Learning Piano When You're Older: Why It’s Absolutely Possible

Think you’re too old to start piano? That you missed your chance by not learning as a kid? As an experienced pianist, I can tell you this: most of my real progress came as an adult. And I’ve seen the same in many others.

Adult learners often make faster progress than expected. You’re more focused, you know what you want, and you’re not waiting for someone to tell you what to do. That changes everything.

Let’s look at why adult learning works, how it actually plays out, and what to expect when you commit.

My Story as a Young Adult Pianist

Personally, I've had some piano lessons at a young age. I picked things up quickly, but I wasn’t consistent. Without regular practice, my progress stalled. Eventually, I lost interest and completely stopped playing for several years.

When I returned to the piano, I had forgotten everything. I couldn’t play a single piece. I couldn’t read sheet music. I didn’t understand technique or theory. I had to start from scratch.

This time, I was committed. I practiced every day, not because someone told me to, but because I genuinely wanted to play. What had taken me years to learn as a child, I regained within a year. And I went far beyond that. I built real technique, musical control, and confidence, one step at a time.

After getting comfortable with technique, theory, and improvisation, I took on sight-reading. Mind you, I had never been able to read a single note without counting lines and glancing at my hands. And I was well into my twenties. For a long time, I thought it was too late to master something as demanding as fluent sight-reading.

But I stayed with it. I practiced up to an hour every single day, working through endless lesson sheets and real songs. At first, I struggled with even the simplest lines. A few weeks in, I could already read directly from the page without looking down (albeit slowly). Now, months later, my fluency keeps improving, and it feels great.

Everything I have gained as an adult came from focused, consistent work. The same is possible for you, even at an older age. Don’t believe me? Let’s look at what the science says.

What the Science Actually Shows

The idea that you can’t learn music as an adult is outdated. Modern neuroscience has shown that the adult brain remains highly adaptable. One major paper, published in Frontiers in 2021, confirmed that musical training leads to structural changes in both motor and auditory regions of the brain, even in adults.

In other words, your brain continues to grow and rewire itself through focused effort.

On top of that, research by psychologists like K. Anders Ericsson has shown that adult learners often practice more efficiently. You’re likely better at setting goals, evaluating progress, and staying motivated for extended periods. These are all key factors that accelerate improvement.

This isn’t just wishful thinking. The science supports what many of us, including myself, have witnessed and experienced firsthand.

What Actually Determines Your Progress

Forget age. The real drivers of progress are:

• Time spent. Regular, focused practice always wins.
  
  
• Practice quality. Are you repeating mistakes or solving them?
  
  
• Clear goals. What do you want to play, and why?
  
  
• Mental focus. Are you present while practicing or on autopilot?
  

These are the factors that matter. If you control them, you will improve. Period!

How Long Does It Take?

Let’s keep it practical. Here’s what you can realistically achieve if you practice consistently:

After 1 to 2 months
You’ll be able to play basic melodies and simple chord songs. Think Let It Be by The Beatles or Clocks by Coldplay. These songs rely on repeating four-chord progressions and straightforward rhythms.

After 2 to 3 months
You could tackle full pieces like Comptine d’un autre été by Yann Tiersen. In fact, I had a complete beginner student, with no prior experience or proper instrument at home, who learned this piece in her first two months. It’s not a miracle. It’s just steady practice. That said, she was blown away by her progress. And so was I when I took my own first steps. There’s nothing quite like that feeling.

After 6 months to a year
Intermediate pieces become realistic. That includes River Flows in You, Canon in D, or simplified versions of classical works. If you stay consistent, you’ll be able to read and perform full arrangements with confidence. Isn’t that awesome?

Keep in mind, these are rough timelines based on 30 to 60 minutes of practice a day. Some learners move faster, others take longer. What matters most is that you keep going, and that you trust the progress instead of worrying about your age.

You’re Not Late. You’re Just Starting

Adults often compare themselves to children who had a head start. But what you don’t see is the quality of that start. Many kids practice out of obligation. They don’t know what they’re aiming for. They quit when the motivation runs dry.

As an adult, you have a huge advantage. You choose to do this. You control how you practice. You know what kind of music moves you. And when those elements come together, progress happens fast.

So no, you’re not too late. You’re in the perfect position to begin.

If you want help taking the first steps, stick around. We’ll be posting more guides soon, including full walkthroughs for learning pieces like Comptine d’un autre été from scratch, without a teacher (join the email list below so you don't miss any).

If you want to start right away, consider grabbing our step-by-step guidebook to becoming a great pianist. It tells you everything you need to know about improving your piano playing!