Learning to play the piano as an adult doesn’t mean your career will stall, or you’ll never see your family in the evenings. We’ve taught hundreds of adults with demanding jobs and musical dreams at Chara. The secret to making it work isn’t finding more hours in the day, it’s using the hours you do find more effectively. If you’d like to hear their success stories, just meet our team – some of whom started their own music journey as adults.
Why Adults Make Great Piano Students
Many adults fear they’re past the point where they can start to learn musical skills. Our experience, however, is the opposite. Adults are some of the most dedicated and successful students at our music studios. You know the importance of dedication and persistence, and you’re motivated to learn because you want to, not because you’re told to. If you’ve been wondering if you can learn piano as an adult, this enthusiasm and drive can help you learn faster than you thought possible.
Making Time for Piano Practice
Our adult students’ biggest obstacle is finding the time to practice the piano between their busy work schedules. We suggest starting with just 15 to 20 minutes a day, rather than trying to find an hour or more. Morning practice before work can give you the energy boost you need, or try practicing in the evenings for a healthy release after a day at the office. Many find that learning piano as an adult requires flexibility, so it’s important to choose a practice time that fits your unique routine.
If you’re not a Monday morning person, plan your practice sessions for Tuesday or later in the week when you’re more refreshed. Some of our most successful students are those who practice during their lunch break or wake up 30 minutes earlier, three times a week. The key is not when you practice, it’s that you do practice. If you’ve been searching for advice on how to learn piano as an adult, remember that building consistency matters far more than sticking to a perfect schedule.
Practicing Smarter, Not Longer
Short practice sessions mean practicing smarter, not longer. We encourage all adult learners to practice this way by not practicing the entire piece from start to finish. Instead, practice the difficult measures that cause you the most trouble. Practice each hand separately when you learn piano as an adult for the first time. A metronome is a tool used to practice playing along with a set tempo, allowing you to increase your speed gradually, not by rushing through the music.
Making a recording for yourself periodically is an effective way to track your progress, especially if you’re not seeing improvement day by day. Even small voice recordings using a phone can be beneficial. For many, learning to play piano as an adult brings unique challenges, but tracking your own sessions helps highlight progress that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Your Musical Journey Starts Now
As a working adult, learning the piano requires the right mindset, and the right mindset requires the right approach. We have witnessed accountants, lawyers, teachers, and healthcare professionals succeed in the development of their musical skills, despite the demands of their profession. The one thing they all have in common is the ability to show up for practice, whether the practice sessions are long or short.
Your work life does not have to compete with your musical ambitions. With the right approach, they can exist side by side, and we are here to guide you in the right approach for you, not the other way around!
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