Is 16 too late..?

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Is 16 too late to start learning piano?

I've been interested for few years now but I've just never got round to finding a piano teacher.

How easy would it be to skip grades too? Is it hard once you can read music and remember the keys?

How do the exams work? I've never really been musical but I enjoy classical music and I think I'd do reasonably well at learning it.

Word of advice: If you're not willing to stick with it and make an investment and get a keyboard/piano and practice REGULARLY then I would advise to pick up something else.

There are a lot of people who practice for a few months, sometimes even a few years, and don't really learn much because music is something that you have to practice regularly within the first years that you're learning it. Personally, I know many people who have paid for several months of lessons, only to stop practicing and lose all of their skill.

It's as easy as you make it, and your future proficiency will depend highly on the amount of work that you'll put in. Nobody can tell you whether or not you will be able to skip grades or not, or how quickly you'll be able to pick it up.

In terms of exams, I've personally done Trinity, but there are a number of other reputable exam boards such as London.

Reply 81

neverlander¾

Original post by Elliwhi

It did actually, thanks :biggrin:

Are you starting on Grade 1? If you've never played an instrument before, I can assure you that it's the best thing to do grade 1 so you can learn the scales and get the feel of the piano :biggrin:

Good luck learning :biggrin:

I played for 5 years already :smile:

But thank you :biggrin:

Reply 82

greengables

Original post by boba

its not to late but I'm not sure why you think you will be able to skip grades if you can't play at all now

I don't know of a single person who has taken every grade from 1 to 8 - it's completely unnecessary

Reply 83

dean01234

It depends what you want to do with it...

If you want to be the worlds greatest piano by the age of 18 then its too late.

But its never too late to learn something, so just do it and have fun.

The skipping grades comment was curious, unless it is to do with ucas points and your attempt to gain more of them? I would advise against skipping and if your not particularly musical it might be difficult to pick up but just see how you go.

Reply 84

Gridiron-Gangster

Original post by jLou711

I'm in my 20s and wanting to learn piano. Oh how I'd love to trade places with you! Hehehe.

Reply 85

dropit

Pretty much what everyone else said.

I'm 19 and I started learning when I was 16. Got busy with exams and I think I've forgotten how to play it now (not that I was any good). I got really frustrated because I couldn't co-ordinate both hands at once. :/ Moving out of halls and into a house in July though, and I'm gonna take my keyboard with me and start practicing again in my free time.

Reply 86

CurtainrailMan

I played the piano between the ages of 9 and 16, but only got to grade 4 because a) I didn't put any work in and b) I didn't do any exams at all until the very end.

My situation was that I never did any of the theory or scales involved with the exams. Each grade 1 to 4 has a completely different set of scales, but then for grade 5 you play ALL OF THE ONES YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR. So for me, grade 5 would have been impossibly harder than grade 4, even though for someone who's been doing them one at a time, it would be an even progression.

Sorry, don't quite know why I said that. Went a bit off topic.

Reply 87

SnoochToTheBooch

Original post by jLou711

hell no. I'm 24 and considering learning it. We might live to be 100.

Reply 88

Emaemmaemily

Original post by greengables

I don't know of a single person who has taken every grade from 1 to 8 - it's completely unnecessary

This is true.
I did grade 5 and then grade 8, and that's it for the piano. I am now finishing my degree in music (and I only started with I was 15). It's never too late, and there aren't limits if you really want to do it and put in the effort.

Reply 89

Lumos

Original post by jLou711

it's never too late, and you can learn very quickly through regular practice, especially if it comes naturally to you. as for your question about grades, it entirely depends on what sort of pianist you are. some can sight read perfectly but not remember pieces without music, others (like myself) can't sight read for squat but can play pieces from memory. To be honest if you want to do grades, it's better to be the sigh-reading type, although I enjoy playing a lot more from memory! start learning, see how you go/what type of pianist you are/ what styles you like, and go from there.

Reply 90

Setsuna-F-Seiei

Original post by jLou711

I think starting at 16 is not too late at all as well and should defiantly be beneficial to you in the future. Firstly, u can play music so you can impress people as well as entertain yourself. Secondly, putting it into your CV/personal statement will help you loads! Remember, some athletics who compete internationally have only done the sports for 2-3 years so it's not too late!

Reply 91

fourdigit

Original post by jLou711

It's never too late and you know it

Reply 92

JustAGoodLAD

I've seen grown men learning to play piano, in pornos, then they end up nailing their teacher. I presume it always ends up like this.

Reply 93

Hectorious

I recently started playing piano (age 17) and I'm doing pretty well. Why would you stop learning new things so young?

Reply 94

username943595

Original post by neverlander¾

I played for 5 years already :smile:

But thank you :biggrin:

Wow! I've played for 6 years already :smile:

)))

Reply 95

arbaaz

Original post by winning11

the day you stop learning is the day you die

love that quote :smile:

yup, OP each day we learn something new, so go play the piano! :smile:

Reply 96

GeneralOJB

I'm 15 and only started in November '11. Had lessons for about 5 months, and have been skipped straight to grade 5. :smile:

Finding it a breeze. Get a good teacher!

Reply 97

Dougieowner

Of course it's not too late! In my opinion piano is the best instrument and you should take it up right away! You'll love it and it's so much fun! Just start now and keep playing for the rest of your life. Life begins when you start playing the piano! :biggrin:

Reply 98

username943595