piano pros, please answer.?

Question

for all the piano pros, how did u start off playing the piano? is it ever too late to start playing and does it matter if ur family members are musicians because none of my family members are. anyways, i've been trying to play the piano for about a year now and haven't really much improved. why is this so hard for me??

Answer 1

I started off listening to my mom teach her students at home. Then I asked for lessons and started proper training at 4. It's never too late to start playing any instrument if you just want to enjoy it and not become a professional concert pianist (how many people, even those who started early, get to be concert pianists anyway?). And it doesn't matter if your family are musicians or not, because if you have to ability to play, you will be able to play. Of course genes may play some part in the amount of natural talent you have, but as the saying goes "Sucess is 99% hardwork and 1% talent". And if your family has musicians, it's usually easier for you to gain their support and progress faster to a certain extent because you're surrounded by music all day (environmental factors). But then again, I know of some really good pianists my age who are the only musicians in their families.

Learning the piano may be hard for you perhaps because of your natural tendencies? I don't think it's because you have no interest, because it's obvious that you want to do well - if not you wouldn't be asking this question. But seldom does anyone see much great progress within the first year of learning any musical instruments anyway, unless they're naturally gifted or are prodigies. It may also be because you don't understand what your teacher is trying to teach you (if you have one), or you may be trying to learn on your own (which is always harder than if you take lessons). Or it might be your practice techniques - i.e. you aren't practising efficiently. I always think that quality matters more than quantity. You can sit at the piano for 10 hours a day, but if you're not practising smart, you won't make much progress. Instead of trying to plough right on, step back for a moment and look at/think of what your problems may be. Is it because of yourself, your teacher, those around you, who (or what)? Pinpointing problems may not be easy, but it certainly helps. Once you know it, you can start taking steps to solve it. Take however much time you need to figure it out, while at the same time continuing with the learning (though of course, without hitting yourself over the head for not progressing as fast as you want to or think you should).

Keep hanging in there, you'll see the fruits of your labour one day. Never give up on anything because it's 'too hard'. Good luck and all the best!

Answer 2

A graduate student under the direction of Benjamin Bloom sent out a questionnaire to concert pianists, asking them the same question. He found that most of them started taking lessons at a very young age. Their first teacher was a sweet woman who loved kids but did not have qualifications as professional musician.

Once the sweet woman's knowledge of music was depleted, the child was switched to a teacher with professional qualifications as a musician, but perhaps less patience for children. By this time, the child's interest was established to the point that there was no danger of the child quitting if the professional teacher threw a Toscanini tantrum.

Don't give up, though. You can do it. I have heard of an adult piano student who at first could not read a note of music. He took lessons and practiced 5 hours a day--from the time he got home from work until bedtime. After a while, he could play ferociously difficult piano solos which I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.

Answer 3

It is never too late for a person who wants to learn the piano but I would strongly suggest lessons.
I was a piano prodigy at 5,had loads of talent but eventually burned out with too much practice.Also I had no family members like you who were musicians.
It also helps if you have a good ear for music.You might even try another instrument if you feel the piano is too hard for you.To become very good takes years of practice.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

It is hard for most of us, I'm afraid. The only way to progress is to practice (a lot) and have the help of a good teacher. There are NO short cuts. The difficulty depends on the piece of music you are trying to play. How difficult piano is, depends on your aspirations.

Answer 6

Are you having lessons ? How often a day do you practise ? Do you practise regularly ?

If you already have a teacher then you might consider changing to another.
If you are really keen then you should practise for at LEAST two hours every day ; one hour in the morning and another in the evening.
The fact that nobody else in your family is a musician is irrelevant.

Come on......give it another go ; you age has nothing to do with it.