Is It Too Late To Learn Piano

Why It Is Never Too Late to Get-go

"I wish I had started before…" said my sis-in-constabulary sitting at her keyboard.

"Well, you've still got about 50 years to become." I replied with a grinning. She nodded and proudly told me virtually her recent progress. I was really surprised - if not to say shocked - when she told me which vocal she picked to start playing the pianoforte.

Only first, let me introduce my sister-in-law to you. She's in her thirties, a loving mom of two kids, and has never played an instrument in her life. If you placed sheet music in front of her, she wouldn't know where to beginning. What kind of song would you expect to exist her first i? "Mary Had a Petty Lamb", or maybe "Happy Birthday"?

At least that'south what I thought would exist appropriate. Merely my sister-in-law threw all traditional learning advice overboard. Her outset song was "Comptine d'une autre été" by Yann Tiersen. To me, this is everything merely a beginner song! Oh, and did I mention that she is teaching herself? She doesn't have the support of private lessons or a music school. Nope, the Internet is her instructor.

Man playing keyboard while looking at a notebook

But, against all odds: she'due south making splendid progress. I asked her why she chose such an avant-garde piece. She said, "I just Honey this song! And I'd honey to play it someday. Doesn't matter how long it volition take. I don't want to play different songs anyway." That's what I call dedication! Just goes to show how much a slap-up vocal tin motivate you.

Starting early isn't always an advantage

I was lucky enough to have parents who sent me to a pianoforte teacher when I was a kid. Unfortunately, the pieces I had to acquire during the first years weren't all that dainty. Because of this, I rarely felt motivated. Practicing was a struggle. I frequently just sat grumpily at my keyboard, sulking similar a toddler.

This all changed a few years later on, when I began to play pop songs and a few classical pieces that I idea were cool. But soon enough, puberty and other interests began to compete for my attention. Over my teenage years, I didn't improve much at all. Today, I'm still not that adept at playing the piano! Sure, I'thousand grateful I had the run a risk to learn an instrument as a kid. I'one thousand sure I benefitted from it in many dissimilar ways. But I'yard not certain if I'd have managed to play "Comptine d'une autre été" even during the best of times! That'south my piano learning story in a nutshell: First I wasn't motivated, and so I got distracted.

Every bit they say: all roads atomic number 82 to Rome. Starting early isn't the only path to mastering an musical instrument.

Your brain tin exercise it!

Of course, if you aspire to a career as a star pianist, you take to beginning early. If you want to play the piano because you want to play songs y'all've ever loved, y'all can kickoff anytime. There'due south no rush, no competition to win, no expectations to run across. It's just you lot and your piano. Trust me, instruments are patient companions and enjoy every minute you lot spend with them

I've met too many people who consider themselves besides old to get-go learning an musical instrument. Merely this simply isn't true. After all, our encephalon capable of learning new things at any point in our entire lives (it'southward called "brain plasticity", if you desire to dig deeper).

Hands on a retro keyboard

New encephalon connections may non develop as quickly in adults as they do in children. Simply this doesn't mean that our brains retire once we hit 18! Plus, as an adult, it's much easier for you to grasp abstract concepts like note and interpret them into mitt movements. So when it comes to comprehending music, it's an advantage to be older and wiser. Yous learn much faster past understanding, non by relying on trial and error.