To want to learn an instrument in my 30s?

[PandaAtTheZoo]

I have always wanted to learn to play the piano. But I grew up quite poor and my parents couldn't afford lessons and there was no online tutorials at the time. Could I learn now at the age of 32? Perhaps getting a cheap keyboard and finding some good online tutorials to try to see how I find it as a start? Setting aside 30 minutes a day to practice. Any of you learnt an instrument or a language as an adult? How did it go?

Of course YANBU. It’s never too late to improve yourself. I know a lot of people who took up extra instruments/languages once’s they were late twenties/thirties and had more time.

Also I have never learnt an instrument before and can't read music and know zero music theory.

It’s very easy to read music, you’ll pick it up quickly.

I've taken up two instruments in middle age and would go for a piano if I could fit one in my home. Go for it!

I learned the guitar in my 30s. Just bought one when I was 32 and learned the basics from YouTube. Also had some proper lessons. I’m never going to be Eric Clapton but I really enjoy it - something I did just for me

Go for it, OP!

I’m 45 and I’m currently learning an instrument and a new language. I doubt I will ever become the master of either, but I enjoy stealing a few minutes a day to learn something new. I’m mainly doing it because of personal interest, but I’m also motivated by keeping my mind sharp. I have a very mentally intense job so that helps, but I want to basically cross-train my brain. Dementia runs in the family. I figure keeping my brain as engaged as possible won’t hurt and might help.

I did it. You'll be crap at the beginning but you have to go through the being crap phase to get to the being ok phase, and then the being good phase.

Don't let the being crap phase put you off. Sometimes I would sit as I was playing and cringe at myself playing! It's worth pushing through it.

I think that to get anywhere, regular lessons from someone good and time to practice are key.

go for it....

however - if you can - get lessons, it will make a huge difference esp. in things like how you hold your hands etc. & don't buy a cheap keyboard unless there is no alternative - you want something with the correct feel of piano keys - either a piano / better quality keyboard

Do you think anyone is going to say yabu to this?

I really would recommend trying to find a teacher as it does help with piano technique - and you will be a better player faster if your technique is good. Also look at hiring a piano or a keyboard with weighted keys. Even in London you can hire an OK upright for £30 a month.

I also want to do this. Desperately. I think I'm going to go for it. DH wanted to buy me a keyboard for my birthday and I put him off. I think I'll let him for Christmas.

Of course you can!

DH took up an instrument at the age of 50 having never played anything before and not even being able to read music.

Over a decade on and he has passed several grade exams, including Grade 5 theory, and plays regularly in a local concert band.

I would recommend getting a teacher and going for proper lessons.

Definitely go for it! You will need a keyboard at least for practicing and I would recommend some actual in-person lessons rather than just online.

I am 40 and started piano lessons this year. It's never too late OP.
If you get a keyboard get a full size one with pressure sensitive keys so it's as close to the real thing as possible.
Try and get proper lessons if you can it really helps

I’ve seen news reports on a 101 year old woman abseiling down Spinnaker Tower and here you are wondering if you’re too old to learn to play an instrument! Blimey

Definitely! I would get a few lessons to get you started, as it means you start with a good technique. Also I would go with a decent tutor book over online tutorials. The online tutorials vary in quality so much and often lead to poor technique. (Have picked up a few pupils who’ve taught themselves from tutorials and without exception their technique was awful and they very quickly reached a ceiling on what they could achieve.) Something like Faber All in One adult piano or Bastien Adult piano would be a really good start.

I'm learning piano, from an app, on the digital piano I bought for DD9. I made sure to get one with a port so it can talk to a tablet via a USB cable, and I'm using the Joytunes "Simply Piano" app. (Also tried the "Flowkey" app, for which you get a three month free trial when you buy a Yamaha piano, but found aspects of it annoying, prefer "Simply PIano.")

The apps can theoretically work just by using the tablet microphone to listen to you play, but in my experience the extra reliability of a cable connection for sending MIDI data back and forth is essential.

I started the classical guitar at 49..two years ago. I love it, can now read music, and play every day! Go for it!

My DH is a music teacher. His adult students are his favourite because they are bringing real passion to their learning. Go for it.

I'm planning on learning guitar and piano once I'm not living in a houseshare with three pianists and a guitarist. I don't want them to listen to the horrific noise I'll make or offer to help. At the moment I'm learning Russian, French and BSL.

Imposter the good thing is that piano sounds lovely even at the beginning, unlike the sodding violin! Makes learning so rewarding

Of course you can learn! I started the Ukulele two years ago, restarted on the guitar a few months ago and will be learning to play the piano from January.

Hi
It is never too late to learn.
I cannot read music.
I bought a small harp and learnt to play it by ear, listening to tutorials on YouTube helped a lot.
I can play a few tunes now.

Go for it. Took up the sax at 54. So much enjoyment from it