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It's been my observation that an hour a day will eventually get an adult beginner of moderate talent to the late intermediate or possibly the early advanced level. I'll also say that it is my personal experience that for a new player an hour a day is great and that you will progress rapidly.
I understand that there are people in this world who can self teach. I'm sure I'm not one of them. If you are anxious to get to a certain lever as quickly as possible, the second most important thing is that you find a good teacher. The most important thing is a willingness to confront any weaknesses in your technique and to work on them until they are no longer weaknesses. That is where your teacher comes in. My definition of a good teacher is one who observes your playing and suggests ways for you to practice more effectively, and assigns you exercises and pieces to help you improve the weakest parts of your technique.
A teacher, by him or herself, can't teach you anything. He or she can show you the most effective way for you to learn the piano. It's ultimately up to you to do the learning, your teacher can't do that for you.
I personally don't think there are any shortcuts to learning piano. It is a complex skill that isn't native to the human race. Having said that, I also believe that almost anyone can learn to play at a level that is personally satisfying.
Disclaimer: I have nothing to sell, no blog to promote, and no method to recommend. I'm just a true adult beginner who'd like to learn piano.
Piano self teaching on and off from 2002-2008. Took piano instruction from Nov 2008- Feb 2011. Took guitar instruction Feb 2011-Jul 2013. Can't play either. Living, breathing proof some people aren't cut out to make music.
This European method I have, which I have taught for over 25 years is the fastest way to advanced levels, and the most fun way to get there. I was gifted this piano system of learning by a great concert artist from Europe, whom I studied with for 6 years. It is now a self-study with visual/audio connected on the pages and a DVD video too. If one uses this type of study, 30 minutes a day in a 5-day week, you will be at levels 3-5/6 in 6 months. One hour practice a day (30 minutes on technique) in 5-day week, you can be in advanced levels in 6 months. It is a complete educational system, like the great masters learned and taught.
Can you tell us anything else about what you want to achieve?
These will directly impact how much/how quickly you need to do things.
Well, I love music, I enjoy playing popular songs, but I am really aiming at for example Chopin's Nocturnes. I know there is a lot of music in between, like easy classical pieces but I want to get to an advance level playing and also be able to improvise & compose.
Too much to ask for 1h a day ?, how many years will it take !?
This European method I have, which I have taught for over 25 years is the fastest way to advanced levels...
Even in the unlikely event that this is true, the word "fastest" as used in this context is highly misleading - there is nothing actually fast about getting to advanced levels - it happens gradually and sputteringly over a very extended period of time measured in years - the term "fastest" seems totally irrelevant and assinine here - this is roughly about the same as saying that the "fastest" way to watch grass grow...or the opposite of saying the fastest way to a quick buck...
Originally Posted by Bonnie Woodruff
...and the most fun way to get there.
If one considers years of intense hard work "fun"...could it be better than sex even?
JF
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
Current favorite bumper sticker: Wag more, bark less.
If you want to play classical music, having a good teacher is imperative. A good teacher will not only know what you must do, but will be able to guide you toward efficient and effective practice techniques.
The only way to know how fast you will advance is to start! Unless you are very unusually gifted, I'd expect you to spend 1-3 years at this before making an assessment.
It also depends on what you mean by "playing Chopin's nocturnes." You may be able to master the notes of some of the nocturnes within 1-2 years (that would be fairly remarkable), but to have the control to play them well would most likely take 5-7 years of playing for 1 hour/day.
You may be able to master the notes of some of the nocturnes within 1-2 years (that would be fairly remarkable), but to have the control to play them well would most likely take 5-7 years of playing for 1 hour/day.
That's too much, Frida11. He has the same experience as mine, playing some guitar since 15 or 16 years old, 30 years old now, starting to play piano. That's exactly my situation.
If he really do 1 hour per day guided by a good teacher, I believe in 2 years he may be able to play the simplest nocturnes. That's what I'm expecting to myself (in fact, even earlier, I dare to think). My teacher thinks I can play some Field nocturnes, like no.1, 5, some chopin pieces like the mazurka I'm learning (op 17-4), waltz op 34-2, the nocturne posthumous in c minor no. 21, to name a few. Of course they are a real challenge to me, my mazurka still sounds very bad, but I'm improving.
To play really well sometimes is not only a matter of technique, but taste, musical background, etc.
The guitar experience wont help him with the fingering, IMO, but it will help a little with the ear and the inate rhythm.
Al-mahed, I did say he might be able to play a nocturne in 1-2 years, in some fashion.
I played through college, did not play again until age 50. I've been working hard at it, sometimes several hours a day, for 6 years now.
I still can't play most nocturnes in a way that satisfies me. All those runs of 22 over 5, or 41 or 11, etc. require a hand independence I have yet to completely master.
Al-mahed, I did say he might be able to play a nocturne in 1-2 years, in some fashion.
I played through college, did not play again until age 50. I've been working hard at it, sometimes several hours a day, for 6 years now.
I still can't play most nocturnes in a way that satisfies me. All those runs of 22 over 5, or 41 or 11, etc. require a hand independence I have yet to completely master.
That's true, today I had class with my piano teacher, she said better to hold on more until I start to play Chopin's Nocturnes. Those fast and large fiorituras and scales I know I cannot play, maybe with one or more years of practice. But, I insist, there are some noctunes I think are not so demanding, like some of Field's (do you know them?) and at least the Chopin's no. 21 in C minor, opus posthumous.
I can cheat and listen to them and play them by ear, but of course to properly learn them is another story. Clean fast passages, equal sounding scales, perfect metrical rhythm of 5 over 22, are far away from me.
But I believe it is possible do the "easy" ones (field no.1 for example, link below) and do not sound bad, with lots of practice in 3 years or less.
It also depends on what you mean by "playing Chopin's nocturnes." You may be able to master the notes of some of the nocturnes within 1-2 years (that would be fairly remarkable), but to have the control to play them well would most likely take 5-7 years of playing for 1 hour/day.
Well, I think as adults, we tend to set limitations on ourselves. But there are many kids who can play Chopin nocturnes, and some who are 5-7 years of age! Clearly, there is no limitation in their minds, maybe because they just follow what their teachers and parents tell them.
Here's a girl who is 8 though, she plays it beautifully, although it seems many adults debate whether she can actually feel any emotion.
Some of those early learners are incredible. I don't mean to be negative, but very few adults can make that kind of rapid progress, and counting on it could be very disappointing.
It's a good idea to make your goal weekly rather than daily. It's true that for an adult, it's usually not possible to play every day, because other obligations interfere.
