I’ve noticed lately that there are quite a number of sources saying that learning to play the piano is hard and it has not just been one or two websites. The myth that learning to play the piano is just about impossible for adults is alive and well, unfortunately.
What is also alive and well is shoddy marketing tactics, because these websites are trying to convince adults that they have almost zero chance at learning to play the piano unless they buy their exclusive, one of a kind product that will have you playing the piano like a master in two short weeks! Yes, I am exaggerating here a bit, but not a whole lot.
It is a classic marketing technique – you can sell whatever it is you are selling by solving a problem, which is, in this instance, a program or app that will teach you to play the piano like a pro. The problem with this is that it is convincing people that they will never have what it takes to learn to play the piano. Make no mistake, this does make me angry and sad because I want people of any age that have a desire to play the piano, that they will have the confidence and courage to give it a go.
Seriously, we don’t all have to play the piano like professionals. If there just a handful of pieces of music that you want to learn, then that is a legitimate goal. Even if you only wanted to learn to play chopsticks on the piano with your grandkids, then there is nothing wrong with this. We are all different, with different goals and wanting to play different styles and genres.
There is no one size fits all. For the online music programs I’ve looked at and the various piano courses available through book form, they all have features that will work great for some students and with other students they will be just annoying and frustrating. I also get that new products are created all the time and of course they need to get an angle so they can maximize their sales.
However, I am sick of reading that it is hard for adults to learn to play the piano. It is a MYTH and a LIE. I have been a piano teacher for decades and I can tell you with absolute certainty that if you want to learn to play the piano, age is not a barrier. The only barriers are a lack of having a go and a lack of consistent and persistent effort over a decent period of time.