If you’ve always wanted to learn the piano, here’s a good reason to do so ASAP: a recent study found it can boost brain power. The researchers also say it can help with stress, anxiety, and depression.
That same study proves that learning piano as an adult is doable. After all, the people who participated (and benefitted) were all adults.
That doesn’t mean learning to play piano as an adult isn’t without its challenges. But that’s what here for, to share tips on how to make your journey enjoyable and successful.
So, read on to discover what adults can expect when learning piano and how to go about it!
Commitment to Long-Term Learning
Playing the piano requires cognitive and motor skills. Children are still developing these skills, whereas adults have already fully developed them. Thus, contrary to popular belief, adults have an advantage over kids.
Still, it’s vital to note that piano playing requires hand independence. This means you must be able to control each finger on each hand without them mimicking the others. Experts say pianists achieve this after practicing for over ten years or 10,000 hours.
The above means you’ll need to commit yourself to gradually mastering hand independence. But with consistent, regular practice, you don’t have to wait that long to be able to play entire songs. You can, just not in the same perfect way as a master pianist.
Physical Challenges
Back pain, which half of working Americans suffer from, can be a detriment to piano playing. At the same time, spending hours learning piano can contribute to its development.
If you already suffer from back pain before learning to play the piano, check in with your doctor first. Do the same if you have other physical health issues like arthritis. This way, your doctor can help you manage your condition so that it won’t hinder you from learning piano.
If you don’t have any physical challenge to deal with, mind your piano-playing posture. Sit with your back straight, and never slouch. This can help prevent you from developing body aches.
Accepting Others’ Instruction
You can learn piano on your own at first using online courses. You can also try apps with video classes, interactive features, and theory lessons. Some are free, while others run on a paid subscription model.
Learning piano on your own, using those tools, can be an excellent way to determine if this instrument is for you. If you decide it is, understand that the above methods have limitations.
For example, they may only teach beginner or intermediate, not advanced, lessons. Another is that they may have no teachers to evaluate your playing and correct mistakes.
That’s when you should consider booking one-on-one lessons with piano instructors.
An instructor can enhance your learning experience by creating lessons tailored to you. They can also help speed up your progress since they’ll be with you, advising you on addressing flaws. Then, they’ll praise you when you deserve it, making you feel more motivated to keep learning.
Enjoy Learning Piano as an Adult
Learning piano as an adult can be challenging, as it can take months to learn the basics. You may also need the help of an instructor and spend years mastering hand independence.
At the same time, the learning journey itself can be fun and rewarding. It can even help boost your motor skills, cognitive abilities, and moods. All these should be good enough reasons to consider playing the piano, regardless of age.
For more inspirational guides like this, check out our other lifestyle posts!
