Okay, so, let me preface this by saying I am *not* a pianist. Not even close. But I *am* someone who decided, on a whim, to learn the piano as an adult. And honestly, it’s been… a ride. A bumpy, sometimes frustrating, occasionally glorious ride. I thought I’d share my experiences, in case anyone else is contemplating taking the plunge. Maybe my struggles (and small victories!) can help you avoid some pitfalls, or at least know what you’re getting into.
The Spark: Why *Now* Learn Piano?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been drawn to the piano. The sound, the look of it, the sheer complexity – it all seemed so magical. I took a few lessons as a kid, but, like so many others, I quit. I think I was maybe 8? Recorders and piano lessons felt equally torturous at that age. Life got in the way, as it tends to do, and the dream of playing faded into the background. But then, last year, something shifted. I was listening to a piece of classical music – I think it was a Bach prelude, something relatively simple. And I just thought, “I want to play that.” I didn’t need to be a virtuoso. I just wanted to be able to sit down and make music. Was it a midlife crisis? Maybe. But it felt more like a rediscovery of something I’d always wanted. Plus, my neighbor was selling an old Yamaha keyboard for next to nothing. It felt like fate. Or, you know, a good deal.
First Steps: Digital or Acoustic? And Oh, So Many Apps!
The Yamaha was a digital keyboard, which, honestly, was perfect for a beginner like me. I didn’t have to worry about tuning (or the cost of tuning!), and I could plug in headphones so I wouldn’t drive my family crazy. The digital versus acoustic debate is a big one, I quickly discovered. I mean, purists will tell you that nothing beats the feel of an acoustic piano. And they’re probably right! But for someone just starting out, a digital keyboard is a great option. It’s quieter, cheaper, and often comes with built-in lessons and features.
Then came the apps. Oh, the apps! There are so many piano learning apps out there now. I tried a bunch of them: Simply Piano, Flowkey, Skoove… I even dipped my toes into the world of YouTube tutorials. Each one had its pros and cons. Some were great for learning to read music, others focused more on playing by ear. Some were gamified, which made practice feel less like a chore (at least for a little while). I ended up settling on a combination of Simply Piano and YouTube. Simply Piano was good for the basics, but I found YouTube helpful for learning specific pieces. Honestly, it was overwhelming at first. Who even knew where to start? Scale practice? Chord progressions? My head was spinning.
The Humbling Experience of Being a Beginner (Again)
Let me tell you, learning piano as an adult is a humbling experience. You’re used to being good at things. You’ve (hopefully) mastered some skills in your career, in your hobbies, in life in general. But then you sit down at the piano, and suddenly you’re a clumsy, uncoordinated toddler again. My fingers felt like sausages. I couldn’t coordinate my left hand and my right hand to save my life. And the worst part? I could hear exactly how bad I sounded. There was no hiding it. Ugh, what a mess!
I remember one particularly frustrating evening. I was trying to learn a simple piece – “Ode to Joy,” of all things. I mean, come on, how hard could that be? I spent hours struggling with it. My fingers kept tripping over each other. I kept hitting the wrong notes. I almost threw the keyboard out the window. Seriously, almost. I got so frustrated that I stopped practicing for a week. I just couldn’t face it. Was I the only one who felt like they were completely failing?
Finding My Groove (and My Patience)
But then, after that week of frustration, I decided to give it another shot. I lowered my expectations. I stopped trying to be perfect. I just focused on making a little bit of progress each day. And you know what? It worked. Slowly, gradually, I started to improve. My fingers became a little more nimble. My coordination got a little better. I even started to recognize some patterns in the music. It’s kind of like learning a new language, isn’t it?
I think the key was to be patient. Really, really patient. And to celebrate the small victories. Like the first time I played a scale without making any mistakes. Or the first time I managed to play a chord progression smoothly. Those little moments of progress kept me going, even when I felt like giving up. Plus, I started setting realistic goals. Instead of trying to learn a complicated piece, I would focus on mastering a single section. That made it feel less overwhelming.
The Bach Debacle (and Why I Still Haven’t Given Up)
Okay, so remember that Bach prelude that inspired me to learn the piano in the first place? Well, I’m still working on it. I can play parts of it, sort of. It’s definitely not performance-ready. It’s… a work in progress, let’s say. I even attempted to record myself playing it once. Big mistake. The recording was so awful that I deleted it immediately. I mean, it sounded like a cat walking across the keyboard. Seriously.
But here’s the thing: I haven’t given up. I still sit down at the piano every day, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. And I’m still making progress, slowly but surely. Funny thing is, I’ve started to enjoy the process more than the end result. It’s not about becoming a concert pianist. It’s about the joy of making music, the challenge of learning something new, and the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles.
My Biggest Mistakes (So You Don’t Have to Make Them!)
Looking back, I definitely made some mistakes along the way. Here are a few things I wish I had done differently:
- Started with a teacher sooner: I tried to be self-taught for a while, but honestly, a teacher can make a huge difference. They can correct your technique, give you personalized feedback, and keep you motivated. I eventually found a teacher, and it was a game-changer.
- Focused on technique from the beginning: I was so eager to start playing songs that I neglected the basics of technique. Bad habits are hard to break! Now I have to consciously correct my posture, hand position, and finger movements. Start right from the beginning!
- Practiced consistently: Consistency is key. Even if you only have 15 minutes a day, try to practice every day. It’s better to practice a little bit every day than to cram for hours on the weekend. I learned that the hard way.
- Been more patient: I know I already mentioned patience, but it’s worth repeating. Learning piano takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep practicing, and you’ll get there eventually.
Is Learning Piano as an Adult Worth It? (Spoiler Alert: Yes!)
So, is learning piano as an adult worth it? Absolutely, 100%, yes! It’s challenging, frustrating, and sometimes downright painful. But it’s also incredibly rewarding. It’s a great way to exercise your brain, to express yourself creatively, and to connect with music in a deeper way. I mean, who knows what’s next? Maybe I’ll actually learn that Bach prelude someday. Or maybe I’ll just keep stumbling through it, enjoying the journey along the way. Either way, I’m glad I took the plunge.
And if you’re thinking about learning piano, I encourage you to do it! Don’t be intimidated by the challenge. Just start small, be patient, and have fun. You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve. If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into finding a local piano teacher. Or maybe look into which online courses are trending right now. Just start!
