How hard is it to learn piano? With our free video lessons and downloadable resources, it’s easier to learn piano

Learning the piano might be easier than you think! With support from a good teacher and consistent practice habits over time, you’ll be able to achieve your dream of playing the piano. If you’ve always wanted to learn piano but aren’t sure how to get started, Hoffman Academy makes piano lessons fun and easy. You can learn more about our highly successful piano learning system here or dive in and try your first lesson now!

Is piano hard to learn by yourself?

While it’s possible to teach yourself to play the piano, most people find it easier to learn when they have the guidance of a piano teacher. If you want to learn piano by yourself, you need to be your own teacher. You’ll need to decide how to learn and what to learn, give yourself goals to reach, and be accountable to yourself for spending time at the piano and making progress.

Some people are able to pick up playing the piano by ear by themselves simply by listening to piano music and trying to imitate it. If you want to give this a try, start by picking out the melody lines of familiar songs. Folk tunes and children’s songs often have simple, beautiful melodies that are a good foundation for learning to play by ear. From there, it would be good to learn about piano chords and how they work. If you learn your chords, learn to hear chord progressions in songs, and can play melodies by ear, then you’ll be able to play a wide variety of songs!

As your musical comprehension increases you’ll be able to hear more and more of what’s going on in the music, and be able to reproduce it on the piano. While this method works well for some people, it can take a lot of patience, practice, and time at the keyboard. Another disadvantage to learning by this method is that you won’t learn how to read sheet music. This limits you to playing only music you’ve heard and can remember.

Teaching yourself to sight read piano music on your own can be done by purchasing a traditional piano method based on sight reading and working your way through it. Be sure the method comes with listening tracks so you can compare your playing to the way the music is supposed to sound. Learning by this method can be difficult because learning to sight read music fluently takes years of patient effort. It’s like learning to read a completely new language. It’s unusual for someone to be motivated enough to do it entirely on their own.

What age is it easiest to learn piano?

The best time to start learning piano is different for everyone. The most important factor is a desire to learn and the ability to put the time into practicing.

For most children, the ideal time to start learning piano will be between the ages of six and eight. At age six, children have started school and are used to the basics of structured learning. They’re beginning to learn to read language, and so are ready to begin learning to read music too. At this age, children have an amazing ability to pick up new information and remember it for life. Also, by age six, most children have developed the hand strength and control of their fingers that’s needed to play the piano.

A child who starts between the ages of six and eight will see their piano skills improve rapidly. If they keep going, by the time they’re a young teen they’ll be an accomplished pianist!

How long will it take to learn piano?

For most people who play the piano, once they begin learning they can enjoy watching their abilities grow year by year throughout their lives. There is so much to learn about piano, it’s a delightful journey that never comes to an end. If you have a favorite song you’d like to learn and want to know how long it will take for you to be able to play it, you can get a good estimate by checking out our blog post, “How Long Will it Take to Learn the Piano.” Use the practice time calculator in the post to see how your daily practice time will add up to piano skills.

Is piano hard to learn as a kid?

One of the biggest obstacles to learning piano as a kid is lack of engagement and motivation. If a child is not self motivated to learn the piano, as soon as their parents take the pressure off, the child will immediately stop. Even for children who enjoy playing the piano, the world is full of distractions. When given the choice between a favorite video game and practicing the piano, the video game usually wins.

What makes learning the piano easy for kids is their amazing ability to pick up new, complex information and retain it. Kids also don’t have the many responsibilities that adults do, so they usually have more time to spend on piano practice.

Parents can do a lot to make learning piano easier for kids. First of all, find a piano education program that’s designed to be fun and engaging, like Hoffman Academy. Our first video lesson comes with a free parent guide that will help you get your child off to a great start.

Another important thing parents can do is to create an environment where practicing the piano is an expected part of the daily routine. Clear out any distractions that might get in the way of piano practice time. Parents should set aside some time to participate in piano practice as well, maybe by spending a few minutes at the beginning or end of the session playing a piano practice game.

Most of all, make sure piano is a good fit for your child. Most children love music and will be interested in learning to play the piano, but if they’re not then maybe a different activity will be better to focus their efforts on.

Is it hard to learn piano as an adult?

Learning piano as an adult does have its challenges. It’s always hard to start a new habit. Most adults have already filled up their time with work, family, friends, and activities they enjoy. It can be difficult to find the time to add piano to their lives.

But learning piano as an adult has advantages too. Most adults know how to focus and learn new things on their own. They’ve already experienced the way that patience and effort can lead to an improvement in skill. An adult who wants to learn piano will take the initiative to find the resources they need to succeed, like a good instrument, a good teacher, and sheet music for the songs they want to learn.

While children may be able to pick up and retain new information at a faster rate, adults have the patience and dedication to put in the extra effort to learn something new. This means that learning the piano can be just as easy or even easier for a dedicated adult than for a child.

Get some tips for learning to play the piano as an adult here.

Is piano hard to learn at an older age?

You might think that as your brain ages it’s harder to learn new things. Harder, perhaps, but definitely possible! Studies have shown that you are never too old to learn something new. Learning the piano at an older age can be a wonderful way to keep your brain young and healthy.

Adults in retirement age often have more spare time than adults in middle age, making this the perfect time to start learning piano. Older adults who learn the piano gain a myriad of benefits both mentally and emotionally, like improved memory and language skills, improved fine motor skills, and better mental health. Learn more about the benefits of playing the piano for older adults here.

If playing the piano causes any discomfort due to arthritis or other issues, speak to your doctor. You may want to try doing some gentle stretching exercises to warm up your fingers and wrists before you play.

If you want to learn piano, the effort you put in will be worth it!

No matter what you choose to learn, it’s going to take effort! Sometimes learning the piano will feel hard, but if you work through those times you’ll have wonderful things to show for your effort. The piano is one of the easiest and most rewarding instruments to learn. If you’re ready to start your piano learning journey, join us at Hoffman Academy.