Are you thinking about learning piano, but you’re not sure what kind of commitment you’re making? Well, a lot of people are in the same boat as you. Perhaps you’re a total beginner, or maybe you want to play again after a long time out of the game.
Usually, it all begins when you want to learn a particular song. From there, a beautiful adventure begins. Overall, people want to know how long it takes to become advanced at the piano.
There is no one size fits all answer to this. It depends on your definition of good and how much time and effort you’re willing to put in. If you’re interested in piano lessons and you’re wondering how long it will take to become advanced, this article is for you!
Firstly, it is important to understand your level of experience. This can range from beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert, and professional. You can figure this out by speaking to a professional who can rank you or by answering some simple questions.
Questions such as:
Although there are other questions, these are simple enough to get started with.
The next important thing is to identify your end goal. Are you looking to pull your piano playing out as a party trick, or are you looking to master the piano at a professional level? Perhaps you want to play your favourite song.
All of this will depend greatly on each person. Some people are willing to put in hours of work outside of piano lessons, while others only play in their lessons.
Advanced piano playing looks almost effortless. That is what most people see as ‘good’ piano playing. When you become advanced, you are comfortable playing scales and arpeggios in all keys, both major and minor.
You will need to be familiar with how fingerings work and how to improvise basic harmony and chords with a right-hand melody. When you are advanced, you should be able to sight-read simple pieces with ease and know how to play semi-complicated songs.
Your hands will be independent, but some struggle will occur with higher-level techniques such as hands crossing and wide ranges. You may also struggle with your hands needing to jump across the piano.
As stated above, there is no one size fits all answer when it comes to playing the piano. However, if you plan to become advanced, allow at least six months, usually longer. How far you get, and the time it takes to get there will depend on your focus and goals.
Someone who practices a lot will get further than someone who applies little effort.
What takes some people years can take other’s months. As long as you are practising and giving it your all, you will begin to see results. Not only is practice important, but what you practice is important.
Make sure to include variety so that you can evolve as a pianist. If you’re looking at learning the piano, contact Annette Beaumont Ellis, an experienced and kind piano teacher bringing dreams to reality. Annette offers Classical Piano Lessons and Jazz Piano Lessons in London which can help you advance your piano skills.
