When Keith resumed piano lessons in 2022 after a long break, he never imagined he’d one day achieve a Grade 8 Distinction.

In this heartfelt and insightful interview, Keith shares his journey from self-doubt to success—reflecting on the challenges, breakthroughs, and joyful moments that shaped his musical growth.

What began with modest goals has become a true testament to the power of dedication, expert guidance, and a renewed love for the piano.

Stefan: Keith, congratulations on your distinction! How did it feel when you received the news?

Thank you very much! At first I felt relieved – the results took a few weeks to arrive, and I had increasingly surreal nightmares about failing spectacularly. After that I was able to reflect and felt pleased and proud.

Stefan: Let’s go back to the beginning—what first drew you to the piano, and how did your journey start with the London Piano Institute in 2022?

Keith: It started when a friend bought a beautiful glockenspiel, and he was amazed when I sat down and started to play tunes on it. I had learned the flute as a child, and later the piano for a short time, but over the years as life got busier I rarely played any music at all.

My friend suggested I might like to have an electric piano to play at home, and eventually I decided it was time to have lessons again. The prospect was quite terrifying after so many years!

I was reassured, however, when reading about the London Piano Institute and their approach to adult piano learning.

Stefan: What were your initial goals when you began lessons, and how have those evolved over time?

Keith: The initial plan was to aim for ABRSM Grade 6, to “finish off” where I stopped as a teenager 20 years before – I didn’t believe I had the ability to proceed beyond that.

After my first lessons with Laura, and with her guidance in (drastically) improving my technique, scales and practice habits, it became much more pleasurable and less frustrating to play and learn new pieces.

Stefan: You’re currently taking online lessons with Sonja. How has that experience been?

Keith: Amazing! I always look forward to our lessons and come away with new knowledge, ideas, and of course things to work on over the next week.

One of my biggest fears was that I would plateau and become too frustrated to continue, and Sonja is great at helping me find ways around all the problem areas of my pieces.

I will never forget the “eureka” moment when she fixed an issue with one of the dreaded “double thirds” scales.

Stefan: As an adult learner, how have you managed to balance piano with work and life?

Keith: Gosh, making time to practise is often easier said than done, so I try to be realistic about it. If I can only manage 15/20 minutes some days, I will then try to sit down later in the week and get some quality hours in.

My home piano has a headphone slot, so fortunately I can play at unsociable hours if need be!

Stefan: Were there any practise routines or strategies that particularly helped you?

Keith: Attention to detail in scales worked wonders for me, and being strict with the accuracy and finger patterns. Learning some of the trickier scales slooowly was astonishingly frustrating but it really did work.

Slow practice too, trying to perfect small sections of a piece – but taking a break when it started to get frustrating, rather than just going through the motions of practise, and having something totally different or fun to play as a “breather”.

Stefan: Grade 8 is no small feat. What did your preparation involve, and what were some of the biggest challenges?

Keith: I made extra time for practise each day where possible, particularly for scales, with extra hours at the weekend.

When learning the pieces, I often video myself playing them – it was hard to deal with in the early stages, and quite horrific listening back to the first attempts, but helpful to compare with later recordings and see a bit of improvement.

I had a great fear of disappointing others, but with a gradual growth in confidence I instead tried to turn that into: make them proud that you did your best.

Stefan: Many find sight-reading and aural tests especially demanding. How did you prepare for those?

Keith: The ABRSM app and books were very useful for the aural tests. Particulary with the aural tests, I found it valuable to sit by myself and give the answers out loud.

Much of the detail was still lurking in the back of my mind from my old flute days, although I am not entirely sure how! Sight-reading was more of a challenge and in the months leading up to the exam I set aside time to sight-read short pieces every day.

On some occasions I found myself saying loudly “don’t stop!” after a slip. Fortunately I didn’t say that to myself in the exam.

Stefan: Was there a particular piece in your Grade 8 programme that resonated with you?

Keith: Barcarolle: Juin by Tchaikovsky. I did not imagine I would ever be able to play it, let alone memorise it. That in itself felt like an achievement; slowly understanding the musicality, appropriate pedalling, phrasing and the overall mood of the piece, though, was a real joy.

I don’t think I’ve ever managed that level of depth with a piece before. (An honourable mention to JP Johnson’s Over The Bars, which is enormous fun to bash out on a street piano when the opportunity arises).

Stefan: How did Sonja support your preparation, especially in the weeks leading up to the exam?

Keith: Sonja was very supportive with helping me think clearly about how the pieces should be played in the exam, making sure my scales were ready and not panicking (which I tend to do).

We could also talk quite frankly about timing – not rushing to try and take the exam early, but getting to the right point first. Although the exam day itself was full of anxiety, I felt we had prepared as much as we could.

Stefan: Looking back on your journey from 2022 to now, what do you feel has changed most in your playing or musical outlook?

Keith: It’s all still changing. I started with very limited ambitions and have been constantly amazed when things have gone well!

Overall I feel encouraged that it’s still possible to get better with practise and great teaching and most of all, to enjoy the whole experience for what it is.

Stefan: Has learning piano impacted other areas of your life?

Keith: “Sorry I can’t, I’ve got a piano studio booked!” was a regular refrain for me over the last year. Friends and family have been very understanding and supportive.

It’s definitely given me more confidence in my own ability to learn and apply myself – and not to be embarrassed to ask for help.

Stefan: What advice would you give to other adult pianists working towards their Grade 8 or similar goals?

I can’t emphasise this enough: enjoy it!

Decide your own personal goals, but be flexible and don’t restrict yourself. Remember that you’re doing it for you. And listen to your teacher!

Stefan: Now that you’ve achieved Grade 8 with distinction, what’s next for you musically?

I would like to work towards the ARSM diploma. This was simply unimaginable a few years ago. I don’t yet know if I have the ability, but hopefully it will continue to be a fun journey!

Conclusion

Keith’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to pursue excellence in music.

With dedication, the right support, and a love for learning, adult learners can achieve truly remarkable milestones.

We look forward to following Keith’s continued journey as he sets his sights on the ARSM diploma!

David joined our piano family back in 2016, starting with in-person lessons at the London Piano Institute.

Since then, his journey has evolved beautifully as he transitioned to online lessons with the Online Piano Institute, allowing him to continue developing his skills and passion for piano.

In this interview, David shares his story—what drew him to the piano, his experiences learning in-person and online, and how playing has become such a meaningful part of his life.

Mae: So, David, tell me a bit about what first brought you to the piano. Was it something you’d always wanted to do, or did you just decide to give it a go in 2016?

David: I have always wanted to learn the piano and dabbled at school, although I never had time to commit to it until later on in life when I had more flexibility and more time on my hands. I now have more time with my children being adults. I also wanted an “adult only” teacher and I saw that the London Piano Institute advertised my teacher, Stefan Joubert’s lessons, which was specifically tailored for adults.

Mae: What do you remember most about your early in-person lessons at the London Piano Institute? How did they shape the way you approached playing?

David: I was nervous, but enjoyed it and I felt that I was finally learning something. I was playing simple piano in my own time but I had to go back to basics and start from the beginning, like learning scales. I had to go backwards to get me into a better position to progress forward. Originally, I had another teacher but he taught school children and I was an older student being taught simple rhymes but since joining London Piano Institute, I felt that they were more knowledgable on how to teach adults.

Mae: At some point, you decided to transition to online lessons. What made you take that step? Was it a big adjustment for you at first?

David: I went online as I am able to commit more regularly with lessons. There is no commute and I can fit it within my daily/work routine and family life. For example, having remote lessons during the Covid period was highly beneficial. Although, a bit of an adjustment, it was the best transition I could make to ensure consistency.

Mae: How have you found learning online compared to in-person? Are there things you enjoy more about the online format?
David: I really like being able to use my own piano as I am familiar with it and can practice with it. I never forget my sheet music or notes being at home and can continue to practice straight after the lesson rather than having to rush to catch a train home!

Mae: What is it about the piano that keeps you motivated? Is it just your love for music, or do you have dreams of playing at dinner parties or in front of friends?

David: The love for music is what motivates me, it keeps my brain exercised and provides a moment of peace and clarity and just a moment for just myself. Yes, I would love to play at a dinner party.

Mae: Do you ever think about performing for an audience one day (if you haven’t yet!), or is piano playing more of a personal outlet for you?

David: It’s more personal for me and I feel like my friends and family who have witnessed my journey would appreciate hearing my performances more so a bit more rewarding and less intimidating should I mess up a note or two!

Mae: Looking back over the years, are there any moments or achievements at the piano that you’re particularly proud of?

David: My biggest achievement is going from Grade 1 to Grade 5 and now having the ability to read music. I am now in a position where I can play personal pieces I want to play rather than having to play from standard exercise books.

Mae: Have you faced any challenges along the way? How did you work through them?

David: It’s always a challenge to every piano planner who wants to improve. I admire my teacher, Stefan, who can pick up random sheet music and play instantly. Though I can read music, it takes me a lot longer to learn but I am persevering through thanks to London Piano Institute.

Mae: How has your teacher supported you throughout your journey? Are there any specific lessons or moments that stand out?

David: Stefan has always supported me, if he or I can’t make a lesson, he will ensure that he can make another time so I do not miss out on a week. Stefan also takes into account what I want to learn. Stefan is patient, clear and understanding. All my lessons stand out to me as I learn something new each time, so no lesson is wasted.

Mae: Do you have a favourite piece or style of music to play? And what makes it so special to you?

David: I adore movie soundtrack music. My wife likes romantic music so I am enjoying ‘Kiss the Rain’ by Yiruma as it keeps her happy! Having a personal music connection resonates with me so makes it even more special.

Mae: Are there any composers or styles you’re hoping to explore more in the future?

David: I appreciate all the talented piano composers and I am open to a lot of music styles as it improves my technical knowledge. I do like classical and like to explore composers but I am not a massive fan of the Beethoven style, I prefer film composers like John Barry and the famous John Williams.

Mae: How has learning piano enriched your life? Has it had any unexpected benefits beyond the music itself?

David: It has been beneficial to my own mental health and to achieve something so special as an adult. I like the way it has brought my family together, especially at Christmas time playing songs around the fire and having a baileys! My daughter also has autism and she finds it relaxing to listen to me play which is really amazing to see as a parent.

Mae: For someone thinking about starting piano lessons, whether in-person or online, what would you say to them?
David: Have patience with yourself and be consistent, giving up is not an option if you have dreams of playing the piano and love it. Everyone learns at a different pace so take your time and learn with a company like London Piano Institute who take your learning style and capabilities into account.

Mae: Do you have any advice for students making the switch to online lessons?

David: My advice would be is to prepare 15 minutes before the lesson. Check your piano, sheet music and WiFi and even have a quick practice to warm up. I screen share my Zoom session on to a large TV and this is a great way to see my teacher’s piano and face more clearly.

Mae: Looking ahead, what are your goals as a pianist? Is there a piece or milestone you’re excited to tackle next?
David: My goal is to be an intermediate player and read music quicker and understand the language behind the notes. I also want to learn more complex pieces but really I’d love to learn a few new Christmas songs that everyone can sing along to when I host at home this year!

Mae: Is there anything else about your journey that you’d like to share?

David: It’s been a wonderful journey thanks to the London Piano Institute and can’t believe how far I have come. Do not give up and don’t get demoralised as you will get there. It is always hard learning as an adult compared to children who are like sponges and adults have more responsibilities so do not feel down if someone younger than you is more experienced. I also highly recommend London Piano Institute as the teachers are wonderful and support you on your dreams and encourage you and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Keep chasing the dream and make it a reality no matter where you are in life or who you are.

Conclusion

David’s journey is a great reminder of how music can grow with us, adapting to our lives while staying a constant source of joy and creativity.

It’s been a privilege to see him progress and stay committed to his passion for piano.

We can’t wait to see where this journey takes him next!

Starting your piano journey can be daunting, but we all have to start somewhere, right?

Learning any instrument is hard. You know what is harder? Living with the fact of what could have been.

Why live a life of regret where you have the daily opportunity to tame the unknown.

Learning the piano will take time, but will be one of the best decisions you ll ever make.

Here are some benefits as well as challenges you most probably will come across in your piano journey.

The Unwanted Challenges of Learning the Piano

Putting Limitations on Age

Many people’s excuse as to why they can not learn a new instrument is because they are “too old”.

While the majority of professional pianists start taking lessons between the ages 4 and 6, many have only discovered their talents at a later stage in their lives.

Albert Frantz is one of them, where he only started at 17 and went on to become a world class pianist.

Age should not be the reason to limit yourself, no matter how young or old!

The Demand of Discipline

Learning the piano takes time. It will take self-discipline to schedule some time out for practise each day.

This is also where many beginners fall off. They take learning the piano seriously for a few weeks, months, or even a year, but then give up when it becomes too hard.

This is exactly why you need discipline to persevere through seasons where it might not even feel like you are doing anything.

Fear of Mistakes

If you’re a perfectionist or someone who is extremely competitive, another challenge of learning the piano is the mistakes you will inevitably make.

Unfortunately, many see mistakes as failures – which is just not true. Making mistakes is a part of the process.

No professional pianist can earnestly say they have never made mistakes before.

You have to deal with the fact that you will be making a lot of mistakes, especially in the start.

It might be uncomfortable, but not forever! In the end it will be so worth it and you will be happy you embrace your mistakes.

Mentally and Physically Overwhelming

Starting your piano journey can be overwhelming at first. Questions might seem to cloud your mind; like where do you start, what do you do now and so on.

Learning the piano is a goal that keeps on being put off for another time to break the ice.

This is a recurring factor for why people give up before even trying. The best time to start is now. The way you do it is just as simple.

You can start with lessons – whether online or in person – or even use youtube videos as your guide.

There are a lot of resources on media platforms to help you get started.

The Blissful Benefits of Learning The Piano

Boosts Creativity

When learning piano, you are literally teaching your brain to see patterns which helps you to think creatively to solve problems.

It builds verbal memory and increases the number of ideas. This is due to the fact that music activates various parts of the brain that are responsible for creativity.

Learning a new instrument will also help with other aspects of your life where innovative ideas and problem-solving is needed.

Stress Reliever

Playing the piano can do wonders to your anxiety. It lowers the cortisol levels which decreases a person’s anxiety levels.

The piano is an excellent way of ‘venting’ your emotions since it makes it possible to express yourself through the notes you’re playing.

It is scientifically found that practising piano can boost your mood because your brain is releasing serotonin and dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone.

Enhances Self-Esteem

Don’t you love that feeling after accomplishing something that took you so long to achieve because of its difficulty?

Just like that, learning the piano boosts your morale and enhances your self esteem whenever you achieve something.

They can be milestones or even weekly goals. There is no greater feeling than overcoming a difficult piano piece or looking back on your journey and seeing how far you have come.

Opens Up Opportunities

Learning the piano opens up so many doors. If you take your skill to a professional level, you can get paid to play the instrument you love!

People can hire you for weddings and events or you can even become a piano teacher.

Having connections do help, so do not be afraid to slip your hobby into the conversation.

Strengthen Hand Muscles

Pianists tend to develop pronounced muscles at the base of their thumb and pinky.

This is due to balancing their weight in their fingers when playing. Playing piano can even strengthen and build muscles in your arms.

Learning the piano will increase your grip strength too and help maintain stamina over time to keep preciseness without sloppy movements.

Belong To Community

The start of your piano journey can be the start of forming lifelong friendships.

Learning the piano can open up opportunities to connect with other music lovers and musicians.

You get to belong to a community filled with people who share the same love for piano like you and even learn from them!

Having friends that also play the piano helps with staying determined and disciplined to continue learning and improving.

Conclusion

I am pretty sure there are a bunch more benefits I could mention, or do not even know about!

Clearly the benefits exceed the challenges. With nowadays’ resources, there really is no excuse to learn the piano if you already have one.

Here at London Piano Institute, we have the option of online lessons – a great way to kickstart your journey no matter where you live.

Put in the work and see how the fruit will grow!

Time goes by anyway. Why not “waste” it well and learn the piano!

Do-it-yourself (DIY) has become such a common phrase these days that when it comes to certain areas where a lot of skill is required, such as playing the piano, it can put your overall skill and technique in jeopardy. Yes there are many resources to help one with learning to play the piano by yourself, but is it justifiable to neglect the importance of having a teacher?

You’re torn between booking that lesson or just teaching yourself. Which one is better? Well, in this article we are going to analyse both sides from a neutral perspective and compromise.

The Benefits of Having a Teacher

1. Refined Skill

Being able to play the piano is one thing, but being able to do it well? That is where skill and technique come in. When you learn something on your own, most of the time, you will not even recognise any mistakes you make. Thus, having a teacher will give you another perspective to help you fine-tune and sharpen your skills. Teachers help you see the fault, provide the solution, and answer for it. It also helps end incorrect behaviours before they become a habit. They also help motivate you to put in more effort, which will subconsciously make you want to practise more, positively affecting your skill and technique progress.

2. Improved Time Management

Students who receive teaching are prone to have better time management skills because they know exactly when their lessons will take place. It helps create a set routine. People tend to perform better when they have a set routine. When teaching yourself, you are more likely to procrastinate in your practice sessions, which ultimately leads to little practice, if not total cancellation.

3. Boosts Value

“Easy come, easy go”. It is no secret that piano lessons come at a cost, both time and money, but you value something much more when you pay for it. Thus, if you have piano lessons, you will be more likely to put in more effort to make sure your money does not go to waste. This will increase the amount of time you spend practising the instrument overall, resulting in faster learning and progress.

Negatives of Having a Teacher

1. Location

Most teachers are located somewhere, and you will need to use any form of transportation to get there, if not walking. This costs money, which needs to be taken into account. Yet, I believe it is nothing compared to the treasure of learning this skill. At London Piano Institute, we also offer online classes, which can help save transportation money and make it possible for you to start learning the piano from anywhere in the world.

2. Money

Having a piano teacher can become pricey, especially if you want a professional/skilful teacher. Yet the benefits will be so much more. Being able to play an instrument well is something priceless.

Benefits of Being Self-taught

1. Own Schedule

A lot of people have busy schedules, or their routines change frequently. Thus, choosing when to put in a practice session is quite helpful. You get to be your own ‘boss’ and can also practise for longer than those receiving lessons. You are not tied to a teacher and time, but only yourself.

2. Learning Speed

The speed at which you progress is mostly based on you. If you decide to put in the effort, you can develop faster than the one being taught. However, you can also progress very slowly if you do not put in much effort at all. In the end, it is entirely up to you.

3. Free Resources

There are unlimited resources you can use online these days. Social media is full of free content, especially for those beginning their piano journey. This means you do not have to pay a lot of money to start learning the piano.

Negatives of Being Self-taught

1. Skill Issues

Being your own teacher must sound fun, but it can be much more frustrating. Since you are the only input source, you will not know whether you are really playing something correctly. You may lack skill in many areas due to only seeing from your perspective. It can also become rather difficult when trying to learn new pieces, especially when you do not know how to read sheet music that well. In the long run, your skill and technique might fall short when it comes to learning harder pieces.

2. Discipline

According to timeular.com, only 20% of people believe their workload is under control each day. This means that most people struggle to find a balance between time management and other essentials. How you manage your time and discipline heavily influences how much time and effort you put into learning the piano. You can quickly fall out of rhythm and never pick up the instrument again. In fact, self-teaching is one of the biggest reasons people quit learning an instrument.

So Which One is Better?

In conclusion, I believe sowing money and time into having a teacher is a better investment than trying to learn on your own. You will be able to go further in skill and technique and even be able to make money in return!

You could one day offer piano lessons or perform at concerts. Yet, when teaching yourself, you can only go so far.

The saying: ‘always stay a student in life’ is a strong revelation that can change one’s perspective about everything. Those who are being taught by a piano teacher are much more likely to progress better than those who teach themselves.

Alas, learning on your own is still not to no avail, but only with your main source of teaching coming from an experienced teacher.

Do not know where to start? Visit our website to find out more about piano lessons.

You can only teach yourself so many things – and the day we stop learning is the day we stop living!

Fourth Anniversary

Four years have passed since I started piano lessons – it is hard to believe that time flies so fast. My classes with Stefan Joubert at S & C Music have been excellent and life-changing really. He is a great teacher with the right blend of enthusiasm, standards and experience to help you grow as a player. The thing I love about S & C is that the lessons are designed for adult learners, and the teachers understand how adults learn and are sympathetic to the realities of learning as an older human. After four years, I now consider Stefan a friend as well as a tutor.

Learning piano has taught me many things, not least the discipline to practice with full intention every day. I have tried practising when I have been distracted and not quite “in the zone”, and 20 minutes of pure deliberate focus is better than 1 hour of haphazard playing. It reminds me of a quote from Jocko Willink: “Discipline equals freedom” – meaning that if you maintain the discipline to practice the hard things, your reward is the freedom to play beautifully. There is nothing quite like the feeling of successfully playing a delightful piece of music and the emotions it brings you when you finally “get it”.

As I have written about before, it’s not about being motivated in the practice session; it’s about having the discipline to practice even when you don’t feel like it by focusing on a meaningful goal ahead of you. (See my article on the rule of three) The further you go into practice and climb the grades… the greater the improvement steps can feel. This is where, more than ever, it’s vital to make daily efforts to improve.

When you are climbing the mountain and only focusing on the top, it can feel like a long way. Instead, focus on one step at a time, ensure the step is the best you can do, and progress will come.

When you look back on your progress and see how far you have come, it’s a great feeling and a timely reminder of your success. This method helps me stay calm when facing new challenges and allows me to go into them with the same zeal I had initially.

I have come so far, but there is still much to learn. The biggest thing now is the work taken to make smaller increments.

I am currently going for grade 6, and the nuances in the playing are more complex, so it takes a lengthier time and greater focus to improve- but it’s so worth it.

One evening, I performed in an online concert with S & C and around ten other students of varying experience, and It was fantastic. I was very nervous beforehand, and even though the audience was not in the room with me, I still felt their presence and the nervous tension around me!

I had a quick practice run of my piece just before I performed, and I couldn’t remember any of it! Fortunately, my hands (and brain) got their mojo back, and I finished unscathed. If you ever have the opportunity to play in public, take it; it is a lesson in how to control the inner voice in your head and just like public speaking, the only way to get better at it – is to do it!

Over the years, life has thrown a few challenges at me, and sometimes, I had to pause my practice. It can be challenging to get back on the piano after this because you can feel how much your playing quality has reduced, which can be de-motivating to restart. It’s a bit like when you stop doing fitness because of injury – and when you restart, you hesitate to return to the gym because you know it will be hard and gasping! I advise focusing on the present and being better than the player you were yesterday (not six months ago or two years ago).

If you get frustrated with your playing or feel you need to be better, I suggest this: It is estimated that around 25 million people play the piano globally. That means, even if you are a beginner, you are better at the piano than 99.7% of the world. That makes you pretty unique.

So, you’re thinking about taking up piano lessons as an adult and the big question on your mind is, “Am I too old for this?” Well, let me tell you my friend, age is just a number! And honestly, what’s the worst that could happen? You might not become the next Beethoven, but at least you’ll have a new hobby to impress your friends and family with.

Now, let’s talk about some of the benefits of learning to play the piano as an adult. First off, you’ve probably already developed your music taste and have a better understanding of what you like. That means you can focus on learning the songs you actually enjoy, instead of playing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on repeat like you did as a kid. Plus, it’s always fun to learn a new party trick and bust out a song or two when everyone’s gathered around the piano.

Another perk of starting piano lessons as an adult is that you’re probably more disciplined than you were as a kid. You won’t be as easily distracted by that shiny object in the corner of the room or the sudden urge to run around the house for no reason. You’ll be able to focus on your lessons and practice without being reminded by your parents to stop playing video games and do your homework.

And let’s not forget about the social aspect of playing the piano. Sure, it’s a solo instrument, but that doesn’t mean you have to play alone. Joining a local piano club or attending group lessons can be a great way to meet new people and connect with other adults who share your passion for music. Who knows, you might even find a new piano duet partner!

But let’s be real, taking piano lessons isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. You might not progress as quickly as a child who’s been playing for years, but hey, slow and steady wins the race, right? Learning to play an instrument is a journey, and it’s all about enjoying the process. Sure, you’ll hit some frustrating roadblocks along the way, but the feeling of finally nailing that tricky chord progression or playing a song all the way through without a mistake is truly rewarding. And if all else fails, you can always throw in some fancy finger work and pretend like you meant to play that way.

Of course, to add onto this there is also the dreaded practice sessions. But here’s the thing, practice doesn’t have to be boring! You can mix it up by incorporating fun exercises, playing along to your favourite songs, or even challenging yourself to learn a new technique. And if all else fails, you can always bribe yourself with a piece of chocolate for every 15 minutes of practice.

When it comes to finding the right teacher, there are plenty of options available. You can take lessons in person, or hop on the latest trend and take lessons online. Plus, there are teachers out there who specialise in teaching adults, so you won’t feel like the only one in the room who can legally buy a drink.

Finally, let’s talk about the true joy of playing the piano – the mental benefits. Playing the piano is a great way to relieve stress and clear your mind. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, just sit down at the piano and let your fingers do the talking. Not only is it a great way to unwind after a long day, but it can also improve cognitive function. So go ahead, treat yourself to a little piano therapy session. You deserve it! Plus, you can finally fulfil your dream of playing Chopsticks while wearing a powdered wig and pretending to be a classical pianist.

So there you have it. Whether you’re looking to become the next Chopin or just want to have a new hobby, it’s never too late to start playing the piano. Don’t let age hold you back from pursuing your passions and having fun. Just remember to have a good sense of humour and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself when you hit a wrong note. With a little bit of dedication and a willingness to learn, you can become a skilled pianist and enjoy all the benefits that come with it. So go ahead, dust off that old keyboard in the corner of your living room and start playing!

In this day and age, people are often looking for a shortcut to achieve something. Whether to lose weight, get in shape, or sleep better, the modern-day “hack” of finding an easier way is very fashionable. In wellness circles, this term is called “Biohacking”. It means using technology and the latest research to make you look, feel and perform better than the average person.

So how does this relate to the piano? And is it possible to achieve meaningful skills by finding a shortcut? First- we better define what we mean when we say being able to play. Stefan Joubert explains being able to play as being at grades 4-5 (note that he is generalising and this is obviously not a hard-and-fast-rule!). However, for yourself, this may be something else. Do you want to be able to read music, play jazz or learn the notes and follow along on YouTube piano songs (this is tougher than it looks, by the way!).

In terms of learning quickly, well, again, this is a tricky one. What can you do in six weeks or six months? The outcome depends on how much quality time you spend rehearsing. It may be six months of practice, but there is a significant difference after doing one hour per day versus one hour per week. Sensible practice and dedication have always been the order of the day.

Whatever your goal, however, there is a secret hack to get you where you want to go as fast as possible. Are you ready? It is called WORK. Alas, there is no genuine shortcut to laying the foundations in the brain and fingers to reach an accomplished level. Of course, there is smart work and doing the right things in the correct order, but the more you perform, the better you become. This is a refreshing thought when you think about it. You don’t need to worry about missing out on any secret or latest hack to get better. Of course, you best have the right coaching to ensure you are practising correctly (S & C Piano, hello) and have the proper guidance, but at the end of the day, it is all down to you.

So what are you waiting for?

“People look for the shortcut. the hack… The shortcut is a lie. The hack doesn’t get you there… There is no easy way. There is only hard work, late nights, early mornings, practice, rehearsal, repetition, study, sweat, blood, toil, frustration, and discipline…There is only one way. The way of discipline.” Jocko Willink

Ready to start your piano journey?

If you have always wanted to learn – why not get started with top-notch piano education in London? You do not need any prior experience and can give it a go!

Please find out more about our piano courses!