Is learning the piano too late? Even with a history of music?

Question

I really want to master the piano. I've started at the age of 4 when my dad brought a piano and starting playing. I have a good ear for music. When my dad played something on the computer, after he'd walk away, I would find the right notes on the keyboard and play exactly what he could. This was at age 4. My dad start a band with me and my siblings and I was a piano player. I didn't do to well because I was taught what to play instead of mastering the keyboard. I was 9.
When I was 9 years old I joined chorus and band for school. I didn't continue with chorus because I didn't like it, but I loved band! I was a trumpet player and I became really good at it. One day on final exams, my teacher had us play scales from a book while reading it. I went and took the exam, played the scales without looking at the book! They were amazed! They thought that I had it memorized meanwhile I was just playing it by ear. Anyway, I havent done band in 3 years. I moved to a diff state were I coudlnt signup

Answer 1

No, its never too late, and since you already have a strong musical background you should be able to get really good providing you keep working on it. Have fun!

Answer 2

Ask yourself how you can turn your interest in music into something that helps you in all the other aspects of your life.
Music isn't much of a profession any more, so you just have to love doing it. If you love doing it you will do it well.

What you call 'playing by ear' is much more than that. You GET the ideas behind music. That's good, but don't neglect to learn the hard stuff; theory, reading scores, ensemble dynamics...

It's really important to play music with others. Young people, old people, play along with the tv (just don't drive your family nuts), play along with your favorite recording.

Listen. Listen to the people who are good, and who have been considered good for some time; whether it's Back, Clapton, Scott Joplin, Penderewski... you'll learn from every kind of music you listen to.

Avoid the rut of 'popular' music.

It's all good.

Have a great life playing music.

Answer 3

If you have a knack for being able to play music by ear, then you don't need to learn to read music. Otherwise, it would probably make things a lot easier down the road if you did take the time to learn. I tried to teach myself to play the piano when I was younger. Learning the keys is pretty easy. But the thing that really hurt me was the fact that I never took the time to learn to read music. So apart from playing very simple tunes that only required one hand to play, I wasn't able to accomplish much. So my advice is to go ahead and learn to read music. It'll probably allow you to learn piano faster than if you don't.

Answer 4

Your prior experience should help you tremendously if you do this. I never took any lessons and learned to play reasonably well by using...

BOOKS
* How to Play Popular Piano in 10 Easy Lessons - Norman Monath
* How To Play Piano Despite Years Of Lessons - Ward Cannel & Fred Marx

INTERNET
www.hearandplay.com
www.playpianotoday.com

EBooks
Rocket Piano

These along with other independent studies of theories helped me tremendously.

I know others will tell you a piano teacher is indispensable, and I will not argue that. I do not know. All I know is that I learned to play on my own, with a cheap digital keyboard. My desire to learn was so strong I would study, practice and play for hours on ends, even at 2, 3, or 4 in the mornings (of course with headphones). I was playing proficiently in less than 6 months and started playing events for a local non-profit religious association. This association requests my services three times a year for my service. I refuse payment but they always give me a free will offering which I donate to their cause. This has been going on for over ten years.

Best of luck to you…

PS - I could attempt to make money from this recommendation because I also sell products over the internet. But I am here to help others, not make a buck!

Answer 5

Do you mean going professionally? I doubt it if there is ever a "too late" stage, as long as you practice lots and lots!

Needless to say, learning things when you're young makes things easier to catch, but if you truly want to do well in piano, it shouldn't be a problem (:

Of course it also depends on what kind of music you want to play. Classical? Jazz?

Well, whatever it is, good luck with it!