The most difficult task is when a friend or family member is interested in a field about which you know nothing. I have been in this situation before, and I don’t want you to feel as lost as I did.

If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you were drawn in by the title and because someone close to you is enthusiastic about piano. Because you may not be a pianist, I am happy to assist you and provide guidance.

You may have several ideas already, but let’s see which one is the best:

A Ticket to The Royal Albert Hall

Why not! You can’t go wrong because the program is usually excellent, and they have amazing performances all year long. The pianists who have the honour of performing at such a prestigious venue are all exceptional, and the repertoire is always really well chosen. I’m sure your friend would enjoy hearing Martha Argerich or Krystian Zimmerman again!

The disadvantage is that you have no information about your friend’s availability, and he may have prior commitments on that night…

A Piano

If he doesn’t already have one, that’s a fairly nice idea! The problem here is that purchasing a piano is a personal decision. Also, there’s a strong probability it’s out of your price range… And what if your friend has already placed an order for one for the Christmas father? Unless he lives in a very large house, storing two instruments may be a challenge!

Not a great choice after all!

A Piano Book

Definitely a less bulky option, but the range is so broad that you may struggle to make a decision. Do you want to buy Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Schumann, Grieg, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Debussy, Berg, Stockhausen, or Schoenberg? And what is your friend’s interest in jazz?

In theory, it’s a good idea, but the chances of it going wrong are very high.

Piano Accessories

If you don’t want to spend too much money, you could get a cup, a pencil, a ruler, a scarf, a pair of socks, or a notepad that looks like a keyboard, but isn’t that a little ‘cheap’?

Let’s pass on this one.

A Recording

CDs used to be fantastic gifts for piano enthusiasts. You could easily go to HMV and make a good choice. If you wanted to spend a little more, you could go right to their CD box sets and be sure to please your pal!

Unfortunately, all of the most amazing recordings are now available online, and not many people have a CD player!

It might have been a wonderful idea a few years ago, but not in 2021!

Piano Lessons

I saved this concept for last since I believe it is the greatest of all. You can’t go wrong with these options:

1. It is appropriate for pianists of all levels and abilities. A beginner would be overjoyed to learn how to play his favourite instrument, an intermediate player would be thrilled to enhance his abilities with an expert, and an accomplished pianist would be delighted to receive feedback from a professional.
2. It’s unique. You are obviously not your friend’s sole friend, and I can guarantee you that his family has considered all of the obvious gifts.
3. A night at the concert hall lasts only a few hours, and a CD cannot be listened to a thousand times, while piano lessons can be taken weekly for several years. Pianists learn their entire lives, and there is always more to learn. You are not only giving your friend a Christmas present when you offer him piano lessons; you are also providing him the opportunity to improve his pianistic skills and further expand his love for the piano.

At The London Piano Institute, we are glad to offer the option of purchasing a single piano lesson or packages of 5, 10, or 20 lessons, depending on your preferences. We feel that providing your loved one the opportunity to experience piano playing or share his enthusiasm with a professional pianist while growing his skills is priceless.

Your friend may not take piano lessons because he is too shy to make this move, but he will be eternally thankful if you push him to begin.
For the past ten years, The London Piano Institute has met several lovely piano enthusiasts who received a piano lesson gift ticket for Christmas, their birthday, or an anniversary and were overjoyed to have had this opportunity.
Many students continued to learn with us after that, and they were always grateful to the person who first suggested they take piano lessons. They have made incredible progress over the years and will never forget their initial visit to our school.

We at The London Piano Institute specialise in teaching adults who play for pleasure, and we are always excited to meet new piano enthusiasts of all ability levels. We warmly welcome all piano lovers who are passionate about piano playing and wish to improve their skills under the guidance of amazing piano teachers who have a genuine interest in passing on their remarkable knowledge, whether they are total beginners or advanced amateur pianists.

I hope you found this article useful and that you now know what the ideal Christmas present for a piano enthusiast is!

Please do not hesitate to visit our piano lesson gift voucher shop or contact us at enrol@londonpianoinstitute.co.uk for further information

I was 23 years old and had finished my piano studies in Paris before travelling to Switzerland to hone my skills. I was preparing for a number of international piano competitions when I realised I had reached a plateau. Finding performing chances was difficult, and I wasn’t sure which door to open next. I was still rehearsing various pieces of classical repertoire on a regular basis, but I didn’t have anything to look forward to. In other terms, I was at a crossroads.

Claude Nobs, the director of the Montreux Jazz Festival, reached me in the spring of 2002. He intended to build a Jazz Club within the event, with an intriguing concept. It would begin at 20:00 with classical piano performances, progress to jazz jam sessions later in the evening, and conclude with a DJ performance. The plan was to spend the evening travelling through music history.

I was asked to perform different works on thirteen consecutive evenings, and I couldn’t play the same piece twice. Furthermore, the pieces had to be amusing. This meant that in the two months leading up to the festival’s start, I had to master a plethora of pieces. I was practising ten to twelve hours a day to guarantee that I had enough material and that my performances were enjoyable for the audience.

The first evening was fantastic. I played Pink Panther, Mozart, and Ginastera. People enjoyed it, and I was already planning the next evening. Unfortunately, the crowd did not respond favorably. I was feeling completely alone on stage, and I was not receiving any feedback. The attendees were excited to hear the jazz performers who were set to perform later in the evening.

I assumed it was unusual and that the attention others showed in my performances would return. Unfortunately, this was not the case. They were completely uninterested in classical piano. Looking back, I realise that the concept was flawed and that the audience was unprepared to listen to the style of music I was presenting; at the time, as a young adult, I believed that classical music was obsolete. I thought I needed to stop and switch to jazz to pique people’s interest again.

By the end of the festival, I had also met a big number of jazz musicians who appeared to be very cool people. I made up my mind and signed up for jazz piano lessons to begin the following September; I was extraordinarily fortunate since the wonderful jazz pianist Thierry Lang was coaching at the Montreux Conservatoire. I was living in Lausanne at the time, so it was simple for me to catch the train to my jazz piano lessons on a weekly basis.

It started off quite well. I was ecstatic to embark on a jazz journey to study and perfect the jazz swing. Thierry Lang asked me to memorise the II-V-I progression in all keys during my first lesson. I finished it in one week and got it to him without making a single error. He was really amazed and even said that I might be a genius. I felt fantastic. I knew I’d made the proper decision and that I was on the right track. For a few weeks, I continued to attend my classes with great success, learning how to harmonise a few jazz standards. I was overjoyed since I liked my jazz piano classes! While Thierry Lang was accompanying me on the drums, I was also learning how to play these chords using different rhythms. It was amazing!

He decided to expose me to improvisation because I was doing so well. “Choose three notes and compose a tune with them,” he said to begin the class. I had no idea what he was saying. “What three notes?” I asked. “It makes no difference. Select any three notes.” I froze, believe it or not. I was powerless to act. I couldn’t even think and was on the verge of having a panic attack.

I was classically trained and could play the most difficult piano pieces of the repertoire, but when I had to construct my own little melody, I couldn’t press a key… It may sound absurd, yet it is true. It goes without saying that it marked the end of my jazz piano lessons…

I had no idea how different classical and jazz were because I had never been in such a situation. The skills required are diametrically opposed, and transitioning from one to the other is not easy.

Adults who have been playing classical piano for years and want to move into jazz frequently contact The London Piano Institute. It’s wonderful, and I can only advise you to try it! Only a few pianists are capable of mastering both genres, therefore it will be fantastic if you can!

But be prepared and don’t give up. Do not follow my route and stay on it unless you realise it is not for you. There is no shame. We are all unique, and not all of us were born to play like Count Basie!

Prepare to spend a lot of time studying chord progressions and honing your improvisation skills. You’ll also learn several licks that will come in handy during your solos.

Jazz piano takes a special set of skills, so don’t expect to be able to play like Herbie Hancock or Keith Jarrett after just a few lessons. Your knowledge of classical music will undoubtedly be beneficial, but it will not be sufficient. In fact, I would encourage you to forget everything you know and approach the instrument in a whole new way. Get into a new attitude by listening to as much jazz music as you can. It will undoubtedly aid your understanding of this new language!

I hope my personal tale did not deter you, as it was not my purpose. On the contrary, I intended to demonstrate that my superior classical piano skills did not help me and that anyone can learn to play jazz as long as they do not freeze when they hear the word “improvisation”!

I am always astounded when individuals tell me how much they want to do something but do nothing to make it happen. I understand that it is not always simple to make our aspirations a reality, but when it comes to piano playing, I don’t always understand what keeps individuals from picking up the phone and calling a piano teacher or a piano school.

We adults are experts at making excuses for not doing anything. We enjoy rationalising ourselves and coming up with a slew of reasons why we can’t take action right now, but wouldn’t it be better to confront the truth? We frequently put off starting a new hobby, traveling to a new country, relocating to a new home, or attending the gym because we lack the guts to do so. However, I believe that there is a deeper cause that hinders adults from starting their piano journey. I believe that most of them are concerned about being untalented and making a fool of themselves.

Do Not Let Wrong Notions Bury Your Dreams.

As I previously stated, I frequently meet people who would like to learn to play the piano but do not make any inquiries about beginning their piano study. They usually all say the same thing: “I don’t think I’m talented,” “I should have begun when I was a child,” “Is it feasible for adults to learn?” “I might not have time to practice,” or “I’d be your worst student.”

It’s always interesting to hear people have such strong ideas about their inability to play the piano, and I don’t understand why. What makes you think you won’t be good at it? Why do you think it should have been done years ago? Why are you under the impression that it is only for children?

Unfortunately, far too many people form opinions without giving it a shot. Before they try anything, they convince themselves that it will not work. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s true. The majority of adults never learn to play the piano because they have heard that it is not for them.

Hundreds of Adults Enjoy Their Piano Studies at The London Piano Institute

At The London Piano Institute, we train hundreds of adults who like playing the piano. Every week of the year, hundreds of men and women enter our City of London and Marylebone locations to take piano lessons. The majority of them have demanding jobs as bankers, lawyers, insurance brokers, accountants, engineers, investors, doctors, writers, or even television producers. They began playing the piano as adults and are all fully capable of performing some great pieces. They all like their piano studies a lot, and none of them gave up because they couldn’t play the piano.

Although some people learn faster than others, every adult who has studied or is now studying at The London Piano Institute is able to play the piano. Before starting their piano lessons, none of them had any unique talent. Most had no prior musical expertise, but they are all overjoyed to have made the initial step and begun their piano education.

Don’t Be Scared. It Is Not As Complicated As It Appears.

There is nothing to be concerned about. If you want to learn how to play the piano, you should get started right away and quit fooling yourself that you won’t be good at it. To be honest, I’ve never encountered someone who couldn’t understand the fundamentals of piano playing.

Let’s take a closer look at piano playing. What exactly does that entail?

1. Reading a music sheet. Reading music is comparable to reading a book, except that instead of words, you read notes, rhythms, and additional information about the tempo and dynamics. Professional pianists look between the lines in the same way that literary analysers read a novel or a poetry. Do not be concerned about this since your piano teacher will gradually introduce you to the world of piano interpretation.
2. Pressing the piano keys: Your task as a pianist is to press the right keys at the right moment and in the right way. Do you believe it’s really that difficult to press a piano key at a given time? Again, you will gradually increase your technical abilities, allowing you to regulate your sound production and build your dexterity. Anyone can learn and master these skills if they practice diligently.

As you can see, there is no mystery about playing the piano. It is both a magnificent art and a science. The world’s best pianists were all beginners at one point, and it is due to the hours they spent practicing that they became virtuosos.

You don’t have to be concerned about obtaining the same achievements because you play the piano for fun, and I doubt that you are interested in making your Carnegie Hall debut next season. You simply want to have fun while playing some lovely tunes from the classical, jazz, or pop repertoire. You want to have fun and are not planning on quitting your job to spend 8 hours a day practicing the piano.

Do Not Let The Fear of Failure Stop You!

As previously stated, I have never encountered an adult who could not play the piano. I’ve been teaching adults for almost two decades, and all of my pupils are doing fantastically well.

I understand that you may be concerned about being a one-of-a-kind individual, possibly the first person ever to be unable to play the piano, but why not give it a try? Why don’t you give it a shot? It would be a tragedy to let your fear of failure keep you from realising your dream!

At The London Piano Institute, we only work with exceptionally patient and compassionate piano teachers who specialise in teaching adult beginners. They would never pass negative judgment or criticism on you. On the contrary, they will support and encourage you regardless of the situation.

If you are still terrified of failing, why not arrange a trial piano lesson to overcome your fear?

It could be a terrific opportunity to demonstrate that you are an exceptional pianist and that you are ready to begin on a new and exciting path!

I completely understand that adults are often afraid to learn a new skill. They think that it might anyway be too late and that their efforts will be in vain. Is it not easier not to have any “crazy” ideas and stay in our comfort zone? It feels so cosy. Why trying something which we might not be good at? Why exposing ourselves to potential shame and failure?

If we have a specific dream in mind, the first step is to take the first leap of faith and make the firm decision to take action. Hesitating and procrastinating makes us waste time, and delaying could result in us not starting and finally regretting.

If you want to learn how to play the piano, you should go for it in the right way: Contact either a piano school or a private piano teacher. I appreciate that you would prefer to do research first and see if you could learn independently. It seems so much easier. No need to commit to anything or possibly making a fool of yourself in front of a professional. It seems to be the best solution. Excellent! You can now try secretly and give up anytime if you are not good at it!

It sounds like a terrific solution, don’t you think?

As a pianist and manager of The London Piano Institute, a piano academy for adults located in the heart of the City, I would strongly advise not to take this apparent easy road which is a dead end. It looks like a great road to success but trying to learn how to play the piano by yourself is unfortunately not going to work.

Throughout my career as a piano teacher for adults in London, I have met many adults who purchased a few piano books and watched some YouTube tutorials before coming to see me. They thought this learning method would work well, but they soon realised that they needed a piano teacher to guide them through their piano journey.

Would you learn swimming in a book and jump into the pool to check whether you can apply the few techniques you have just read about? I would strongly recommend you to learn piano playing with a professional. I do not doubt that. All the world greatest pianists had a piano teacher, so why would it be different for you?

Depending on your preference, you can either study with a private piano teacher or a reputable piano school for adults. A private teacher could offer more flexibility, but taking that route will make you face a significant issue: Who should you study with? Thousands of pianists list their services on various advertising online platforms, and choosing the right instructor for you could turn into a nightmare. You could probably make a selection of the ten best and book an introductory lesson with each of them to see if you like their personality teaching style.

But how do you know if they teach well since you are new to piano playing? You could ask them for their CV, but you must remember that a pianist who has won several international piano competitions is not necessary a good teacher. He is undoubtedly a brilliant pianist, but does he have enough patience and teaching experience to take you on as a pupil? Will he be available for your weekly piano lessons, or will he cancel two classes out of five because he must travel to New York, Paris or Hong Kong to perform Rachmaninov 2nd concerto?

You might think I am biased, but I would strongly recommend you to join a reputable piano school for adults as you can be assured that everything that could go wrong when selecting a private piano teacher will go well.

Managers of piano schools are usually professional musicians who know how to select the right piano teachers. They will choose them for their fantastic aptitude to play the piano and their excellent teaching skills as well as for their friendly personalities. In addition, a school always appoints an administrator who is in charge of scheduling your piano lessons. Therefore, your course is usually exceptionally well organised, and there is no surprise around the corner! You can be assured to be in good hands and well-catered for. I believe that feeling at peace when starting your piano lessons is essential to enjoy your education thoroughly.

And think of that: If amazing people have spent countless hours putting adult music schools together to offer you the privilege to study in a relaxed and non-judgmental atmosphere perfectly suited to your needs, why would you take the risk to walk in the dark in a world that you are totally unfamiliar with?

Professional pianists, of course, adore the piano; otherwise, they would not have chosen to spend their lives playing it, but the level of perfection necessary can sometimes turn the situation around.

To defend your title as a concert pianist, you must ensure that each performance is flawless and that each note is played in a precise manner to ensure the overall beauty of your interpretation. Technical and musical errors are not permitted. Everything has to be perfect, and the initial passion for the instrument can sometimes be replaced by a rivalry with ourselves and others.

The milieu in which professional pianists live is not always as pleasant as it appears. There is fierce competition among them because there is only room for a few, and every mistake could result in dismissal. During my studies, I witnessed several horrific events and met some really unpleasant people who would “murder” to win the prize. Particularly at international competitions.

I am not sure if you have ever been to one or if you have seen one on television. These international competitions are held so that hundreds of young pianists from around the world can participate. They are judged by many piano world personalities and win the competition if they are the most incredible pianist among their peers.

I have taken part in a handful because I had to, but it has never been a nice experience. There is far too much rivalry among the numerous competitors, and the enjoyment of music appears to have been relegated to the scrap heap.

It is a tragedy, but when you consider that thousands of young pianists perform at a similar level and that there is only space for approximately 10 of them, you can see why there is so much rivalry.

This intense strain also caused some exceptionally brilliant pianists to hurt themselves as a result of long hours of private practice. A professional pianist’s average practice time is 8 hours per day, although some spend up to 15 hours per day at the piano to guarantee that each piece of their repertoire is completely perfect. Remember, no mistakes are permitted!

This drive for perfection, I believe, is killing music and has resulted in a generation of pianists who do not communicate many feelings in their performances. Everything sounds antiseptic and dull. It was not always like this, however, as past generations of pianists had considerably greater leeway, which resulted in their being far more musical in their approach. Their performances did not have to be flawless. They weren’t always technically great, but they were always musically and emotionally beautiful. You will understand what I mean if you listen to some of the best pianists of all time, such as Arthur Rubinstein, Samson Francois, or Alfred Cortot. I also enjoy Dinu Lipatti, Heinrich Neuhaus, and Arthur Schnabel, although they are in a different group of pianists.

I have now gone into great length regarding the perfection that professional pianists must acquire in order to stay in the game, which may cause us to lose sight of our initial love for the piano.

Amateur pianists do not have this problem. They are not seeking for perfection and are aware that they will never reach it. They frequently have a demanding profession and do not have enough time to sit at the instrument perfecting every tiny detail or developing a rock-solid technique.

Because my parents both enjoy music, I am very familiar with amateur musicians. I understand exactly how they think and approach their particular instruments. Of course, they want to execute a piece to the best of their technical ability, and they work hard every day to better their performances. They do not want to make mistakes and want to perform to the best of their skills. What is most important to them is the happiness they get from performing some of their favorite works, as well as the pleasure they get from sharing their love of music with a private audience or other music aficionados.

What is most important to them is that they may share the beauty and deep meaning of a composition without having to include themselves in the equation. They are content to play Beethoven without ever considering that their performance will be more important than the beauty of the music they are performing.

Amateur musicians and pianists are not afraid to express themselves. They play only for their own amusement and have a great time doing it. They desire to succeed, but it never becomes an obsession. They are free to enjoy the music, which occasionally results in them performing more brilliantly than professional pianists.

Over the last two decades, I have met a number of extraordinary amateur pianists. They would be so enamored with the piano that I sometimes wonder if they should not start anew and reconsider their career. The majority of them have a similar background. They aspired to be musicians, but their parents had different plans….

Spending time with these amazing people on a weekly basis is tremendously inspiring and fulfilling! It appeals to me greatly since it allows us to concentrate on the interpretation and meaning of the music. It becomes perfect because it does not have to be flawless!

I used to be well-acquainted with Mrs Francois, the widow of the excellent pianist Samson Francois I mentioned before. Perfect performances, she used to say, are as boring as rain!

I could not agree more, and I believe that a pianist has attained excellence if he can depict the actual meaning of a work and share its emotions in a beautiful way.

Most of my piano students do, and I am quite pleased of them!

I have met a few adults with this mindset who told me right away that they were going to give it a year. They wanted to quickly master piano playing so they could move on to something else. It had to be done as we checked off items on our to-do list.

Unfortunately, these people did not succeed and quit playing the piano as soon as they realized there was far too much to learn and that this art could not be mastered in a matter of months. Instead of enjoying their piano lessons and learning more about the instrument with each passing week, they were racing against the clock, trying to turn the pages of the beginner book without mastering the previous exercise. It had to move quickly, quickly, quickly!

I have never understood why it was so important to them to complete the task, but that was their mindset, and there was nothing I could do about it.

They had a smile on their face and looked like they could give me a hug when they thought they were making progress, but when things slowed down, they became nervous and incredibly impatient.

I have to tell you the truth: mastering the piano takes years, and you will not get there by putting pressure on yourself or your piano teacher. Becoming a brilliant pianist takes time, which you must accept before beginning; otherwise, you will be a huge disappointment.

Last night, I was discussing this topic with a colleague because one of his piano students falls into this racer category. He requires constant encouragement, tries to learn everything at once, and places a lot of pressure on himself. He has no idea why he is not a concert pianist after only a few months of study. He is unsure whether the problem is with his piano teacher or with himself, but it is no one fault. It simply takes time.

I had a vision of my sister’s baby boy while we were talking about it. He’s now three months old. When I was showing some pictures to my colleague, I realised that when we learn a new skill, we can be compared to babies and toddlers. Our progress is steady and progressive. I get new pictures of my sister’s baby boy every day, and I don’t see much progress. He is, without a doubt, maturing, but it is not obvious. He grows in size and learns new skills one at a time. No one can be 20 years old in a single day. Growing up, like learning to play the piano, is a process. You must give your technical and musical abilities time to develop. Experience is also important in piano playing, which obviously comes with time.

So far, I have focused on piano students who want results now rather than allowing time to help them achieve their goal, but I can also discuss the opposite type of piano student: those who practice diligently without attempting to build Rome in a day.

You will not be surprised to learn that these piano students go on to become the most successful pianists because they take the time to develop both their technical and musical skills without feeling rushed. On the contrary, they proceed step by step, ensuring that each step is mastered before proceeding. They attend their lessons on a regular basis, practice on a daily basis, and enjoy every step of the journey. They have realised that only time and effort will get them where they want to go. They make steady progress, correct their errors along the way, and look forward to the new level they reach each year. They remember where they came from and recognize that they still have a long way to go.

Everything is well explained in the title of my article: This race against the clock will destroy your piano skills.

You can certainly vacuum a carpet quickly and achieve the desired result, but the desire for immediate gratification can only be detrimental to your piano playing.

I recall a piano student who clearly gave up fairly quickly. She wanted to learn a new piano piece every week and became irritated when I asked her to practice it again. She found it extremely tedious to have to practice the same piece for two weeks in a row. Do you know how much time concert pianists can devote to a piece? Sometimes a lifetime, because they want to better understand and perfect it over time.

Other piano students use tricks like skipping note reading to focus entirely on their finger activity and convince themselves that playing the piece faster makes them a better pianist. What a terrible trap it would be to fall into!

Whatever tricks you devise, attempting to skip steps in your piano education will backfire at some point. Unfortunately, you will not be able to succeed in this manner. You must go through each step and give yourself enough time to master them. You can certainly try, but trust me when I say it won’t get you very far.

If you want to take piano lessons as an adult, you should only do so if you have a genuine passion for the instrument and understand that you will be doing so for the rest of your life. Playing the piano is not a skill that can be learned quickly, and you must be willing to study for years to achieve the desired results.

I am so sorry, but there is no way around it… Have fun and give it some time! Patience and diligence will pay off one day!

I’ve been teaching piano for over 20 years and I’ve noticed a consistent pattern: 9 out of 10 adults stop taking piano lessons after 6 months. Some of them stop even earlier. It happens not only with my students, but also with people who take classes with my colleagues.

Adults appear to have a misunderstanding about piano playing. When they begin their piano lessons, they appear to have a completely different idea in mind. I could be wrong, but I believe the problem is there: They have no idea what they have agreed to. They believe it will be quick and simple, and that they will be able to add it to their list of hobbies. They are unaware that playing the piano requires practice and consistency to be effective.

Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I’m not saying that it’ll be a difficult journey and that you should avoid it. I simply want you to begin in the right frame of mind in order to avoid disappointment.

Here’s what the crowd is doing: They begin their piano lessons with great zeal. They are eager to attend their first three lessons and practice diligently in between. Life is beautiful, and they are very motivated. They are confident that they will be able to play their favourite pieces very soon and that the fundamentals will be mastered very quickly. They have no problem purchasing a beginner piano book and diligently performing all of the exercises. Everything is going swimmingly, and they are floating on a cloud of happiness. Their piano teacher is pleased with their progress, and they leave each lesson feeling empowered.

Everything changes with the introduction of a single stumbling block. They become frustrated and impatient. They refuse to acknowledge that it will take time and that piano playing cannot be learned overnight. They begin to lose motivation, practice less, and attend their lessons less frequently. After a few weeks, the email arrives: “It is with deep regret that I must inform you that I must discontinue my piano lessons for personal reasons.”

It’s truly heartbreaking to see a dream snuffed out so quickly. I believe that adults who decide to learn a new skill do so because they are genuinely interested in it. Nobody, as far as I know, has pushed them into it…

Here’s what a successful adult piano student does: The future successful amateur pianist acts in a completely different manner. He is usually not overly enthusiastic at first. He does not declare in the first lesson that he is extremely motivated and that he will do whatever it takes and stay for several years until all of the grade exams are successfully completed. On the contrary, he is unassuming, attends his piano lessons weekly without fail, and practices daily for weeks on end. He approaches any difficulty quietly and inquires about it with his piano teacher. He stacks the deck in his favour in order to succeed and do so brilliantly. He is content to endure the setbacks and plateaus that will be a part of the journey. He doesn’t pay too much attention to his progress. He just practices and goes to piano lessons. He makes little fuss about himself and begins climbing the success ladder through discipline and consistency.

The difference in their behavior is significant, and the results are predictable. As I previously stated, I have encountered both types of students and can now identify those who will give up at the first sign of difficulty.

Make your dreams come true by not following the crowd. Do not fall into the trap of creating your own disappointment by having unrealistic expectations. Learning a new skill takes time, but you can be successful if you listen to your piano teacher’s advice, attend your piano lessons on a regular basis, and devote time to personal practice every day. There is no other way to become a proficient pianist, but by following these simple rules, you can be certain that your efforts will be rewarded.

I am frequently amused when I consider the responses that these unfaithful people would give if their children told them after three piano lessons, “mum, it is too hard, I don’t want to play the piano anymore.” I’m sure they’ll say they should practice and keep going!

I’m sure you got the point. If you want to be successful, you must persevere in the face of adversity. You may encounter difficulties not only in your piano playing but also in your personal or professional life. Things can go wrong and prevent you from practicing as much as you would like. In these trying times, I always advise my students not to put their piano lessons on hold or to stop practicing. I always encourage them to persevere during difficult times because life has its ups and downs and the situation can change quickly again.

It’s fine if you have less time than usual. Share your feelings or situation with your piano teacher, who will be more than happy to help you retain your knowledge and revise until the clouds lift and you can get back on track.

Piano playing is a wonderful activity that will undoubtedly bring you a lot of joy, so keep going and don’t give up. You will undoubtedly reap the benefits of your hard work if you are disciplined and consistent!