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Topic: At what age did you start playing the piano?  (Read 10202 times)

Offline sv3nno

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At what age did you start playing the piano?
on: May 15, 2013, 05:31:46 PM
It's 5 for me. i wish i could've started younger...
Live With the Earth, not On it.

Offline bronnestam

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #1 on: May 15, 2013, 06:01:26 PM
I was 11.

Offline patrickd

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #2 on: May 15, 2013, 07:24:39 PM
18, started taking it seriously a year later though.

Offline lilla

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #3 on: May 15, 2013, 07:31:55 PM
13 or 14 yrs. old.  I had been studying organ since age 8, and when I mentioned to my teacher that I was thinking about a music major, he looked at me, and said, "Well, then.  You must study piano."  From that point on my lessons were on the piano - once in awhile a piece on the organ. But mostly piano.  And I've never looked back.  To this day, although organ is near and dear to my heart, I prefer playing piano.  Fortunately for me, my parents owned a music store so moving pianos and organs in and out of the house was no big deal.

Offline bernadette60614

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #4 on: May 15, 2013, 09:47:40 PM
At 12 for a couple of years, but seriously about 3 years ago.

Offline maestro57

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #5 on: May 16, 2013, 10:22:17 AM
It's 5 for me. i wish i could've started younger...

You're joking, when you say you wish you could've started younger than 5, right? There is no shame starting at any age, and CERTAINLY not at 5.

I started at 10-and-a-half, played for 6 years, then took a 10-year break, and went back to it.

Offline lloyd_cdb

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #6 on: May 16, 2013, 04:16:44 PM
I started at 6. Played until I was 15 and then stopped out of frustration. Picked it back up at 18 and have played for a decade now (excluding a total of ~2 non-consecutive years from two separate injuries and no piano for 6 months).
I've been trying to give myself a healthy reminder: https://internetsarcasm.com/

Offline onwan

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #7 on: May 16, 2013, 08:21:09 PM
I started whan I was 13 and now I am 16. I regret everyday, that I haven't stared earlier.
Bach-Prelude and Fugue 2
Mozart-Sonata 545
Schubert-Klavierstucke D946 - 1, 2
Chopin-Etude 10/9, 25/12
Liszt-Un Sospiro
Rachmaninoff-Prelude 23/5, 3/2

Offline brogers70

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #8 on: May 16, 2013, 08:48:20 PM
I started at 40; I'm 54 now. There are some limits on what you can do if you start at 40, but if you have a good teacher and work hard and efficiently, you can end up playing reasonably advanced repertoire.

Offline mahlermaniac

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #9 on: May 17, 2013, 06:36:59 PM
30

Offline black_keys

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #10 on: May 20, 2013, 02:19:50 PM
at 17

Offline marao

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #11 on: May 20, 2013, 06:25:43 PM
I Started at 46 and I´m 48.

Offline forte88

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #12 on: May 20, 2013, 06:51:00 PM
27(a week before my 28th) but feel fortunate I've been able to teach myself to play. I'll never be a concertpianist or a teacher but frankly don't want to be either.The pleasure of playing for yourself...mmm...aaah.

Offline mjames

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #13 on: May 20, 2013, 07:08:17 PM
Last September.

I'm turning 18 this month.

Offline ranniks

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #14 on: May 20, 2013, 10:21:53 PM
I started august last year, I was 20 then and 21 now. My piano teacher says that if I had begun on my 10th I could have become a classical pianist by now.

Offline hfmadopter

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #15 on: May 20, 2013, 10:32:35 PM
I started august last year, I was 20 then and 21 now. My piano teacher says that if I had begun on my 10th I could have become a classical pianist by now.

Just keep at it !!
Depressing the pedal on an out of tune acoustic piano and playing does not result in tonal color control or add interest, it's called obnoxious.

Offline bronnestam

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #16 on: May 21, 2013, 07:58:34 AM
I started august last year, I was 20 then and 21 now. My piano teacher says that if I had begun on my 10th I could have become a classical pianist by now.



So, then you will become a classical pianist when you're 30 instead ...

Life is short, but not so short that we have to begin with everything while we're still in dipers, or else it will be "too late". Too late for what? It seems to me that the younger the posters are here, the more worry you seem to have over that fact that you have not started earlier ... and the opposite.
Life experience is also an essential ingredient in musical development!

Offline sunshine_keys

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #17 on: May 22, 2013, 12:29:36 AM
I started at 13, I'm 16 now...I'm not too disappointed about starting later, I think it was an okay age to start. I knew I wanted to learn so I put my whole heart into it and advanced very quickly.
<3

Offline danhuyle

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #18 on: May 22, 2013, 11:08:15 AM
Age 11
Perfection itself is imperfection.

Currently practicing
Albeniz Triana
Scriabin Fantaisie Op28
Scriabin All Etudes Op8

Offline rachmaninoff_forever

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #19 on: May 22, 2013, 11:21:53 AM
Started at 9,

I turn 18 in like 20 days.
Live large, die large.  Leave a giant coffin.

Offline caryljamesthompson

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #20 on: May 22, 2013, 11:37:55 AM
I began at the age of 5, however, didn't take it seriously until the age of 23...it's never TOO LATE.

Offline janyaporn

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #21 on: May 22, 2013, 01:38:10 PM
I played piano/started lessons for the first time at age 62 in 2002. I already knew how to read music because I played guitar before that along with some other instruments.  Maybe if I had started as young as some of you guys I might be able to play the piano by now.  I just turned 75 this month.  Makes for great retirement fun.

Offline senanserat

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #22 on: May 29, 2013, 10:24:25 PM
18 and kinda sad about it.
"The thousand years of raindrops summoned by my song are my tears, the thunder that strikes the earth is my anger!"

Offline thepianist09

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #23 on: May 30, 2013, 07:19:06 PM
4.
Music is the greatest subsitute for words. In a life where we cannot succeed at work and we fail with women there is music which can tell anyone our words, words in which we want to scream but cannot!

Offline bertie59

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #24 on: May 30, 2013, 08:30:55 PM
Hi everyone,

I started playing 3 weeks ago and the "mature" age of: 60 yrs !

Bertie 
 :D

Offline kevin69

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #25 on: May 31, 2013, 10:53:45 AM
43.

Offline the_fervid_pig

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #26 on: June 01, 2013, 01:14:15 AM
35. I'm now 36. Wish I'd have started earlier but such is life, playing other instruments is good grounding though.
Currently learning:
Mendelssohn 19/6           Chopin 28/4
Satie Je Te Veux            Rach C#m
Poulenc Bal Fantome       Chopin 28/20
Schubert Serenade         Chopin 15/3
Chopin 10/9

Offline evitaevita

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #27 on: June 01, 2013, 09:20:37 PM
I started taking lessons at 6,
although I could play a few small easy pieces (and the C major scale!...) since I was a toddler as my grandmother had my mother's piano (my piano now!) in her house.
"I'm a free person; I feel terribly free. They could put me in chains and I still would be free because my thoughts would be mine - and that's all I want to have."
Arthur Rubinstein

Offline kevin69

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #28 on: June 02, 2013, 02:21:25 AM
For those who regret not starting earlier:
What do you feel you are missing out on?
What did you spend your time doing instead, that now you regret?

Offline the_fervid_pig

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #29 on: June 03, 2013, 05:25:05 PM
For those who regret not starting earlier:
What do you feel you are missing out on?
What did you spend your time doing instead, that now you regret?

That's an interesting question. Speaking personally as I can speak no other way I feel that I don't pick things up as quick as I used to, maybe you get thicker as you get older, or have less energy for new things, or work more. I feel I'd be able to play more of the kind of pieces I want, and learn them a lot quicker, atm it seems like a slog to learn anything new. Maybe I'm picking difficult pieces but they're what I want to learn! I feel I've missed a lot of the ground work too, as atm any time I have to practice goes on the pieces rather that the theory side. I took up classical guitar at about 12, and wish I'd taken piano up at the same time, though having said that, I now no longer really pick the guitar up much at all. I used to have a job that kept me out of the house for around 60+ hours a week, so while it's not exactly something that I regret, I had no choice in the matter, that's what took up a lot of my time.
Currently learning:
Mendelssohn 19/6           Chopin 28/4
Satie Je Te Veux            Rach C#m
Poulenc Bal Fantome       Chopin 28/20
Schubert Serenade         Chopin 15/3
Chopin 10/9

Offline j_menz

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #30 on: June 04, 2013, 12:06:37 AM
For those who regret not starting earlier:
What do you feel you are missing out on?
What did you spend your time doing instead, that now you regret?

"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline perprocrastinate

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #31 on: June 04, 2013, 12:31:42 AM

Offline pandylover18

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #32 on: June 04, 2013, 01:58:08 AM
I started at 5.
JS Bach French Suite 2 Gigue
Mozart Sonata K 576 Mvt. 1
Muczynski Desperate Measures
Vavilov Polka Carnival (Duet)

Offline h_chopin148

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #33 on: June 04, 2013, 02:19:33 AM
I started at 5, but I didn't have a good teacher until I was about 8  >:( I just turned 13.
Debussy Pour le Piano
Chopin Etude 10/5, 10/9
Beethoven Sonata 2/2, 10/3
Bach P&F no. 7 WTC 1
Ligeti Musica Ricercata 10

Offline evitaevita

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #34 on: June 05, 2013, 12:56:11 PM


Ah! Oui!

Thanks!

I love the song, the singer and the MEANING!
Completely agree with it!
"I'm a free person; I feel terribly free. They could put me in chains and I still would be free because my thoughts would be mine - and that's all I want to have."
Arthur Rubinstein

Offline magic_sonata

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #35 on: June 08, 2013, 06:06:56 PM
I began experimenting with the piano at age 4 (Dad taught me all of the notes), and got a teacher at the age of 5.
magic_sonata

Offline beeb

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #36 on: June 19, 2013, 06:29:47 PM
I started at 43 and am now 47. Im enjoying the journey.
What im learning.
The Beatles
Randy Newman
Billy Joel

Im 47, I dont regret not starting sooner.
im just glad i found something i love.

Offline nickadams

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #37 on: June 19, 2013, 09:34:33 PM
My question is directed to anyone who started after age 18: how far have you advanced and in what amount of time?



I ask just so I can give myself a realistic goal to strive towards (I'm a fellow adult beginner).

Offline mikeowski

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #38 on: June 20, 2013, 12:18:09 AM
My question is directed to anyone who started after age 18: how far have you advanced and in what amount of time?



I ask just so I can give myself a realistic goal to strive towards (I'm a fellow adult beginner).

I started at age 20 and have played for a little more than 2 1/2 years so far.
In a concert a few weeks ago I played the Allegro from Mozart's K332 and 3 Visions Fugitives (Nos. 1, 6 and 10. No.1 is way harder than it sounds but at least only 1 page long ;)).
-> Here <- is a recording from the concert before that one of me playing Beethoven's Op.2 No.1.

Also, I'll soon have finished BWV 862 (Prelude is done, Fugue almost) and I have recently started playing the Adagio from Beethoven's op. 2 no.1, planning to soon get the whole sonata done.

How long do you play and how far have you gotten yourself btw? Maybe you're already better than me anyway ;D

Offline cabbynum

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #39 on: June 20, 2013, 12:25:17 AM
Started at 16 I am turning 18 in October, I didn't know how to read music for the first 7 months of playing. Now I'm learning liszt transcendental etude no.8, Beethoven sonata op.33 no.2, Bach prelude and fugue no.10 wtc I and for fun I'm learning some Scriabin works and parts of the rach concertos.
Just here to lurk and cringe at my old posts now.

Offline nickadams

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #40 on: June 23, 2013, 04:49:32 AM
Quote from: cabbynum
Started at 16 I am turning 18 in October, I didn't know how to read music for the first 7 months of playing. Now I'm learning liszt transcendental etude no.8, Beethoven sonata op.33 no.2, Bach prelude and fugue no.10 wtc I and for fun I'm learning some Scriabin works and parts of the rach concertos.

I started at age 20 and have played for a little more than 2 1/2 years so far.
In a concert a few weeks ago I played the Allegro from Mozart's K332 and 3 Visions Fugitives (Nos. 1, 6 and 10. No.1 is way harder than it sounds but at least only 1 page long ;)).
-> Here <- is a recording from the concert before that one of me playing Beethoven's Op.2 No.1.

Also, I'll soon have finished BWV 862 (Prelude is done, Fugue almost) and I have recently started playing the Adagio from Beethoven's op. 2 no.1, planning to soon get the whole sonata done.

How long do you play and how far have you gotten yourself btw? Maybe you're already better than me anyway ;D


I've been playing longer than both of you (~3 years) but you both are miles ahead of me! Definitely inspiring.


cabbynum, I really liked this video and I wish you'd post some more piano performances!

And mikeowski your posts in the audition room give me a goal to strive towards.



Any other adult beginners wanna tell their stories?

Offline cabbynum

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #41 on: June 30, 2013, 03:42:39 PM
None of what I am working on is performance ready other than my own compositions but there are enough of those on here as is. So I don't see the need to add mine. Until my big performance in a few weeks, I'll be accepting the artist of the year award from the Nashville society of pianos

Also good job finding one of the only piano videos of me on YouTube. The rest of the videos I find quite numerous considering I took them dead serious for a while
Just here to lurk and cringe at my old posts now.

Offline cabbynum

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #42 on: June 30, 2013, 04:03:12 PM


That ones better in my opinion. But to each their own.
Just here to lurk and cringe at my old posts now.

Offline qpalqpal

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #43 on: June 30, 2013, 04:23:36 PM
I can't remember when I started fooling around with the keyboard at home . . . maybe 8 years old. I played the lessons on the yamaha and seemingly it helped. Been semi-seriously teaching myself on an upright I got 3 and a half years ago. I was 12 and a half.
Working on:
Bach Invention 7 (also Tureck's book)
Clementi Sonatina 3
Rachmaninoff Moment Musicaux no. 3
Skrjabin Prelude op.11 no.4
Joplin The Favorite Rag

Offline gozo490

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Re: At what age did you start playing the piano?
Reply #44 on: July 02, 2013, 04:30:51 PM
i started just after i was 21 coming up to 2 years now. rarely have a day off and its taken over my life. help. :P
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