Is it to late to start and learn piano at age 19?

Question

Is 19 at the age of old dogs can't learn new tricks stage?
I heard some say that our brain stop developing at a certain age(12?) So it would be alot harder now if i didn't start learning at a really young age.

I always wanted to play piano really. . . but I guess I was a bit to lazy and wasn't really motivated enough. Now I sort of regret it back then.

Answer 1

While it's harder to learn piano at a later age, it's not impossible. I'm 19 and I started taking piano in college for credit. The only previous experience I had for reading notes came from a computer program called "Music Ace" that I had to complete in two years at my high school. I learned to read notes exceptionally well in high school and because of that, piano came a little easier at first. Now I'm learning things about diminished and augmented chord qualities and it's a little harder now.

If you can keep at it and practice at least 20 minutes every day, you can learn piano. You might not be as proficient at someone that's been playing since childhood, but you'll still become a very decent player at the end of your lessons.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

I'm 50 on November 6th. Six weeks ago, I walked into a music store and "just bought" a Yamaha digital Grand (More like a "digital 2 grand" actually). Anyway, never touched a piano before but, I've taught myself Spanish to absolute fluency, computer network engineering (career for 15 years) and many, many other things. I approached piano as a digestible progression of specific steps: scales, chords, reading music, theory. Okay so, at first, all I knew was 5 fingers, 5 notes. Then it quickly became, a full octave major scale. Next was "How do I run the scale from one end of the keyboard to the other? Next was, now that I have left hand in five octaves up and down, and right hand in five octaves up and down, how do I do BOTH HANDS in unison. (that sucked but, took about two weeks). I lucked out and saw some articles on Franz Liszt and F. Chopin who were both frantic about starting with C# instead of C major. I did that. You'll learn things like that which will greatly influence your success, one way or the other.
Anyway, it's six weeks later and I've taught myself to read music (which I did away from the piano on purpose), all major and relative minor scales up and down the entire keyboard in unison, the chords Major, minor, V7, b7, 9th, augmented, diminished and inversions. I can play Moonlight Sonata, 1st movement, Bach's Prelude in C major, WTC, and I'm now working on Greensleeves and Consolation 3 by Liszt. Not the "easy play" versions either.
I think I can say, Age is a BENEFIT. If you're 20, I've been alive and learning 2.5 times longer than you. Literally, I've been 20 more than twice. I've learned a few things in that time. Why we have an idea that children are the only ones who should play is nonsense! It all breaks down to PASSION ( I LOVE the piano) and time in hours spent playing. I would add one more: Learning to recognize BS when you see it. For example, that "thumb under" contortion is TOTAL BS. Avoid the "organized religion" of piano playing but not the spirituality of it.

Answer 3

late start learn piano age 19

Answer 4

Well, you're asking two questions here.

Yes, your brain does have a harder time learning as it gets older. So it will not be as easy to learn now as it would have been when you were a pre-teen.

But you are still very young. And people learn things all the time at your age. That's the age most people start college, where there is a lot of stuff to memorize.

So, the short of the answer is yes, you can still learn. But it will require effort on your part and lots of practice (but then, when does it now when you learn any musical instrument).

Answer 5

You need to examine the way you've stated your question. Too late for what?

To play well? To perform? To become a professional? To enjoy it?

In what style?

These are all important aspects of your question, but I suspect you just need to start with a good teacher who can help you develop.

You'll never have the same development that a 4 year old does studying music. Music is a language, and the brain has certain developmental stages when language acquisition is really easy. Past a certain age we learn languages quite differently.

Answer 6

Its never to late to learn something! Playing the piano takes years to learn to become a great professional but practice makes perfect and the more lessons you have the more experience the more experience the better. And it may be a little harder but not by much.

Answer 7

I think you should set good goals for yourself as you go. If there is a song you would like to learn chords with while you learn the theory and fingering rules for piano, that is a good idea. Give yourself time to learn. There is no time table, as long as you are doing what you want to do. If it gets frustrating, set shorter-term goals.

As long as you KNOW that things go a little slower when we are adults, there is no let-down.

Answer 8

No, it's never too late to learn anything. Yes, it probably is too late for you to become a world famous pianist. But it is never to late to start, so I'd go for it. There's plenty of people who are even in their fifties who start learning. Just remember to pick a teacher that matches your style, is good themself, etc. I know for me the major problem was my teacher demanded I played in her recitals...

Answer 9

no way! I play piano, tho i am younger then 19 but im sure if u put ur mind 2 it then u will b fine!

Answer 10

Yes it is!

You have to start by thirteen and at latest 14.3 yo, thereupon you shouldn't even consider it.

Everyone knows that.

What is with this question? Play to enjoy. For personal enjoyment.

My grandmother was on TV (Rove Live in Australia) in January for taking up Skydiving at 93 yo. Is 93 too old to take up skydiving?