How long does it take to learn to play the piano?
The answer may surprise you. It can take hours, days, weeks, or months. It all depends on you, the kind of teacher you have, and the amount of time you can devote to practicing.
That doesn't mean that you have to practice every minute of every day. It simply means that when you DO practice, you need to do it right.
Believe it or not, some people take piano lessons so they can learn to play a particular piece of music. This isn't a bad thing, just a bit short-sighted perhaps. Because the same skills you need to play one piece are the very skills that will allow you to play almost any piece in the piano repertoire. But if you think a few piano lessons will enable you to play a Beethoven piano concerto, then think again.
On the other hand, you get out what you put in. If you've got a teacher who's willing to teach you one particular piece until you've got it, that's fine. But why stop there? Once you've taken the first step and feel comfortable playing one song, it's not too difficult to move on and conquer another. And a good teacher will know exactly how to do that.
I've had students who've learned songs in days, and others who've taken months to learn the same piece. Often the approach has a lot to do with the time it takes to learn. For instance, some people get hung up on practicing scales and technical exercises, while others practice the pieces set by their teacher. In the end, it's all down to you and how far you want to go.
Time is an Illusion
The truth is that if you enjoy playing, you won't worry about the time element. A good teacher will keep you motivated and enjoying your lessons: you won't be thinking about anything except the next week's lessons or a new skill you're trying to learn. The saying that "time flies when you're having fun" really does apply here.
Obviously the younger you are, the less you'll be worried about how long it's taking you to learn. But that shouldn't stop you from making progress. One of the great things about learning to play any instrument is that there is absolutely no age restriction whatsoever. If you have the commitment to learn, you will learn.
Play what you Want
I know from experience that some people want to learn to play certain types of music. One student came to me for lessons because her former teacher wouldn't teach anything but the classics. But this student was old enough to decide what she wanted to play -- and she wanted to play the blues. My take on it was that, as long as she enjoyed playing and practiced regularly enough, it didn't matter what she was playing. PLAYING was the important part, and enjoying it possibly even more important.
Learning to play any instrument is an investment. You have to give up some of your time, maybe some money, and obviously be prepared to work towards certain goals. It doesn't matter if it takes a week or a month to master a certain piece: all that matters is that you're doing it because you want to and getting some pleasure out of it. For as soon as you take the fun out of it, there seems little point.
If you're having piano lessons or thinking about taking them, remember to cut yourself some slack. We're all different, and everybody learns things at their own pace. Give yourself a chance to take in everything you need to be a success. Let things unfold naturally and be patient with yourself. If you can do that, you'll get the maximum benefit from the lessons and learn more than you could ever have imagined possible.
And if you're not sure where to begin, why not start off by trying a few of my lessons for beginners? As long as you've got access to a piano (or a keyboard) you'll find them easy to follow. And I'll be adding lots more as the weeks go by, so you won't feel abandoned just as you start to make progress.
