As a piano teacher in White Plains, NY, I’ve seen many adults get excited about the possibility of learning how to play the piano. There’s a lot to look forward to -- playing songs for your friends, reading through classical scores every evening, sitting down and writing your own songs at the piano, and more. But how hard is it to reach that point?
The piano is one of the most difficult and rewarding instruments to learn; not only do you have to learn to read notes and translate them to the keys, but you have to do it with both hands at the same time. You’ll also have to learn to play with correct technique or you could face injuries in the future. The piano takes time and dedication, but with the right amount of practice, you can become a fluent pianist. Keep reading to learn more.
How Long Does It Take The Average Person To Learn The Piano?
Your First Six Months At The Piano
If you are new to the piano, we’ll lay a strong musical foundation during your first half year of lessons. You will learn the notes, learn the keys, and get comfortable with your posture and hand position at the keyboard. You will also be able to play some simple music with both hands, and you’ll learn a few scales as well. If you are very dedicated, you may end the first six months able to sight read simple music.
By The End Of Year One
If you’ve practiced consistently, you should have some simple pieces that you can share with friends or family at this point. You’ll know all of the notes and keys, and you will probably even recognize a few key signatures (theory is always incorporated into my lessons). You may also have achieved a sense of independence -- since you can read music, you’ll be able to find your own music and learn it outside of lessons.
By The End Of Year Two
Adults who can allot a significant amount of practice time to the piano may be able to play early intermediate piano repertoire by this point -- think of teaching pieces and simplified versions of popular classical works. You should also be able to play a popular tune along with simple accompanying chords off a lead sheet, if that has been an area of focus for you during lessons.
By The End Of Year Three
If you’ve continued taking lessons and practicing almost every day, you will now be nearing the level that you probably envisioned when you first enrolled in piano studies. You should be able to sit down and play intermediate repertoire musically and fluently (not sight reading -- this is literature that you’ve been practicing), and your sight reading level will have increased to late beginner level music. It’s unlikely that we’ll continue using any method books by this point -- books like Alfred, Faber, etc.
Year Four and Beyond
By your fourth year, your progress is really up to you. You can start increasing your speed capabilities and the difficulty level of your music if you are willing to practice, and you should be able to sight read early intermediate music. If you’ve been learning to play by ear and improvise during lessons, you might be getting to the point where you’re ready to share your gift with others!
Piano Progress Is Up To You
If you enroll in piano lessons and then practice for only a few minutes per week, you could go three years with hardly any progress. On the other hand, if you practice every day (and follow you teacher’s instructions), you could quickly out-class your peers. Remember that learning piano is like learning a language -- it takes consistent effort, and you just have to let time do its thing. Thirty minutes of practice per day is better than practicing 2 hours every Friday, for instance.
Steps For Learning The Piano As An Adult
What progression should you follow to learn the piano as an adult? Here are some benchmarks to shoot for, and remember, each item takes slow and consistent practice.
Learning the notes on the grand staff (bass clef and treble clef)
Learn proper posture and hand position
Learn the notes on the piano keyboard
Learn to sight read
Learn chords and scales
Learn to play melodies by ear and add chords as accompaniment
Learn the elements of musical notation (dynamic markings, articulations, and more)
Is It Ever Too Late To Learn Piano?
The short answer is no, it’s never too late to learn. You need to have realistic goals relative to the amount of time you can invest in the piano, but you can start playing at any stage in life. The progress a committed adult can make on the piano is incredible!
So Exactly How Hard Is Learning The Piano As An Adult?
Compared to many other so-called hobbies, the piano is an extremely difficult undertaking. It’s also one of the most rewarding pastimes you could pursue. And truthfully, you can start playing real music faster than on other instruments, like the violin, organ, oboe, or other challenging instruments. The best part is that the journey of learning to play the piano is just as exciting as the arrival point, and if you’d like to get started, please get in touch. I offer piano lessons in Westchester County, White Plains, and online, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
