How long does it really take 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

[bliss]

My aunt passed away in February. She was 82 and was a piano teacher for twenty-one years since she retired from her office job at 60. But she did not start learning piano until she was 55. By 61 she had her Teaching Diploma from ABRSM and set up her own private piano lessons studio from her home. She loved her life as a piano teacher and always said she was living the best days of her life. On the day she died she gave two lessons in the morning, then went for her midday nap and just never woke up. She taught me that it's never too late to do anything in life. Age is just a number. Whatever you'd love to do just go for it. Life is for living.

[SuicidialDolphin]

8-10 years!?! I got lets go ladies and I got time.

[ChelseaH]

Once you choose your instrument, it should be something you plan to play and master your whole life. It really is a lifestyle.

[PianotvNet]

Unpopular opinions galore!  But if time is going to pass anyway, might as well spend it developing a fun life skill.

[vincentneale]

I started to learn to play the piano when I was eight years old - I`m now 76 years old and Im still learning something new every day - I got my Fellowship (Concert performance level) when I was 17.

[KevinLearnsMusic]

It is so weird that I'm hearing "8-10 years" and not feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, despite being in my first year. After all, if we have a few decades to live, and you "only" need to dedicate one of them to get to play the most difficult pieces, that doesn't sound that scary. Don't get me wrong, it's a commitment, but if only a few years are needed for a lifetime of enjoyment, it sounds totally worth it. Also, you won't stop learning after those 10 years, so think of where your piano skills will be a decade after the time where you got to that master level: you will still have improved, while enjoying playing. Those basic skills will never leave us, so by accepting and embracing those few first years of initial struggle, we're set for life! 💪Thanks Allysia.

[sarahp]

I can confirm that it takes a while to master piano. I started when I was about 5 or 6. I'm 15 now and I just passed my grade 8 rcm exam. That being said, it's never too late to start learning.

[nainadhaliwal]

I play violin but I loved how kind your answers were

[kathym.]

Thank you for this encouragement. I just started playing about five months ago at age 56. This news is quite a relief as I felt like I should be more advanced by now. Hopefully I have ten years of life left to master; learning to play gives me immense joy. I’m enjoying the journey.

[alexlei]

I've played classical piano for nearly 11 years at this point, and to any skeptic, this is pretty spot-on. It takes many years to build up technique and music-reading, and I personally call that part of development "the time when you aren't playing the good pieces." I wouldn't say 8-10 years marks the point where you've "learned" piano, as opposed to it being the point in time with the most significant changes.

I never really began appreciating my talent in classical music until my 8th year, where I played a valse by Chopin and Arabesque No. 2 by Debussy. I never truly worked and practiced for my music until my 10th year, where I played Transcendental Etude No. 11 by Liszt and Reflections in the Water by Debussy. The 8-10th year of my practice was probably the most significant part of my learning piano. The pieces, the skill requirement, the emotional expression, all sharply curve upwards in difficulty. You can start playing and understanding the essence of classical music.

Building off of the video though, during or directly after these 8-10 years, my piano teacher explained it as arriving at a threshold. She said there are two paths to take: to take piano to an even higher degree of expression, bordering on or becoming professional, or to level out and be satisfied with having intermediate-to-advanced skills. As one who is still learning and competing, I can safely say the former option is very difficult. There are so many things I suddenly find lacking in myself now when I play my Chopin Ballade No. 1. What you thought was passable is now disappointing and sloppy. What you thought could be performed now sounds amateurish and incomplete. The key to improvement: have a REALLY good piano teacher. They keep you from giving up, constantly pushing you, constantly putting subsequent expectations over your head, and you're gonna appreciate it.

This path I've undertaken is still uncharted territory. I only set foot in it last year, and it's like I'm a child again in terms of skill. It's a whole different league. I do hope that this work I've only just began putting in can push past this point, similar to "the time when you aren't playing the good pieces, " and I can reach another threshold within the next decade. I need a break XD

[diaspiano]

why did I take so long to find your channel!??

[annaatthepiano]

I started playing piano 3 month ago. Since then, I have been practising min 2 hours daily and I'm still taking baby steps. However, my learning skills are improving I'm learning much faster then 2 month ago. I've found sight-reading very helpful, accelerate the learning process and improves accuracy. ... And I nearly forgot, youtube teachers helped a lot, (thank you!) but essential to have an excellent teacher, who constantly challenges and supports you also who believes in you, who believes that you able to play it!

[Keodo]

Just randomly stumbled on this video and I don't play piano. But I just wanted to say that you seem to have a fun personality :)

[DesertRat]

I'm in my 60s and I can tell I don't learn and remember things as quickly and as well as I did when I was in my 20s. So I figure 4 years for me before I will be able to routinely "flash" (rock climbing term) a simple piece of music like Christmas carols. But it's fun to try! I'm working parts of my brain that my engineering education and career never did. I don't know how people read and play two clefs at the same time. But I hope to some day!

[melissarey]

Always learning everything you do. =) I've been playing flute, knitting, crocheting, sewing, working on cars blah blah blah for 20+ years. I learn something new all the time.
Thank you for emphasis on reading music. It is so important for any instrument.

[officialWWM]

I've only been playing for 2 weeks and can already play Imagine by john Lennon and Easy by The Commodores. I think it depends on the style you want to play. I just want to play pop and rock and that doesn't seem so hard. I've been a guitar player for 30 years and I think this has helped a lot with some hand independence and understanding chords. I could see it taking a lot longer without that grounding. Thing is, if you want to get good faster, you simply have to practice more. I do at least 2 hours every day, sometimes more.
Your comment about it taking years and learning to read music assumes everyone wants to become a master classical pianist and that couldn't be further away from what I want! Most pop songs are only 4 chords and you can be up and rockin on those in no time!

[MrMarci]

Didnt realize how much i improved after a year of playing before i looked at some really early sheets my teacher gave me :D

The improvments are very faint and you cant really feel it, until you look at a longer time period.
Also it helps me improve my patience because im not very good at that :P

[epiczeven]

There are no shortcuts... the "prodigy" kids, played 6-8 hours a day for many years. Over 20.000, 30.000 or more hours!

[peterjmaida]

Thank you for your honesty. That makes you an awesome teacher. Thumbs up 👍

[CObAlTtTttt]

I can’t tell how much I love you as well as your contents