What you said is a reason I am following you. You speak simply and straight forward. I am 86 and have just begun to learn piano. Sure some of the exercises are tedious and often the old fingers don’t want to obey. But at my age I have learned to enjoy even small progress.
And don't let others (gatekeepers!) put you off. Own your practice, and be proud of what you've learned so far. Something I tell myself,( and I am somewhere between beginner/intermediate,) is: once, I could not play at all, and I could not read music. And now I can, however limited. And I will improve, however long it takes.
I truly gave up before l started. My husband, son and 2 daughters play well. At the age of 5 was being taught piano and a life tragedy happened and l never had the opportunity again. At 55 soon to be 56. I’m starting fresh. I thought l was too old to learn. Seeing all the comments from so many even some older than me has truly encouraged me to give it another go. Thank you for posting this today. I really needed this.❤
Hi Susan, discovered your channel last night and have been binge watching! Yours is one of the most helpful, informative and encouraging. Being an adult beginner who started 3 months ago from scratch in Korea, let me share one more reason which I think people like me quit in the early stages of the journey. I see many of them treat this like something they can shortcut with least effort. I personally call this "trophy attitude". Obviously they, including me, hope they can play the instrument pretty well someday. But it doesn't necessarily mean this long learning journey is only subject to that "trophy". We should be able to enjoy this journey, every tiny step and improvement we make every single day. And that everyday improvement is a trophy in its own right! I practice everyday, and I clearly see and perceive I am better than yesterday. Learning to play the piano is brutally honest. You practice, you improve. You don't, you don't. Nothing motivates me more than that I CAN improve day by day. Sorry about this long post, but I wanted to emphasize that we adult beginners should treat this journey as rewarding as it is. Thanks Susan for sharing your insights again. Yours is now my favourite piano UA-cam.🎉
I am an adult learner for most of my life. This is the most beautiful positive talk I have ever heard. All of us adult piano beginners need to hear this. You have done a wonderful thing with this video. Thank-you.
Hello Susan, thank you so much for motivating us adult beginners. I am 63 yrs old, my piano journey started 3 months ago and I am more motivated than ever to continue learning to play this beautiful instrument. I will NEVER give up. 😁
I agree wholeheartedly! I have found this journey is great fun, as long as I stop chastising myself. And I make better progress when having fun. It is work, but fun work. I’m 68 and detest being stagnant. Learning piano is joyous. Thank you for these posts and for your online course.
I’m definitely not a beginner and am quite proud of the progress I have made when I returned to the piano as an adult. But of course, I always want to play more beautifully. My daughter commented one time “ok mom, I understand that it’s not exactly the way you want to play it, but it’s really nice to listen to.”
Thanks for making this video. I started learning piano a year ago at 54. I wholeheartedly agree with you. I shake my head every time UA-cam shows me an ad of someone who claims you could play 1000 songs in a month. It's is outright fraud to make people believe that such a thing is possible. But one thing I have come to realize, is that first and foremost, in order to "stick with it" beyond a few weeks or months, you have to love the sound of the instrument, even when you do simple things. The Piano is a marvel in that respect. Eg you can improvise using a constant monotone rhythm in your left hand, and a few notes in the right, and make some wonderful sounds if you learn some basic theory, and this requires very little left-right hand coordination. Not every instrument is like this. Anyway, the love of the sounds it makes is what makes me interested in going back to it without feeling like I have to push myself. Instead I feel pulled to it. But if you sit down and do a couple chords and don't love the sound, I don't think you will last, regardless of realistic expectations about progress etc. Because it takes a *lot* of practice for your fingers to build muscle memory, for your brain to remember what notes make sense together or in sequence, how to read music... it is a journey really! There is no end in sight, there is no destination, every day is one more step in a never ending journey of discovery. My daily goal is to discover *something* about what I can do, at my level, on that instrument. Whether it is a Hannon exercise, the chords of a minor scale, a jazz progression, exploring inversions, the list of possibilities is endless. The piano is a marvel of engineering, no doubt, and I wish I had continued when I was 8. But, better late than never, as they say :)
Lovely summary of what I’ve been discovering myself for the past couple of years. I’m slow, but I’m trying to really appreciate remembering my scales or doing a trill nicely. Every little improvement counts!
Thank you for that. I try to temper my frustration with my tangled fingers with how much more musical knowledge I have now that I am learning an instrument where more than one note can be played at a time. When singing all those chords are the accompanist’s problem, and it’s fun to learn how chords work.
That and also piano practice is a Grind.I learned to play tennis and it took me 10 plus years to build and refine my skills to where I can hit with abandon all the shots. What kept me practicing every day, while losing to much less skilled players than me, the love for the game. I remember when it finally "clicked" after months, years of frustration, my forehand shot for example. It happened in a instant. Same for all my other shots like the serve and backhand and volleys. Anything this complex like piano and tennis and everything worth doing needs to be loved otherwise the daily grind to master it will drive us away from it.
Love this! Sports, music, and any other skill-based activity require the same sort of grit. You're absolutely right - it IS a grind, but it's the grind that I love!
This is why i support this channel. Straight, to the point and no huppy-puppy coddling up stuff. Everything else is basically: "Here's a 2 week BEGINNER course after which you will be able to play bach's prelude in G minor 🥰" Like NOPE, that's never gonna happen. Practice like that and 100% of us will give up after a month or two. My prof's been playing for over 30 years and she still gets stuff wrong/out-synced...that's just how ANY art-form goes.
Thank you, Thank you. Your video and your conversation was very timely, I really needed this today. How did you know ??? As a senior adult beginner, I had all the apprehension and doubt, then I found I could actually learn some basic piano playing skills ----=then I reached "the wall" where new skills and progress became more challenging, and slow, and difficult to the point of THINKING I did not have the talent for playing piano. Then here arrives you video----thank you again. (did I say "thank you" enough ) I look forward to seeing more of you. JERRY G
Jerry, thank you for your message! That darn "wall" exists everywhere, but it feels so good when you're finally able to jump over it (or smash it to pieces, whatever your style is 😁). Best wishes as you move FORWARD! 🎵
I'm playing at a level 7 now and while I know that's pretty good for only 3 years, it's always funny to see a 6 year old playing a piece I'm learning :) Darn those child prodigies ... lol
Before I started, I already accepted the fact that I might never be able to play Chopin, Rach or Listz unless I only practice that one song which I believe would impede my growth. There is a lot of other playable songs that are simpler and yet beautiful out there. That means I could possibly learn 80% percent of the songs out there leaving some of the more niche one. 80%! that's a pretty good passing grade. Especially with a busy life.
The problem is definitely multi-faceted, this is one part of it. Sometimes I wonder if I hadn't started playing keys at age 19, if I would start now, from zero. The answer is maybe not, but probably also because other aspects would be missing: esp. the social aspect of it. When I started back then, I went to a music school (for modern keyboards) and also had other friends who were already playing or were beginning musical instruments. I don't think it would be the same today (even with social media support).
Very true. I took piano lessons as a kid. I really do want to get back into it. So, I am trying to refer back to my old piano books to see if I remember my finger positions on the piano. And if I remember how to read music etc.. I am trying to recollect whatever in piano I learnt for 7 years as a kid. My primary instrument is voice. And singing is my primary thing. Piano is secondary for me. So, I know that I won't be nearly as good with my piano skills as my voice skillsvor singing skills. But, I am trying to recollect. I am going slow and trying to remember how to play scales and then work my way up to play some simple songs on the piano
I quit taking lessons because I don’t agree with how piano is approached and taught. I was spending a year per RCM level, learning how to recite 5 pieces of music for a practical exam. There was disproportionately little time spent on reading/sight-reading. It was the equivalent of little Johnny in grade 4 spending all his time trying to recite five speeches from memory for an exam at the end of the year, but struggling with fluent sight-reading at a grade 1 or even Kindergarten level.
Teaching and learning piano is approached from many different angles because people enjoy and thrive at learning in different ways. I hope you'll consider finding a new approach to the piano that suits your learning style!
So why is it Ego? Let me elaborate on why I think it would be ego... I think people have this idea that is planted in there head that if you are a musician you will be praised; a rockstar... I sometimes feel like the world has done something unhealthy with music; I guess it's ok to want to be complimented but anytime I have started dreaming about being a rock star or people praising me it just gets in the way of my creativity. like Susan said its about growth. As I age I think it will be good to continue learning to keep my mind Sharpe, but there's another component it's very healing for our souls and I desire intamacy and relationships; and music is something I have a relationship with and it makes me a better person. If your just learning to get attention or praise from people acknowledge that; Ego/praise? It's the surface; there is much more depth to music then Ego and praise. You are Loved, let music Love you.
As an adult you don't get the encouragement we give children. Everyone just expects you to play well as if you've been playing all of your life. Nobody cares if you can play Jingle Bells or any other tune from Alfred or Faber. We live in a global society so you get compared to Elton John, and Billy Joel and every other professional player. Kids on UA-cam after one year play better than me after seven years. This is why I loved going to school especially taking the classes that had tests every week. I was always getting positive feedback and felt good about myself. With piano, without a teacher, there is no feedback. You exist in a vacuum. "For many a flower is born to blush unseen, for many a pianist is born to play unheard."
This is absolutely correct! I got a healthy dose of encouragement and positive affirmation every week at my private lessons growing up. Adults don't get that! But I suppose one could try to come up with a reward system. Still...not the same.
What you said is a reason I am following you. You speak simply and straight forward. I am 86 and have just begun to learn piano. Sure some of the exercises are tedious and often the old fingers don’t want to obey. But at my age I have learned to enjoy even small progress.
@harrok38, you are a wonderful example for those who are growing up, it's nice to read what you wrote.
And don't let others (gatekeepers!) put you off. Own your practice, and be proud of what you've learned so far. Something I tell myself,( and I am somewhere between beginner/intermediate,) is: once, I could not play at all, and I could not read music. And now I can, however limited. And I will improve, however long it takes.
100%!
I truly gave up before l started. My husband, son and 2 daughters play well.
At the age of 5 was being taught piano and a life tragedy happened and l never had the opportunity again. At 55 soon to be 56.
I’m starting fresh. I thought l was too old to learn. Seeing all the comments from so many even some older than me has truly encouraged me to give it another go. Thank you for posting this today. I really needed this.❤
❤ I am so happy for you. ❤
Just wait, in a few years you will have a blast -- and you won't remember how challenging it once was.
Hi Susan, discovered your channel last night and have been binge watching! Yours is one of the most helpful, informative and encouraging.
Being an adult beginner who started 3 months ago from scratch in Korea, let me share one more reason which I think people like me quit in the early stages of the journey. I see many of them treat this like something they can shortcut with least effort. I personally call this "trophy attitude". Obviously they, including me, hope they can play the instrument pretty well someday. But it doesn't necessarily mean this long learning journey is only subject to that "trophy". We should be able to enjoy this journey, every tiny step and improvement we make every single day. And that everyday improvement is a trophy in its own right! I practice everyday, and I clearly see and perceive I am better than yesterday. Learning to play the piano is brutally honest. You practice, you improve. You don't, you don't. Nothing motivates me more than that I CAN improve day by day.
Sorry about this long post, but I wanted to emphasize that we adult beginners should treat this journey as rewarding as it is.
Thanks Susan for sharing your insights again. Yours is now my favourite piano UA-cam.🎉
“If you give up today, it means your struggle yesterday was for nothing.”Don’t give up, people!!!
I am an adult learner for most of my life. This is the most beautiful positive talk I have ever heard. All of us adult piano beginners need to hear this. You have done a wonderful thing with this video. Thank-you.
Hello Susan, thank you so much for motivating us adult beginners. I am 63 yrs old, my piano journey started 3 months ago and I am more motivated than ever to continue learning to play this beautiful instrument. I will NEVER give up. 😁
I agree wholeheartedly! I have found this journey is great fun, as long as I stop chastising myself. And I make better progress when having fun. It is work, but fun work. I’m 68 and detest being stagnant. Learning piano is joyous. Thank you for these posts and for your online course.
❤️ I wholeheartedly agree, learning piano is joyous!
Thanks for taking the time to say this. What an important reminder and well stated. 61 and only 3 mos. in.
I’m definitely not a beginner and am quite proud of the progress I have made when I returned to the piano as an adult. But of course, I always want to play more beautifully. My daughter commented one time “ok mom, I understand that it’s not exactly the way you want to play it, but it’s really nice to listen to.”
That's so sweet 🥰
Thanks for the insight. It's easy to get discouraged when you play badly (as compared to a more experienced player.)
i went and practiced before i watched
I like how, when, and why, you raised those Red Flags!
😉
Thanks for making this video. I started learning piano a year ago at 54. I wholeheartedly agree with you. I shake my head every time UA-cam shows me an ad of someone who claims you could play 1000 songs in a month. It's is outright fraud to make people believe that such a thing is possible.
But one thing I have come to realize, is that first and foremost, in order to "stick with it" beyond a few weeks or months, you have to love the sound of the instrument, even when you do simple things.
The Piano is a marvel in that respect. Eg you can improvise using a constant monotone rhythm in your left hand, and a few notes in the right, and make some wonderful sounds if you learn some basic theory, and this requires very little left-right hand coordination. Not every instrument is like this.
Anyway, the love of the sounds it makes is what makes me interested in going back to it without feeling like I have to push myself. Instead I feel pulled to it. But if you sit down and do a couple chords and don't love the sound, I don't think you will last, regardless of realistic expectations about progress etc. Because it takes a *lot* of practice for your fingers to build muscle memory, for your brain to remember what notes make sense together or in sequence, how to read music... it is a journey really! There is no end in sight, there is no destination, every day is one more step in a never ending journey of discovery.
My daily goal is to discover *something* about what I can do, at my level, on that instrument. Whether it is a Hannon exercise, the chords of a minor scale, a jazz progression, exploring inversions, the list of possibilities is endless. The piano is a marvel of engineering, no doubt, and I wish I had continued when I was 8. But, better late than never, as they say :)
Wonderfully expressed and inspiring! Deepest thanks
Lovely summary of what I’ve been discovering myself for the past couple of years. I’m slow, but I’m trying to really appreciate remembering my scales or doing a trill nicely. Every little improvement counts!
Thank you for that. I try to temper my frustration with my tangled fingers with how much more musical knowledge I have now that I am learning an instrument where more than one note can be played at a time. When singing all those chords are the accompanist’s problem, and it’s fun to learn how chords work.
That and also piano practice is a Grind.I learned to play tennis and it took me 10 plus years to build and refine my skills to where I can hit with abandon all the shots. What kept me practicing every day, while losing to much less skilled players than me, the love for the game. I remember when it finally "clicked" after months, years of frustration, my forehand shot for example. It happened in a instant. Same for all my other shots like the serve and backhand and volleys. Anything this complex like piano and tennis and everything worth doing needs to be loved otherwise the daily grind to master it will drive us away from it.
Love this! Sports, music, and any other skill-based activity require the same sort of grit. You're absolutely right - it IS a grind, but it's the grind that I love!
Nicely said👍🏻
This is why i support this channel. Straight, to the point and no huppy-puppy coddling up stuff. Everything else is basically: "Here's a 2 week BEGINNER course after which you will be able to play bach's prelude in G minor 🥰"
Like NOPE, that's never gonna happen. Practice like that and 100% of us will give up after a month or two. My prof's been playing for over 30 years and she still gets stuff wrong/out-synced...that's just how ANY art-form goes.
100%
I'm Sorry.
I'm not quitting. I'm just taking a break. :(
Thank you, Thank you.
Your video and your conversation was very timely, I really needed this today. How did you know ???
As a senior adult beginner, I had all the apprehension and doubt, then I found I could actually learn some basic piano playing skills
----=then I reached "the wall" where new skills and progress became more challenging, and slow, and difficult to the point of THINKING I
did not have the talent for playing piano.
Then here arrives you video----thank you again. (did I say "thank you" enough )
I look forward to seeing more of you.
JERRY G
Jerry, thank you for your message! That darn "wall" exists everywhere, but it feels so good when you're finally able to jump over it (or smash it to pieces, whatever your style is 😁). Best wishes as you move FORWARD! 🎵
Fantastic comments and explanation. Thank you so much.
I'm playing at a level 7 now and while I know that's pretty good for only 3 years, it's always funny to see a 6 year old playing a piece I'm learning :) Darn those child prodigies ... lol
😆 Seriously! I didn't even know 3 years old could grip a sandwich, let alone play a Bach fugue.
Before I started, I already accepted the fact that I might never be able to play Chopin, Rach or Listz unless I only practice that one song which I believe would impede my growth. There is a lot of other playable songs that are simpler and yet beautiful out there. That means I could possibly learn 80% percent of the songs out there leaving some of the more niche one. 80%! that's a pretty good passing grade. Especially with a busy life.
I needed this thank you. I’m a new subscriber because you’re a great teacher. Thank you
Thank you for subscribing ❤️ Best wishes on your piano journey!
Thank you. This helped 😊
The problem is definitely multi-faceted, this is one part of it. Sometimes I wonder if I hadn't started playing keys at age 19, if I would start now, from zero. The answer is maybe not, but probably also because other aspects would be missing: esp. the social aspect of it. When I started back then, I went to a music school (for modern keyboards) and also had other friends who were already playing or were beginning musical instruments. I don't think it would be the same today (even with social media support).
100%! The social aspect is very important to most people. It definitely kept me going when I felt like quitting.
Very true. I took piano lessons as a kid. I really do want to get back into it. So, I am trying to refer back to my old piano books to see if I remember my finger positions on the piano. And if I remember how to read music etc.. I am trying to recollect whatever in piano I learnt for 7 years as a kid.
My primary instrument is voice. And singing is my primary thing. Piano is secondary for me. So, I know that I won't be nearly as good with my piano skills as my voice skillsvor singing skills. But, I am trying to recollect. I am going slow and trying to remember how to play scales and then work my way up to play some simple songs on the piano
It's such a handy skills to have as a singer. Good luck!
Great reminders, thank you!
So true 🎹🩷especially not knowing where to start 🤦♀️
If you can afford 40$ per month, start online her course - pianoroadmap. Very good.
You're the best 💗
Yes, she is. ❤
I quit taking lessons because I don’t agree with how piano is approached and taught. I was spending a year per RCM level, learning how to recite 5 pieces of music for a practical exam. There was disproportionately little time spent on reading/sight-reading. It was the equivalent of little Johnny in grade 4 spending all his time trying to recite five speeches from memory for an exam at the end of the year, but struggling with fluent sight-reading at a grade 1 or even Kindergarten level.
Teaching and learning piano is approached from many different angles because people enjoy and thrive at learning in different ways. I hope you'll consider finding a new approach to the piano that suits your learning style!
So why is it Ego? Let me elaborate on why I think it would be ego... I think people have this idea that is planted in there head that if you are a musician you will be praised; a rockstar... I sometimes feel like the world has done something unhealthy with music; I guess it's ok to want to be complimented but anytime I have started dreaming about being a rock star or people praising me it just gets in the way of my creativity. like Susan said its about growth. As I age I think it will be good to continue learning to keep my mind Sharpe, but there's another component it's very healing for our souls and I desire intamacy and relationships; and music is something I have a relationship with and it makes me a better person. If your just learning to get attention or praise from people acknowledge that; Ego/praise? It's the surface; there is much more depth to music then Ego and praise. You are Loved, let music Love you.
So True.
As an adult you don't get the encouragement we give children. Everyone just expects you to play well as if you've been playing all of your life. Nobody cares if you can play Jingle Bells or any other tune from Alfred or Faber. We live in a global society so you get compared to Elton John, and Billy Joel and every other professional player. Kids on UA-cam after one year play better than me after seven years. This is why I loved going to school especially taking the classes that had tests every week. I was always getting positive feedback and felt good about myself. With piano, without a teacher, there is no feedback. You exist in a vacuum. "For many a flower is born to blush unseen, for many a pianist is born to play unheard."
I'm 72 and started learning six years ago. My coach's goal for me is to be addicted to how good playing feels.
This is absolutely correct! I got a healthy dose of encouragement and positive affirmation every week at my private lessons growing up. Adults don't get that! But I suppose one could try to come up with a reward system. Still...not the same.