How to relearn piano as an adult and stay consistent (without a teacher)
On Reddit getting back into piano is such a popular topic, the moderators created an entire FAQ section for it. If so many people want to relearn piano, it makes me wonder why so many people quit in the first place. Hmm
In college, my final project was based on adult piano students. I guess I’ve always been fascinated with the topic. After hosting several open mics at Microsoft and other tech companies I worked for, I learned that stage fright, low self esteem, money and family responsibilities can lead to a divergence from one’s passions.
No matter the reason for your departure, I’m going to help you get back into it.
Let’s Go.
Before you even continue reading this article, you need to know that you can test out of having to start all over again with this simple trick. Go to the nearest piano and try to play some of your favorite songs from memory or using your sheet music. If you learned the songs as a child, they may be embedded into your long term memory. I’ll never forget the time my friend bought a keyboard. I hadn’t played piano in a few years but I said, “let me see that” and could still play Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca!
Which leads me to
Lesson number one. Don’t sell yourself short. If you can remember your childhood phone number and address, you may still be able to play Fur Elise.
Pro tip, if you need the sheet music, head over to www.IMSLP.org. It’s a great free resource for domain free music.
Alas, if testing out fails. No worries. I’ve got you covered.
Choosing a Method Book
Go to your nearest sheet music store. Head to the piano section and pull some adult piano method books and some kid’s books. (I won’t tell) Aside from the goofy graphics, the kid’s options are just as helpful and sometimes cheaper! Head to a keyboard in store and turn the volume down…low and give each book a test run. See if any one in particular feels more natural or useful to you.
This is
Lesson number two. Try before you buy. Music can sneakily become a very expensive hobby. Some sheet music here, a microphone there, etc etc Before you know it you’ve spent enough to put a down payment on a house. It pays to do trials and test runs of anything you may want to purchase.
This next step may be the most important and can require alot of time and effort.
Choosing your genre
Choosing the right genre is key (pun intended). I played classical music for years before discovering my 70’s rock and pop. I still play classical but playing the 70’s music is much more fun and I get to express myself. I also had a great time writing my own music. Explore different genres. There may be something waiting for you that is better than what you are playing now.
In order to discover the genre that is right for you, try the following
Think about the music that you actually like listening to. If you are starting piano back up again to be a full time musician, or to impress someone, it can be tempting to play what you think others will like. In the end, it’s better to play music that you love and pull the listener in based on your conviction and presentation.
Test out playing different styles of music. You may surprise yourself with how much fun it is to play boogie woogie, Bach fugues or to improvise over jazz chords. I never listened to much of The Beatles in the past but I find myself constantly adding more and more of their tunes into my repertoire. The songs are catchy and fun to play.
When you find it you’ll know.
Lesson number three: Experiment, rinse, repeat until you find something that sticks. Develop a Routine
With method books and a selected genre in tow, you’re ready to create a routine. Or just use the one below. Either one works.
Aim to practice for 15 to 30 minutes a day. Done correctly you can make progress with intentional practice. I recommend setting a timer so that you stay focused on the present session.
Suggested Routine
Warmups: 5 minutes (Hanon, Czerny, scales, arpeggios, jazz warmups)
Learning new music: 15 minutes
Free play: 10 minutes, playing old songs, practicing drills, improvising, having fun
Leaning new music is the most satisfying part of the process.
Pick one goal to accomplish for the day. Maybe learning the verse of a song or two lines of a classical piece. It feels much better knowing you finished something each day rather than muddle through the same mistakes week after week.
Journal your progress. If you spent 15 minutes working on four measures, and you come back the next day and you can’t play it. You may need to repeat the process again, play slower and take your time. Or simplify your goal, ie work on two measures a day.
In short
Lesson number four: Journaling will help you track your progress and understand how you learn.
With a routine in place now comes the second hardest part.
Sticking with it
It’s time to set your goals and reflect. But before you can get serious you need to set your intentions. If you want to stick to piano, you’ll need more than motivation and discipline to keep you going. First ask yourself why you want to play again. Is it for personal fulfillment, to make extra money, to be a full time musician. Each time you don’t feel like practicing, you’ll have to remind yourself of your goal. If you still fall off then you’ll need to put some real world pressure on yourself! Commit to an open mic, make a bet with a friend, whatever it takes to trick yourself into being consistent. The best way to stick with it is to make sure you are working on music that you really want to play. See Lesson number three for reference.
Playing piano as an adult can bring infinite amounts of joy to your life. I know it has for mine.
Liz
