Learning to play a piano

hethmar

In the autumn of my life I feel I want to achieve a few things I always wanted to do - one being able to play an instrument.

Would a piano be best? Will I be able to learn at all, would I have to be able to read music. I guess if I take lessons I would need to practice at home but I dont want a big piano in the house if I turn out to be useless. Can you learn on an electric piano/keyboard? And if so, does anyone have any recommendations for the type that would be suitable

Or should I stop dreaming that I can learn at my age.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Mojisola

We have a Roland keyboard. It's got the same feel as playing a piano but you've got a lot of extras. One of the most important for us is that you can play with the headphones on and not drive your family/neighbours up the wall!

toffifee

I don't want to put you off the piano but there are a few things you might want to consider:
- learning an instrument is hard work as well as being rewarding, so please don't be put off if you don't make great progress to begin with.
- the piano is a solitary instrument. Maybe it would be nice to learn something where there are groups locally that you could join, for encouragement and enjoyment? Where I live there is an orchestra for adults who are learning, and the participants have now set up little spin off groups for wind/brass etc.
- Most teachers will want you to learn to read music. On the piano you have two staves (sets of five lines and four spaces) to worry about (one for each hand) whereas on most other instruments there is only one stave.
- Yes, you will definitely need to practise between lessons!
- You absolutely can learn a new instrument at just about any age!
- It can sometimes take a few goes before you find an instrument that suits you. I can get a tune out of a flute and piano (kind of) but I have a knack for the violin and pick up new things much more easily on that instrument than any other I've tried.

I am (badly) self-taught on the piano and flute, and have had lessons on the violin and viola. My children are now having violin and piano lessons, so I've been around a few instruments and lessons. Let me know if I might be able to help with any other information.

I think it's brilliant that you want to learn to play an instrument! I can't imagine my life without music.

hethmar

Many thanks. Do you think a violin would be an "easier" option. Why I ask is that when my eldest son was little we had a few violin lessons for him - I used to go with him while he had them and whilst he seemed too bored to practice, I would remember what the practice was and actually show him how to do it. I wonder if I would be better learning that - or a fiddle, which Id love to play.

I dont think I would be any good at wind instruments, I remember feeling very dizzy just playing a recorder at school!

Mojisola

Our local music shop has a list of people who give music lessons. If you can find a similar list, why not have a couple of "taster" sessions with some different instruments and see whether you really click with any of them.

hethmar

We are a bit in the wilds sadly so it would be a trek to any place with a music shop, but it may come to that.

I see that there is a fiddle teacher in the next village, about 5 miles away though - aswell as a couple of piano teachers within a couple of miles of us.

Mojisola

How about asking round your friends and neighbours and see who plays an instrument?

toffifee

hethmar wrote: »

Many thanks. Do you think a violin would be an "easier" option. Why I ask is that when my eldest son was little we had a few violin lessons for him - I used to go with him while he had them and whilst he seemed too bored to practice, I would remember what the practice was and actually show him how to do it. I wonder if I would be better learning that - or a fiddle, which Id love to play.

I dont think I would be any good at wind instruments, I remember feeling very dizzy just playing a recorder at school!

Most people would say violin is very difficult to learn, since you have to be able to hear when your note is out of tune (unlike on a keyboard) and for some that's quite hard. There could also be an issue of flexibility. You have to be able to bend your left hand into a fairly peculiar shape and I know of one person who wanted to learn when he was older but couldn't manage to make his hand do it. He's now a happy double bass player.
None of that means that the violin would not be perfect for you though!

Really, I think it's a case of picking something you think you would like to learn and then giving it a go. When it comes to learning an instrument I don't really think there is an 'easy' option, but you personally will find some instruments easier than others. You say you would love to play the violin - that enthusiasm would be invaluable in getting you past the first few screechy days/weeks until you start making a nice sound.

I wouldn't discount woodwind. If you have lessons you will be taught how to breathe properly. I've heard that this can be beneficial for asthmatics so probably would not do a person without asthma any harm.

Our local music shop offers instrument rental. A couple of years ago a child's violin was about £5 per month, to give you some idea of cost. If you can find a place that does something similar, it might be a good way for you to dip your toe in without committing too much money.

Badger_Lady

Have you ever learned to play the recorder?

I know it's often associated with little kiddies and a horrible noise, but actually it can be beautiful and there are serious groups who play together (e.g. http://www.theflautadors.org/biography.html). It's only the kiddies that make it sound horrible!

A tenor recorder would be a good size for an adult, it makes a lovely deep, soft sound, and it's very easy to learn - a simple fingering pattern and breath control... and it won't cost you a lot! You can easily learn to play it by ear, so no need to read music. Since you only ever play 'tunes', it will be much easier than learning how to play a piano with harmonies.

Once you've learned to play that, the basic skills are transferable to other woodwind and even brass instruments. Someone proficient on the recorder can quite easily pick up how to play a saxophone.

hethmar

Many thanks, but - dont larf - I get dizzy if I play a wind instrument

I imagine being able to pick up a fiddle and play cajun -lol

Annisele

I wouldn't write off wind instruments unless you've already had lessons. If you're making yourself dizzy, and if you have no medical problems, then I reckon you're doing it wrong - and a teacher might be able to fix whatever you're doing quite quickly.