Often when you think of having piano lessons as a child you think of picking out Hot Cross Buns with one finger, and being forced to practice when all you wanted to do was play outside with your friends.
Fast forward to adulthood and we have pianos everywhere; whether we’re seeing them on The Piano talent show on TV, or in train stations and parks around the world as part of the Play Me I’m Yours initiative – pianos are back.
If you didn’t spend lockdown making sourdough, then chances are you were teaching yourself to play an instrument; research by Yamaha showed that 75% of Brits used musical instruments to help get them through lockdown, and studies have shown that learning an instrument can be beneficial for your mental health.
We’ve all heard the saying ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’, but our brains don’t stop learning things just because we’re older; ask anyone who’s learnt to drive as an adult or learnt how to operate a new phone/TV/tablet/computer system.
So if you’re one of those people who have always said ‘I wish I’d learnt to play the piano’, then these tips are for you!
Use Your Age As An Advantage
One advantage of learning to play the piano as an adult is the fact that you’re doing it because you want to, and this will motivate you.
We’re more self-aware when we’re older, and know our strengths and weaknesses, so we can identify the areas we need to work on. Our brains still have the capacity to learn and master new skills as we get older, and often the biggest barrier is a lack of self-confidence.
Have A Goal
Whenever you start something new, it’s good to have a goal in mind, something to work towards. It might be that you want to play a specific piece of music or a song you’ve always loved, or you might just want to be able to play some carols when the family is round at Christmas, in which case you just need to learn the right keys and a few chords. Or you might want to really get into music theory, whatever your motivation, having a clear aim will help you to stay focused.
Practice, Then Practice Some More
How quickly you learn to play piano depends on lots of things; any previous experience, your sense of rhythm, and your multitasking skills, but the main factor is how much time you put into it.
It could take as little as one month to get used to the keys and learn some basic songs, but this doesn’t mean you have to practice for hours on end.
It’s recommended that a beginner should practice for fifteen minutes each day, five times a week, but of course, you can do more; you need to be patient and not let yourself burn out by pushing yourself too hard.
The key to starting something new is to make it part of your daily routine; consistency is more important than talent. It also helps to practice the style you’re interested in; there’s no point trying to learn all of Chopin’s Nocturnes when all you want to do is bash out some ABBA songs. Learning something familiar is going to be much easier.
Try Online
Thanks to YouTube and TikTok there are thousands of free videos online, so you can learn step-by-step without having to spend any money, all you need is a piano, some self-discipline, and determination.
You don’t need to be available at a set time, and if you want to squeeze a quick lesson in before work while you’re still in your pyjamas, you can! It’s ideal if you have a busy schedule and you can still get support as there are plenty of Facebook groups and forums that enable you to ask questions and compare notes with other people at the same level.
Master The Basics
One of the most daunting things about learning the piano as an adult is whether or not you need to be a music therapy expert when all you want to do is play some tunes. But unless you’re planning on making a career of it, you only need to know the fundamentals; which include getting your posture right, knowing the notes, and mastering your basic fingering.
The best way to do this is to practice your scales. As desperate as you might be to progress to the exciting part, it will help you hit the right notes with the right fingers, and learning the right chords and rhythm drills early on will lay a good foundation.
Embrace Your Mistakes
Whatever your age, nobody learns a new skill without making the odd mistake; it’s how you learn, and it helps highlight the areas you need to work on. The sooner you identify your weaknesses, the sooner you can work on them and prevent them from becoming a bad habit.
Don’t compare yourself to others, especially someone younger, the only person you should be comparing yourself to when starting something new is yourself, a week/month/year ago.
Learn Alongside Your Child
As an adult who wishes they learnt to play as a child, you know what a good opportunity it is, but it can be hard to motivate your kids to practice an instrument. If they see you learning too, they might be more open to putting the time in, you could make it something you do together, and encourage each other.
Not everyone had the opportunity to learn an instrument when they were younger, or they maybe had lessons and didn’t enjoy them, or just gave up when grown-up life got in the way. But it’s never too late; while an adult’s brain might not form connections as quickly as a child’s, it doesn’t stop learning things as soon as we turn eighteen, and being older and wiser means we understand why we’re learning a certain thing, which makes it easier.
Whatever kind of musician you want to be, accidents and thefts can happen, so it’s worth taking a look at music insurance. Our policies all start with a set of standard benefits for everyday circumstances, that you can then tweak with optional benefits, leaving you with a policy that is finely tuned to suit your needs. Give us a call today to find out more.
All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. We will not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at any time.
We offer a variety of cover levels, so please check the policy cover suits your needs before purchasing. For your protection, please ensure you read the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and policy wording, for information on policy exclusions and limitations.
