Am I Too Old to Learn Piano?

Happy 2023! 😃I'll be releasing some new videos this year, so be sure to subscribe to the channel for updates!

Happy practicing!

-Allysia

[pambeals]

I’m an older learner (67)— brushing up on a latent skill learned as a child and neglected for decades. You are right about the music being more relaxing and emotionally gratifying now. Less pressure and no parental expectations. And no humiliating recitals! The inner child is just having a romp! Thank you for addressing the topic.

[wenjizeng]

the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. the 2nd best time is now.

[annelieetsebeth]

I started learning piano a while ago at age 37. At my first lesson the teacher asked what my goals were and I told her I wanted to play for my own enjoyment, but wanted to play WELL... not just mess around. 5 months later I sat my grade 1 exam and from there onwards I turned into a piano-monster. Fast forward 3 years and 7 months, I'll be sitting my grade 5 ABRSM exams next month and I love every moment of it, I even have 2 pre-grade 1 students and would love to teach as a career. Moral: if you have a passion for it, don't ask if it's possible, just believe it is!

[charleslaine]

I started teaching myself how to play the piano two years ago. I am now 53. I recently learned to play Bach's Invention #2 in C minor. It feels SO GOOD to be able to accomplish something like this. I can feel myself learning and growing. I am developing the ability to "see" the piano keys without looking down at them.

It's been fun. It's also been extremely challenging. But most of all, it has been and continues to be so very rewardinging. Here's my word to anyone reading this. Turn off the TV. Disconnect your social media. Get off Twitter and FaceBook. Turn off your addiction to "politics" and go learn to play the piano.

I am so glad I started this endeavor two years ago, and if anything, I regret not starting sooner.

[carlap]

Thank you for this! Started last September, I am 57. Loving playing, practicing, learning ... ALL of it.

[gottbean]

I'm 60 years old and I started 2 weeks ago. I am now almost half way through Alfred's All In One Book 1. As older people we need to be constantly challenged or the mind and body will start to falter from disuse. Thanks Alicia for having this channel.

[rickt]

I took up piano after I turned 65. I'm self-taught because I live in a rural area where teachers are pretty well confined to the school system. I use the ABRSM syllabus as a guideline for learning. If I had to guess I'd say I'm around grade 4 or 5 under that system. To me it was a matter of do I want to sit at home and watch the weather channel or game shows like other people my age or maybe do something creative. No brainer for me. So, Lang Lang and Val Lisitsa, don't worry. I'm not gonna catch up. However, the satisfaction I get from playing overshadows everything else. This is my favorite piano channel because it is so well rounded, i.e., technique, history, etc. Hope to be around playing for many more years.

[ancientsolar]

31 here. - my Piano story.
Started piano lessons at 21, although music always in the family and I used to mess around on the piano as a child not being able to read music then.

15months in I sat Grade 3
9months later, I sat grade 5
a year later I sat grade 7 ..
Then I burnt out. Music was an emotionally satisfying need for me. It was the first time I felt like I had achieved something in my life.
and it helped me through horrible situations in my life. -- deaths and support while I coped with those people with mental illness around me.

Within 6months of learning/playing, a pianist at our church died, after that, I was asked to play in the church every week, this fuelled the focus and the drive to read sheet music, to try and give the church the standard that the former pianist gave.
I ended up playing all throughout my country in churches by the time I had hit grade 7.
Performance opportunities gave me fire if not loads of nerves too. Christmas concerts, Easter and harvest festivals all fuelled my passion for learning repertoire.

2012 the year I crashed, - by this time I was also asked to be an accompanist by my teacher for his wife' violin students. I had already done one of these in 2011 which went well. but 2012.. I was exhausted and conflicted with a matter of faith regarding to play (Sabbath Issues SDA)
I did play, and it broke me, I played terribly and I was spiritually hurt. It was the beginning of the crash.

Following this, I still played, and played a couple of classical pieces in church, but my passion had been burnt out.
By September of 2012, I started studying music at A level, as a promise to my Nan who died a week later. But with little passion, and life and even depression starting to take a grip, of my life, I didn't do very well in study and attendance. I lost my old teacher because my Nan who died, was the paying for the lessons, (I was her carer)
The college offered a teacher, but I never really clicked with his style of teaching, but mostly, with little passion it's hard to learn anyway.

late 2012-2018 --- I still played for churches, not much passion, It had returned in semi committed phases, driven by the church who called upon me time and time again to play hymns. -- This lead to me playing for several funerals and a wedding, which went very well.
during 2017, I decided to start singing after watching a very good music film. so I recorded myself playing and singing, and a passion for music returned. Initially not the piano, but it came back.. and I gave the best new years singing performance in my church at new years event.

During late 2018, I went to Africa, Zambia, to see my girlfriend. the First time, They had me play the piano/(Keyboard) .. and the Zambians were inspired.

So 2019, I decided I would need a career if I ever moved to Zambia. and I am seeking that to be music, it makes perfect sense.
Music isn't very widespread in Africa as a whole, but it can be. So, in light of that, I decided to get my piano teacher back in February.
We are now working at grade 8 repertoire, he thinks i'll be ready by Christmas to take my grade 8 exam.
My passion has been restored, and I believe I can go higher than grade 8 in years to come.

I am interested in weddings, funerals, probably a good bit of group playing to get my accompanying skills developed, teaching and performances.
It will take time, but I believe I can achieve.


P.S
During practice sessions around grade 5, I was studying 4-8 hours a day, I wasn't very social, I was a carer.. I had plenty of hours in the week ..
May'be this was my downfall, I had spiralled out of control, practising lots but not the stamina for a whole piece... insecurities about playing on an old digital piano. accompanying was the biggest downfall I am sure.

2019 goals, - achieve grade 8, whatever piece I start, learn it thoroughly, seek performance opportunities & work on my general health.

[thewordofgod]

I'm 56 & started playing piano recently after a a long 30 year break ❤️☺️❤️

[starros]

Allysia, I am 80 years old. I started at 78 to dedicate myself to a dream to be a proficient piano player with composition and songwriting as my goal. this past year, I have gone from grade 2 to grade 3B. I do struggle with brain- hand- rhythm coordination, but I do believe I am doing well. You are right when you say it is frustrating for our knowledge can be greater than our ability to perform. But, I concentrate on small tasks and complete them before I move on. I do mix up my practice and selection of music to keep it interesting. But, I hope to share that it is not the goal so mush that is important, but it is the journey and the love of music that is. The joy you exude is a gift to us all. Thank you!

[susanwong]

Never too old to learn anything, the best time to learn is now!🙂

[KlavierKannNichtMehr]

really like your optimism and positive stance. I started 3 years ago at 68 and do have some arthritis too. I could not read music and now I am playing simple classical pieces from Bach Mozart Gurlitt and Franck, albeit at a slower pace than some younger players achieve. I agree with everything you say, it reflects my own experience. Coordination is slower, it takes more time, so patience is important, and as I have a long guitar background the time factor it takes can be frustrating. Expectation is the real problem: as adults we know so much music already - otherwise we would not be driven to learn an instrument. So the motivation is there - keeping is another time if you really want to advance. For example am I going for a walk with the dog, talking to the kids, cooking, washing, cleaning the appartment etc - priorities… Overall I am glad I have invested the time and effort, and today, at 71 I think: have I got another 15 yeara left, if so will I be able to play this or that - go for it, that is the answer.

[digitaljetset]

It is also possible to be really good even if you don't start to learn music when you are a kid. For instance, Ludvig Schytte started his music education at age 22, after getting a degree in pharmacy. When he was 36 he traveled to Germany to train with Liszt, and in the end he didn't create like a really massive amount of music literature, but he left some brilliant stuff to be honest.

[otterchen]

I've started with 54 and regeted no minute that i did that. Have lots of fun with classics and boogie woogie too. A good teacher helps a lot.

[nadinamedlin]

I'm 54 and began pursuing music several years ago on a Mountian Dulcimer. I also started piano this last Christmas to fulfill my long-time dream of learning it and to increase my understanding of music for my beloved dulcimers. I can attest that the act of playing and learning music can help one deal with stress, physical pain, depression, and even PTSD. Thank you for these videos! They often brighten my day and encourage me to keep going!

[Oturtlegirl]

Thank you, Allysia. Your straightforward explanation helped me know I'm not the only one who feels discouraged with my ineptitude. I'm 68, and trying so hard to just play something just one time without an error!! I'm self-taught and just learning piano, but now I feel better about my determination and less mad at myself for having no talent. Thanks again. Good job.

[Jenny_bell_key]

I am a guitar player who started at age 40. It is both incredibly enjoyable and sometimes frustrating. I haven’t been able to find a teacher for adults, so I’m going it alone and with youtube. My 7-year-old daughter is in her first year with a teacher, and I am amazed at how quickly she’s progressed.

[eduardoescarticarbonell]

Thanks for your video. I start learning at 69 and is a bit hard but I practice every day and slowly getting up. Thanks

[carlosvandersi]

I just discovered your channel as I am starting to learn piano at 50. I LOVE your videos!! Congratulations and thank you!! You seem to be a lovely lady and your insights are very helpful. Keep it up!!

[nia_average_artist]

I'm 14 and I honestly feel like I'm too old to be successful in anything you have to start a lot of things early but this gives me hope