Late Start

[andd845]

I've been a visitor to this forum for a while now, and it's occurred to me that for many, not reaching concert pianist standard would be a disappointment, certainly it's something people hope for. I started late, at 29, so had in the back of mind a slightly more realistic set of goals. Perhaps one day reach grade 8 (UK), play 20-30 pieces I like really well, and ideally from memory so that I could, in theory, just nonchalantly sit down at any piano I find in public and play. I'd also quite like to be able to site read grade 8 pieces someday.

In short, I think there's hope for late starters because it's not just a sport, where technical ability is all, but an artform where interpretation counts. So, there's really no rush to play that Etude or that 8 part fugue just to show off. My progress so far, in case anyone is interested, is that I passed grade 5 fairly quickly via digital and then basic acoustic piano, then attended some grade 7ish workshops (very helpful) for a few years, and now have a lovely Kawai grand where I can now really strive to separate voices, get dynamics working etc. I'd say I'm hovering around grade 6, but with ever improving tone and very basic theory. No teacher currently though, which is an issue...

So, for late starters, what would you say are your goals?

[prestoconfuocco]

I started when I was 16, and my expectations were to be the very best, like no one ever was. (Please sing along if you can.)
I wanted to advance as quickly as I can, because I'm just that kind of person, that his only goal in life is to conquer as many achievements as possible. I loved classical music so I wanted to be the best I can be at playing it. (When I'm 40 I wouldn't be able to do it, so that was the only time to start advancing.)
Having a realistic approach is fine, but if you don't reach for the stars you're never gonna get to them. You might be setting yourself up to a disappointment by setting the bar too high, but if you set it too low you won't have the motivation to get better. (And the result speak for themselves - by the time I finished highschool I was already at the same level as all the pianists in my age that started early were.)

[andd845]

Hello prestoconfuocco,

Hmm. Well,  you're quite an early late starter by comparison. I'm not really playing the piano to collect a skill, but to reach a level where I actually would enjoy listening to my own playing. It's perhaps the difference between going somewhere just so you can put a pin in a map, and going somewhere to enjoy being there. I think I am aiming reasonably high, it's just I don't expect to get good enough that people will queue around the block to see me play.

[prestoconfuocco]

But once you get enough skill you can play pieces you like more, and play them better. (Motivation is THE tool to use if you want to enjoy listening to yourself play.)
I completely agree that one shouldn't play just to pin in a map, but to enjoy where he is - but if you drive yourself forward you can achieve goals you never thought you could, and it is much more rewarding playing a piece you really love than a piece you just like. (You can climb a hill and enjoy the view, but if you climb a mountain not only will the view look better, but you will also feel a great sense of satisfaction for overcoming the obstacles on the way.)

[brogers70]

Well, I started even later than you, at 40. At 55 my teacher just started me on the Revolutionary Etude and Beethoven's Pastoral Sonata. I've done a bunch of Mozart and Haydn Sonatas, some Brahms and Schubert, and a few of the P&F from the Well-Tempered Clavier. When I started, this was about as far as I hoped to make it, but as things have progressed and I've had more time to practice and better teachers I don't see why I couldn't reach some of the more difficult Beethoven and Schubert sonatas. There's definitely lots of great music within my reach, and practicing is the high point of every day. I think lots of late starters sort of stall out because they aren't really that interested, don't have enough time to commit to practice, have teachers who think that adult learners want to play the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata and Traumerei and aren't interested in working on technique, or they just have bad teachers who don't try to teach technique. So if your goals only involve playing great music for pleasure and you aren't interested in being a professional, I don't see any reason not to be quite ambitious as a late starter.

[piano4kay]

I think having realistic goals and finding a good teacher who will help you attain them is key.  I started late...at 47.  I didn't even know where to find middle C. I don't even remember exactly what my goals were...mostly to play for pleasure.  I must admit that I wanted to get "good".  Now almost four years later, I am playing a Mozart Sonata.  When I hit a bump and am struggling, I try to remind myself how far I have come.  I has not been easy.  I have been thru several teachers before finding someone who knows how to teach adults.  I wish I had gotten an earlier start everyday,but try not to get too discouraged.  I recommend the book "Playing the Piano for Pleasure" by Charles Cooke by anyone returning to the piano, or starting for the first time later in life.  He stresses the place of music in the amateur. 

[indianajo]

It is nice to see someone posting here that has realistic goals.  Learning 20 or 30 pieces by memory, entertaining your acquaintances with them.  I hope to do that.  The classical side of piano has many lofty peaks, some of which I have climbed and others of which I am just toiling up the slope. This is mostly for my own enjoyment. I have a lot more patience than others, that is why I am buying classical LP's for $.25 at the resale shop, because others are few that want to listen to pieces that long.   But pieces people might really want to hear! I have learned 5 or 6 of those and hope to get good enough somebody will sing along some day. 
I took piano lessons 8 years age 8 to 16, went on to high school band, lost my access to piano in college, and didn't get access again until age 33.  I haven't had time to practice rigorously and work a job too, but now the economy doesn't need me anymore?  I can practice as much as my tendons will stand at age 63. Here comes the rainy season, time to improve. 
Enjoy yourself!