Myth Vs Reality

how proficient can you become if you don't start piano at an early age? i started 17 and i'm almost 22 now...except a 1 year and a half of lessons in the beginning I never took it too serious... guitar is my main instrument but i wonder if one can attain a pro level at piano considering the facts above...of course nobody dreams of playing virtuosity pieces...maybe accompaniment, some jazz standards and managing to play with good dynamics and interpretation to become ready for a lounge/bar performance will sufice for me...

Hi crazy_b76! The answer is probably that you'll find out if you love music enough to try. Teachers mostly do not recommend students to have much hope in a professional career the competition is just killing especially with a couple of million reaaly skilful asians. If you love music and the piano it doesn't really matter you'll play and try to improve anyway. Personally I beleive that starting up at an early age is very advantagous from a neurological viewpoint. It's less important what instrument you begin with. It's maybe not necessary but it will save you a lot of later painful effort.It's really comfortable to having memorized a big part of the repertoire in your teens.But not necessary. Paderewsky, I beleive, started out at 23 and his teacher (one of the best at the time) didn't have much hope for him. Well Paderwsky maybe had the most brilliant career of all pianists. And I have a friend a nordic pianist who started to play the piano at 19 (he was a violinist) and now is touring with pieces like Rach. #3. Go for it! Eric

as far as i know paderewski started much earlier...at age 12 he was already studying at the conservatory...but these examples and jazz pianists like ellington and cole are probably not the best to compare with in one way or another they were musical geniuses...and from there on we are talkin about natural gift.... but maybe you are right ...as long as you love music it doesn't matter...how old is your nordic friend now?

I think the answer really depends on the individuals. It's just that statistically, there hasn't been many prominent pianists (not a single one that I know of) who started really late (let's say beyond 18). It tells you something. Musically, it's certainly not an issue. The problem is technique..... At a younger age, technique comes naturally without much thinking and efforts. Having said that, the fact that there's no one on earth taller than 9 ft doesn't mean you can't be the first one. And I would say,even if you can't play Rach no.3, there're still enough good and easy music written for piano, which has among all instruments the richest literature!

Totally agree with Alvin!