Learning to play the piano

[Britishsummertime22]

I played piano until I was about 15. I've been given a keyboard and I'd like to learn how to play again but I dont know where to start! I can't read music anymore but want to teach myself. Any one got any tips or good YouTube people to follow etc? Thank you

It's tricky, because every pupil is different and has different tastes and leanings. You could try Piano with Isabella on YouTube

Do you still have all of your old piano books? My dd has started learning piano at school and surprisingly they use the same books I did 30 years ago! The Fanny Waterman series.

Sorry I can’t be of anymore help. All I’ve seen on instagram are people who share easy hacks for playing popular music. I’ll be following this post though as I’ve often thought about relearning the piano, I only got to grade one when I was a teenager.

There is a music channel on here that might have people who can help
Can you not afford sone lessons?

There’s a beginners book that I found helpful to get back into it. It’s called ‘your golden ears. First piano lessons for adult beginners.’

Try Musora. They post on Youtube & then you could pay to join the online group. The are lessons, tips, how to, songs, practice. They do live lessons & Q&As. Based in Canada but you can join from anywhere.

I went back to the piano after decades, and had only ever passed grade 2, so it was almost a case of starting again from scratch. I began with Carol Barratt’s course (classical) for adult beginners, which was very good, and carried on with all sorts of 2nd hand music from Amazon. I used a lot of old ABRSM exam books, esp if they came with a CD, so I could tell which pieces I liked enough to bother with!

I second Musora... and if you join (£23 a month) the whole programme is excellent.

I got back into playing after years away, and I found that starting slow with really simple sheet music helped my brain wake up again. I also used online piano lessons for adults, which let me go at my own pace without feeling daft. Little and often made the biggest difference for me, even ten minutes a day, and it all started to click again before I knew it.

I am a complete beginner and started keyboard lessons about 6 weeks ago.
I am in my 60s.
I bought a couple of beginner piano /keyboard books from Amazon and am also using the Simply Piano app online.
Really enjoying it!

I was given a digital full size piano for Christmas. I had lessons between 7 & 13 haven’t played since. Been doing training with Simply Piano online but might have a look at Musora

Are you having in person lessons or online? How are you finding it?

As far as the original question goes, I have found some of the content from Jazer Lee quite useful on YouTube. E.g. in terms of effective practice, developing good habits and technique, setting achievable goals etc. https://youtube.com/@jazerleepiano?si=rmUG4m9sxPzw5Itb

Pianote and Aaron Petit also seemed to have some useful videos but I haven't watched as much of their content.

As a fellow pianist who had lessons from 7-15years, I don’t think you’ll relearn it. Luckily I kept a piano and can still play, although lazily and my skill level, especially with reading music, has reduced over the decades.

Sad to say that it’s a million times harder to learn an instrument as an adult and I feel strongly that you’d need muscle memory now. I’m assuming you’re juggling work, kids, a busy life. Unless you’re extremely dedicated, I think it’s probably something you’ll start and stop very quickly.

Sad to say that it’s a million times harder to learn an instrument as an adult and I feel strongly that you’d need muscle memory now.

You're entitled to your view, but I strongly disagree and the evidence also disagreed with you. Adult learners have many advantages over children and the rest of your sentence is just nonsense too.

Of course your personal skill level has reduced if you only play lazily. That doesn't mean that adults couldn't possibly learn, develop or achieve an enjoyable playing standard.

Effective and realistic practice habits - and a constructive attitude - make a significant difference. You don't need to find hours each day or week. You'll make more progress from focused practice of 15-30 minutes each day because your brain consolidates the learning when you sleep between each practice session.

I initially re-learnt a different instrument as an adult and re-learning how to read music and the technique was much faster and less painful than learning it the first time as a child. I also understand it much better and have better skills for learning than as a child.

We've all missed the boat to become child prodigies and we probably won't be performing at the Royal Albert Hall, but that doesn't mean that learning or relearning is futile or impossible.

There were several reasons why I decided to learn.
I have been left with neuropathy( nerve damage) in my fingers and feet after treatment for breast cancer and I figured that using and stretching my fingers may help.
It's also good to challenge my brain and stay focussed.
I love singing and music and thought I would have a go!
I am using piano books by Ben Parker but I practise with the app every day as well.
I'm slowly progressing!

what miserable tosh.

lots of people learn as adults, you have the motivation for one thing.

of course things may be easier when you’re younger but things are also easier when you’re motivated.

you won’t do anything with a negative attitude and if you don’t try

It’s not about having a negative attitude, it’s realism. What’s the point in me lying?

Lessons are expensive and I know lots of adults who have tried to learn an instrument and zero got past the odd song or two before quitting because it’s like learning to drive; much harder as an adult and a huge finance and time investment.

Instruments are are like learning to play tennis. Reading music fast enough to play is bloody hard, of course people can pick up new hobbies, but music is different, adults are very unlikely to succeed.

I honestly think you will need a teacher, for at least a few years, to teach you to read music. It's a skill that can't be learned from an app, imo. Having lessons forces you to practice and perform and prove that you've been working at it.

Reading music and playing the piano is not easy, but well worth investing money and a lot of effort in. I speak as someone who could play at Grade 3/4 level when I gave up in my teens and didn't return to piano until I was in my 50s. I learn much slower now but my sight reading is good enough for me to teach myself Grade 6 pieces and I get a great deal of pleasure from it.

What do you think successful looks like?
They’re not looking to be a professional musician, they may not want to do grades. They want to play some music - have a go. It’s a great way to exercise your brain and an enjoyable way to pass the time. Yes it takes time, but how many people spend their time doom scrolling, on social media or zoning out in front of netflix.

My friend’s grandfather learnt mandarin and went off to china in his 70s, many of my friends learnt to drive in their late 30s and 40s, my grandmother learnt 3 new languages after the age of 50.

I learnt piano as an adult, and I have several friends who take music lessons in their 30s and 40s.

It really isn’t about ‘success,’ but about enjoyable, enriching hobbies. Of course you can try new things as an adult.

I relearned as an adult. Played up to the age of 15 and grade 5, then didn’t touch the piano again until I was 55. I had completely forgotten how to read music but some muscle memory was there. I used the simply piano app for about 3 months and then just bought some easy sheet music to work through. I’m not fantastic, no, but it’s satisfying to be able to play a song through.