| Am I too old for piano lessons? Is it too late for me? The answer is, "No, it's never too late to start piano lessons." The important thing to remember is not how quickly you progress, rather that you progress consistently. I have taught many elderly piano students. The oldest student I had was 93 years old; the oldest beginner student I had was 80 years old. So, chances are, you're not too old for piano lessons! 
People who start piano lessons later in life fall into one of two categories: | ♪ | Those who had piano lessons when they were young but have stopped playing for a number of years. Now that their life has settled, they wish to re-visit those wonderful years when music filled the room. | | ♪ | Those who have always wanted to play piano but never had time (or money) to do so. Now that they are settled in their life, they have decided to take action and make their dream of playing piano come true. |
The Mature Beginner-Student
If you are of advanced-age and have never played piano piano before but want to start, then let me congratulate you! It is sometimes hard to start something you've never done before but you need not worry. With patience, practice, and a pinch of persistence, you will play the piano! In fact, playing the piano may help:
♪ keep your fingers nimble through exercise;
♪ increase finger strength, speed, and coordination;
♪ keep your mind active by learning new notations and ideas;
♪ increase memory by repetition;
♪ increase eye-brain-hand coordination;
♪ gain a sense of accomplishment & satisfaction; and
♪ give you endless hours of joy!
Start by getting a suitable teacher who can work with your skills and limitations. You will also need a piano or keyboard. You can buy or rent one, but the instrument should be at your place of residence so you can practice any time you wish. Here are some issues that some of my elderly piano students experience. They are not specific to mature students, but they are issues that many older adults experience. 
You're never too old for piano lessonsStiff Joints: Not news to anyone who is over 50. Knees & elbows crack when we bend and fingers are not as nimble nor quick as they used to be. You can still play piano but consider these:
♪ Play frequently but for shorter durations at each session.
♪ Get a piano with a softer touch: one that can be pressed down easily.
Although there is no known cure for arthritis, research has shown that exercise and movement of the affected joints can reduce long-term pain.
Poor Eyesight: People between ages 40 to 50 may develop "presbyopia" and find it difficult to read fine-print. This is especially evident when the music sheets have many notations and the font is small to accommodate all the details of the song. You can alleviate this problem by trying any one of these:
♪ Have the room well lit so you can see better;
♪ adjust distance of piano bench to music sheet to maximize visual acuity;
♪ Get reading glasses or bifocals;
♪ Photocopy the music sheet at a higher magnification.
Some piano music books are available in large print.
No Time to Practice: Many of today's elderly are active members of the community with busy schedules! If you are such a person, then you may find that you have little time to practice the piano.
You are not alone in this: everyone - from 8 year olds who want to go outside to play, to teenagers who have too much homework - everyone is too busy to practice. Yet, if you want to play the piano, you must practice. Like seeing your doctor or attending a book club, you need to make an appointment with yourself and your piano so you can practice everyday.
Physical Discomfort: For some older adults, it is uncomfortable to sit at the piano for a full-hour lesson. The piano bench may be made of hard wood, or it may just be challenging to hold your body in proper position for such a long time. You can try:
♪ Placing a cushion over the piano bench, or getting a padded piano bench.
♪ Take two or three breaks during the lesson: walk around and loosen up a bit.
Psychological Discomfort: Although you may not be too old for piano lessons, you may be too old for "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Some advanced-aged students also have advanced careers and find it embarrassing to play simple nursery rhyme songs. These individuals who have had a full, successful life find it dis-concerting that they struggle with childhood melodies. There is no quick remedy for these mental misgivings. My only advice is this:
Beginners need to start at the beginning. You need to learn your ABC's before you can read. You need to learn to walk before you can race. Similarly, you need to learn the easy concepts before you can move to advanced topics. Instead of worrying about how you may look or sound to others, concentrated on trying your best. With effort and dedication, you will progress beyond the simple songs. 
| One of my favorite students was an elderly lady who came to my door for lessons, saying "I always wanted to play the piano, but I think I am too fold for piano lessons." I told her that all she needed was patience and to be careful to practice the way I showed her. We started very slowly. She had held her hands in a certain way for decades and had trouble with proper hand positioning. But she was not discouraged. I had her relax her hands and play the scales as slowly as she possibly could. She played one note every five seconds. But she did learn her scales and in time, she got faster. She said to me, "it must drive you crazy to hear it so slow." I told her that, on the contrary, it was tremendously relaxing for me to have a sweet lady come to my studio and play soft, perfect tones up and down the piano. What simplistic joy. After a few weeks, she was playing pieces on her own and after a few more sessions, she was delighted because she could play duets with her grandson. So, my motto is: you are never too old for piano! |
The Mature Returned-Student
Adults who are resuming piano lessons after a long break may experience the same difficulties as those listed above. However, they may have other issues to consider. Some returning students know exactly the type of music they want to play. For this age group, it was often Broadway tunes and popular tunes. These people have already done their scales, and they have already done the Mozarts & Chopins. Now they are interested in playing for the joy of music. So yes, why not play Broadway tunes day and night? My advice for these returned piano students is this: there is such a world of music out there; so many ways to approach it; so many ways to play it; and so many kinds of music: don't be afraid to try something different. Every kind of music offers challenges and rewards. Don't restrict yourself to the familiar but be open to new songs. Some adult piano students have acquired poor habits either because they were never taught the right way, or they may have forgotten the right way. As expected, it is hard for these students to unlearn bad habits. Sometimes they don't want to change. They've been doing it that way for years, why change now? For piano students young and old, it is very important to establish your goals. What is it that you want from your piano teacher? ♪ To help you get started again after a long pause?
♪ To improve your skills and play better than before?
♪ To have access to new songs via a teacher?
♪ To have companionship; someone to listen to you play?
As a piano teacher, I try to accommodate my students by teaching them so they achieve their goals. It's easier to do this if you know what it is that you wanted in the first place. You're never too old for piano lessons and you're never too old to improve on your existing skills. But if you happy where you are and don't want to change your personal style of piano playing, then you don't have to. Just play for the joy of playing.
| In addition to private lessons, I have taught music classes at a community center. There were two pianos & two organs; the requirement for enrolling in the class was that you had to be least 55 years old. I had a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. I presented a two-hour lecture on theory. Sometimes I would give handouts of a famous piece or song and present the history & theory of the piece. The students all took the class very seriously. They prepared duets and shared music with one another. It was an enriching experience for myself and my students. They approached the classes in a relaxed manner without competition or comparing. They were certainly not too old for piano - in fact, they were just right! |
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