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Original poster

Anyone learned to play the piano whilst an adult?

15 replies

meggmoo · 03/02/2006 14:23

My parents paid for lessons when I was tiny (about 5 or 6) I loved i and was a natural back then but unfortunately they had to stop as they couldn't afford it (cue violins)

Recently I have really wondered if I could get into learning to play. I'm always so envious if I see someone tinkling the ivories.

Just wanted to know if anyone here did? How much lessons are and if it was necessary to have a piano at home to practise.

OP posts:
Original poster
meggmoo · 03/02/2006 16:16

.

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GDG · 03/02/2006 16:18

Will watch with interest as, like you, I started to learn when younger but didn't do it for long and would LOVE to learn now. I have a piano and everything!!!

golds · 03/02/2006 16:20

I would love to learn to play too, my dd went for lessons a couple of years ago, but lost interest, I was hoping she could teach me. I paid £7 for 30 minutes, I don't know if that is standard or cheap

Original poster
meggmoo · 03/02/2006 16:20

Doesn't seem to be any takers as yet GDC

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spacedonkey · 03/02/2006 16:21

I had piano lessons when I was in my late teens (similar to you, I'd had lessons when I was tiny but stopped after a couple of years). I know of other people who've taken it up as an adult too. It's never too late. You would need a piano at home for practicing though. Not sure how much lessons are, around £20 an hour I would think?

Arabica · 03/02/2006 18:05

I'd love to play the piano too, as soon as we move somewhere that has room for one. I think you can learn at any age, if you put the practise hours in.

spacedonkey · 03/02/2006 18:06

For inspiration, read "Never Too Late" by John Holt. It's all about his experience of learning the cello when he was in his 50s (iirc). Brilliant book.

tortoiseshell · 03/02/2006 18:09

I charge £22 an hour. I do have a couple of adults, and they are very different to children to teach - on the one hand, more responsible about practice, but it definitely takes them longer to learn things. But I don't think that should be a reason to put you off at all. I do think you would need to have practice facilities at home tbh because it is the practice during the week that makes all the difference - even if you have a weekly lesson, it will be forgotten by the next week unless consolidated throughout the week. And as a busy person, the easiest way to practice is 10 mins here and there, especially as a beginner.

Hope that hasn't put you off - I would say go for it! Make sure you find a teacher who you click with - it can be crucial!

Original poster
meggmoo · 03/02/2006 18:28

Thankd SD what a lovely suggestion that book sounds wonderful.
Thanks TS will look into lessons when I can afford them.

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geekgrrl · 03/02/2006 18:40

meggmoo, I started when I was 26 and did grade 1 about six months later. I stopped after that as baby no.3 came along - really want to start again, but the kids will not let me use the piano Every time I sit down at it they're all over me and the piano.
Anyway, it can be done. I paid £10 for half an hour of tuition.

dexter · 03/02/2006 19:57

Meggmoo, GO FOR IT! I never learned as a childbut started to learn in my mid-twenties. Can't remember what my teacher charged, I'm afraid. However, I absolutely loved it and the buzz from suddenly being able to read music was amazing. I learned from complete beginner for around three years and took my grades 1 through four (distinction in 3 of them, ahem, modest cough.....) and started my pieces for grade five - pregnancy and birth of Ds and attendant money worries have put paid to lessons but I WILL go back. My target is to get up to grade 6.

You don't even have to do exams if you don't want to but I found they helped move me on that bit faster.

I now have the wonderful feeling of being able to sit down at the piano and just play for the pleasure of it, and I'm so glad I can. I'd say go for it, definitely.

I have to say you NEED a piano at home, because with piano it's all about practice. I think progress would be off puttingly slow if you didn't have one at home. I had a cheap one which did fine for the first year or so, but did invest in a better one as time went on - but this is way down the line.

I agree with geekgrrl, my son is too young to let me have any practice time at the moment, but gradually this will change and I'm determined to get back to it because I think having piano music tinkling in the background while I played is one of my most precious memories of childhood (my dad plays). I have a great love for the pieces he played and only have to hear them to feel nostialgic and fuzzy, and it has heightened my love of music. So it can't be a bad thing for our little ones either!!!!

Good luck!

Filyjonk · 03/02/2006 20:04

Can I just say that sd's book (never too late )is completely fantastic. It will inspire you, its very very honest and suprisingly funny.

Original poster
meggmoo · 03/02/2006 20:13

Oh lovely reading these posts has given my butterflies and hope for the future.
Thank you

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Original poster
meggmoo · 03/02/2006 20:14

my=me

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spacedonkey · 04/02/2006 09:52

ooh Filyjonk, another John Holt fan! He's one of my heroes

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