have been in a similar situation or know of a late starter who was able to get to grade 8 standard. I am passionate about music and want to reach my full potential. 

[p2u_]

I am 19 and started playing when I was 17. Is it possible for me to reach grade 8 standard by the age of 30.

Depends on what you have achieved so far. +/- 10 years is a lot of time ahead if you make no detours. I've seen it happen more than once, yes.

Paul

[whatyougot]

Depends on what you have achieved so far. +/- 10 years is a lot of time ahead if you make no detours. I've seen it happen more than once, yes.

Paul

I have developed quite abit of dexterity and have a reasonably sound knowledge of theory 'modes keys' ect. In the short term i need to work on sight reading which is well below physical level of ability. Thanks for the reply. 

[teran]

Yes, yes you can.

[the89thkey]

Could you give a couple examples of what grade 8 means to you? Like repertoire, and also the hardest pieces you want to be able to sight read. Probably my answer is yes, and in much less time if you work hard.

[muleski]

I would imagine if you have the ability, you will have no problem.  As for 'late starters', I'm pretty late.  I played as a child, never did exams.  I was pianoless from 14-34.  Now I've got a piano again, I've taken it back up.  My lack of theory knowledge obviously lets me down & i have to slowly trawl through pieces using the music & knowing what it sounds like (I'd probably struggle with learning something I was unfamiliar with).  I have no intention of taking exams now, at my age, but am learning for the pleasure of it.  My sight reading skills are virtually non-existent, but I've always been able to memorise music no problem, so learn it & then dispense with the sheet music. 

It depends of course, on what your goals are.  You sound ambitious and that will drive you.  I really don't think age matters at all, if you have the will & ability to learn.  I never did a music exam & I'm learning complex pieces.  Good luck 

[outin]

To me 13 years seems to be a pretty long time. From my own experience it's possible to get to grade 5-6 level pieces pretty fast (1-2 years with very little basic level experience from 30 years before) if one has a good teacher and the drive to practice. But then one is faced with such challenges that it will probably take many more years to actually be able to play any grade 8 pieces. There's so much more to memorize (assuming one is not an excellent sight reader) and so many physical challenges if one does not have large or very flexible hands. I also think that any bad habits or hand weaknesses must be adressed at this point or it's useless to try for more difficult things. And it wouldn't hurt to learn some theory to understand the pieces better...

I assume I will be stuck where I am for some years. But since there's so much great music to learn, who cares. I think there's no need to reach further until it seems that the pieces don't present any more challenges. To be honest I would probably be quite happy playing things I am able to learn now for the rest of my life if it turns out that I won't be able to overcome all the problems I have. Playing something difficult badly would not be worth it.

[jogoeshome]

Jesus, of course you can. I started aged 10 and with school and other hobbies, I was playing stuff 8+ by age 15. It only depends on how much time you have. I only did grade 5 exam because i started getting busy with my studies and eventually gave up. But still now after 17 years without lessons, I can do all the chopin etudes. 

[the89thkey]

Jesus, of course you can. I started aged 10 and with school and other hobbies, I was playing stuff 8+ by age 15. It only depends on how much time you have. I only did grade 5 exam because i started getting busy with my studies and eventually gave up. But still now after 17 years without lessons, I can do all the chopin etudes. 

For some reason I doubt that. You sound a bit like a fraud to me...the chopin etudes are pretty damn difficult unless you are a technical whiz like Hamelin or Yuja Wang.

[pianoman53]

By far! I started when I was 16, and got to level 8 at like 18. You'll need to work hard though...

[muleski]

It's a bit presumptuous to call someone a fraud.  I've never done a single music exam, cannot read music fluently and generally have a poor knowledge of music theory but can learn complex pieces by use of the score & by ear.  My abilities are as such: I can read music at a basic level as I started learning the theory as a kid, but as a lazy child, with ability but no will or push to learn I decided not to pursue the exam route (something I regret), however at 34 I've taken it back up.  I memorise music easily and it's the only way I can play.  I plug away & learn complex pieces, don't get me wrong, a lot of repetition is involved, but once it's in my head (and hands), there it stays. 
I must apologise also, as I'm new on this forum & have just realised that I'm posting in a section above my station as it were!
But my point was, you don't have to have gone through the 'exam' motions to be able to play well.

[danhuyle]

Yes you can. I've seen 9 year old children playing Chopin Etudes, Moazrt Sonata etc. Plenty of these on YouTube.

Of course to do that, it's a lot of grinding.

[perfect_pitch]

For some reason I doubt that. You sound a bit like a fraud to me...the chopin etudes are pretty damn difficult unless you are a technical whiz like Hamelin or Yuja Wang.

Coming from you - that's rather insulting. I'd watch what I say if I were you, considering your latest screw-up.

[slobone]

Jesus, of course you can.

Is he back already? 

[wufferbug]

I certainly believe so, I also believe your playing will differ in depth as you mature (not just in age!).  I churned out the grades from age 11 to 16 finishing grade 6 ABRSM.  Now 22 years later I have taken it up again.  I am choosing my pieces for what they say to me rather than to just get the exam - although for me it is still a personal challenge! got an honours AMEB grade 6 after 1 year back, now studying 7...love it!!

[the_fervid_pig]

I'd have thought so if you put the work in. My husband teaches guitar and he's just had a young lad pass Grade 5 with distinction at the age of 12. He's been playing since he was 9, but he's young, learns fast and is by all accounts  rather obsessive about it. At 19 you have youth on your side though passing exams doesn't make you a musician.

[thesixthsensemusic]

Yes you can. I've seen 9 year old children playing Chopin Etudes, Moazrt Sonata etc. Plenty of these on YouTube.

Of course to do that, it's a lot of grinding.

Mozart sonatas are not difficult, they are intermediate pieces, intended as practice material for decent students and never intended as concert pieces, which the Chopin etudes very much are. Only the very easiest amongst the Chopin etudes are of comparable difficulty, like the 3 nouvelles etudes.

I can assure you that anyone who masters the harder ones of Mozart's sonatas, with them being the most demanding pieces he/she can play well, will stand absolutely NO chance of playing stuff like Chopin's op. 25-11. It'd mean being half-way to being able to do that, of sorts.

[j_menz]

Mozart sonatas are ... intended as practice material for decent students and never intended as concert pieces

That would come as something of a surprise to Mozart, who is presumably the only relevant intender here. Do you have some authority for what seems to me this pretty outlandish assertion?

[iansinclair]

Mozart sonatas are not difficult, they are intermediate pieces, intended as practice material for decent students and never intended as concert pieces, which the Chopin etudes very much are..

Say what?  Mozart sonatas are not concert pieces?  My dear chap -- either you don't know Mozart, oor don't understand Mozart.  They surely are concert pieces, as any one of a number of very good pianists (e.g. Rubinstein, Horowitz, Ashkenazy, et alia) can attest.  Either that, or perhaps these gentlemen were simply no better than decent students and I'm the deluded one?

[iansinclair]

And I might add for the OP -- of course you can, assuming you have the ability to do it at all.  Just work at it.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

For some reason I doubt that. You sound a bit like a fraud to me...the chopin etudes are pretty damn difficult unless you are a technical whiz like Hamelin or Yuja Wang.

Reaching grade 8 after five years is a lot more believable than learning the entire Rach 3 in a couple days.

[jayeckz]

I am 19 and started playing when I was 17. Is it possible for me to reach grade 8 standard by the age of 30.

Absolutely!  I would bet you could reach it by the time you are 25 even if you practice for only a few hours a week.

I am passionate about music and want to reach my full potential. 

Oh, are you?  Consider being more ambitious.  Try grade 8 in a year or consider auditioning for a few summer music festivals.

If you are truly passionate about music, don't even worry about the grades or your progress. Practice, polish your pieces, and focus on making good music.  You'll be surprised by how much you can accomplish.

[austinarg]

For some reason I doubt that. You sound a bit like a fraud to me...the chopin etudes are pretty damn difficult unless you are a technical whiz like Hamelin or Yuja Wang.