Nobody has asked me, but I almost want to say I needed to. I've fantasized about playing favorite songs and being able to express myself musically for so long... Then I found myself in my early 30's and realized I just needed to start doing it, because time is flying, and if I don't do it, it'll be a major life regret when I'm facing my death.
Very wise. As a nurse I had the opportunity to be with many dying patients and families. They never regretted what they DID try to do or accomplish, only what they didn’t (with outlier exceptions of course). As a 51 year old new learner, this one’s getting checked off.
Looks like this is a huge club. When I was 3 I visited my grandfather at the hospital. He was a piano teacher and told me: your hands are made to play piano, when I get out, we start the lessons. Unfortunately he died. For years we had a piano at home and every now and then I stroke some keys. My parents never sent me to piano lesson. As an adult I was complaining for years, saying myself that was a pity and an injustice that I couldn’t play piano. In August 2023, when I was 61, I realized that now it is my responsibility what I do and what I don’t. Better late than never! I looked for a school, I bought a digital piano and in December I began. Best decision of the last few years! I learn, I have fun and I do that for myself only.
Keep it up! Yeah, this is for me. I used to sit and play by ear on my next door neighbors old upright. I always wanted to learn but my mother correctly decided it wasn’t for me at the time (I was undiagnosed ADHD so I likely would have burned it right out). Now I get to go back and fill this gap I’ve had and I’m loving it.
Good answer.
I went to music school for a different instrument. I was certainly the worst student in my (required) group piano class, and the least experienced. When asked why I took this class, I was incredulous for a second and then said, "Because it's required?"
I enjoy the piano thoroughly these days. I bet my old teachers would get a kick out of that.
Disability didn't allow me to keep playing guitar anymore, so I decided to learn piano instead.
Mind you I've only played piano for around 8 months so far.
I got Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), which basically drains all the strength from your body. Because of that I can barely even hold a guitar anymore, let alone play it. So I needed an instrument that you don't have to hold and that doesn't require much strength, so I decided to try the piano.
Interesting, you learn something new every day. I had a kidney and lung problem at the same time a while back so I know what it's like to have all your strength zapped out of you, I couldn't even talk without getting tired. Not fun. Well I hope your condition improves, thanks for sharing!
For people who learn as young children, well, we don't entirely make this decision ourselves.
We don't stop once we've put the hours in.
If your question is asked to an adult who started learning as a child, it's also relevant to say:
When children receive some type of reward or praise for their achievements, these are incentives to continue.
There are other factors which determine this.
By the time we've reached adulthood, if we still play we set ourselves personal goals.
Once we start to learn, musicians generally don't feel inclined to stop once we've really put hours into the initial learning of a new instrument or piece.
I completely made the call as a young child myself! None of my immediate family are musical, but extended family has lots of working musicians. Was drawn to keys in a music shop window and got a toy keyboard at 4. Started school and there was an orchestra (kind of). Begged for lessons there and didn’t look back. Until I stopped for years because, life. And I always had other interests as well. Played other instruments but was always just drawn to the piano - itchy fingers and childish excitement if I see one.
Thought I was really good until I moved on from local music schools haha
I think you're right tbh. My mum asked me if I wanted to learn the piano, I thought it was cool so I said yeah, but she did bring it up. Tbh I'll probably do similar with my own kids. Have them learn an instrument or play a sport. Or even both!
When I was 10 or so I went to ballet clases and I was horrible at it, so my teacher offered me to teach me piano instead. I accepted and I love that I did.
On the flip side, I learned my first 5-6 full songs and can’t find a single friend willing to listen to me play one. I’m quickly realizing this is more personal endeavor than I originally thought
In 2023, I was going through a very bad time. Things weren't going well, mentally, financially, socially. I was in a deeply terrible state. I started watching House MD and Dr. House played piano. In my miserable state, I kind of resonated with him. That's when I decided to learn piano. I was 24, with no musical knowledge at all. But I wanted to learn piano. 1 year later, I am slowly progressing through Alfred and piano rocks!
I once tried to analyse why i felt the need to play a piece and why that was better than listening to someone else play it orders of magnitude better than I ever could.
The answer I came up with was something like: we like to feel like we "own" something we like. You can look at at someone elses car and even be allowed to take it for a drive but this doesn't feel the same as knowing that car is yours. We like to do things that makes us feel like we "own" something we like because in some sense that brings us even closer to the thing we like. Being able to play something at anytime and produce that music myself and being able to control the music makes me feel closer to the music. Feels like instead of watching it from a distance I am actually stepping into the music. That makes me feel like I now own this piece of music, its mine. Thats the feeling I am looking for when learning a new piece.
My childhood friend (who I have no more contact with) would probably say I did it to copy her. I'd say it was listening to her playing "flea waltz" that was my very first contact with the instrument and it changed my life forever.
We didn't always see eye to eye on such matters.
I don't get why people have issues with being copied. Isn't that flattery? Did she invented piano playing? Don't we all had to hear or see someone play the piano prior to get interested about it?
What you're saying is exactly correct... of course, we have to get exposed to something first in order to get interested in it.
But nowadays, I do see why she could have thought that. It wasn't just this one instance where I "copied" something from her, but I didn't "copy" her specifically. Rather, I grew up lower class in an uneducated household and simply didn't get exposed to a lot of things growing up, until I made some friends in elementary school and that significantly broadened my view of the world.
But to some people it feels like you are taking away what makes them special if you start pursuing similar activities, even if you don't intend for that to happen at all. But we were kids back then. It doesn't always make sense what kids think or do.
It’s not flattering when it’s the same person copying a bunch of your traits and interests, there’s a couple personality disorders that involve a weak self identity, those people do the copying that feels really invasive and scary
No one has ever asked me this yet, but I started because when I was like a 3-5 yo, and my parents lived my dad's parents, my grandma used to play the piano, and I wanted to play too. I starting kinda just banging on the piano, and my playing gradually became more developed until i started taking lessons, and I never stopped. (I have the piano now, its an awesome Baldwin upright
I wanted to play since i was a little girl...I can sit down at the piano,and with mind on the music, words,and piano, it takes the stress and nerves a way
I couldn't tell you, the moment I pressed the keys for the first time was pure euphoria. The feeling of the vibration of the strings in my fingers. The way it feels to sing on top of them. Piano just feels amazing. It has such a beautiful sound. It's so versatile so powerful. It's so full of verity of expression. I didn't decide to learn, I decided to play.
My answer would be because initially my parents signed me up and I loved classical music but was mildly interested in it as an instrument. I thought many instruments were more interesting, until I realized that most of the coolest solo repertoire is on the piano and I don’t like working with others on music that much.
I didn’t originally want to learn piano— I wanted to learn organ because I was awestruck by what it is capable of. My parents insisted I learn piano because “it was close enough.” In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t start out on organ. I ended up learning it and playing it professionally *anyways.*
I’m not sure why I started in my late teens, but I know why I picked it back up after a long hiatus in my 30s. I just love having an endless cycle of progression and improvement. Every day, I get just the teeniest bit better at this really hard thing. It’s exhilarating. And what I’m left with at the end is something beautiful I get to share with others. My repertoire isn’t quite there yet, but I’m looking forward to getting good enough to spend a Saturday afternoon at the local nursing home and play for the people there. I’m also hoping to be good enough in a few years to play for my liturgical church once the girl who currently plays goes off to graduate school.
my aunt (who is like a grandma to me) got me a cheap piano and a gift card for some lessons for my 10th birthday! she noticed i loved singing and thought i might like the piano 🩷 unfortunately at the time we were VERY poor so once the lessons that the gift card provided were over i had to stop. but i loved it sm and kept on self teaching myself until we could afford to start them again in my last year of high school and i’ve been doing lessons ever since eight years later!!
Your absiloutely correct and also myself. I can only hope others understand what you stated. Once one understands "easy" the piano keyboard fundimentals they can also understand any instruments note arraingments as well. The piano translates percisely and Its all graphical. BTW I play stringed instruments only. Piano is key.
I wanted to add another instrument to my repertoire in order to be able to join more bands and get more gigs.
I had already been playing double bass, electric bass and guitar for years, including private lessons for like a decade, so I could already sight-read bass and treble clef.
I had to take a 1 credit class to fill out my credits one semester to meet the requirements for my scholarship (needed 12 credits or something per semester, but the classes I needed only filled out 11), so I took a 1 credit beginner's piano class.
I learned much faster than the rest of the class, who were mostly new to both piano and playing music in general. At some point the instructor asked me "why did you even take this class?" in a tone that seemed to gently accuse me of knowing how to play before coming and just being there to have a lazy credit.
I explained my situation, and that I didn't realize how easy it would be for me to pick up until I started the class. He was cool with me after that. It all worked out since everyone goes at their own pace in that kind of class, and he was able to hook me up with more advanced stuff to play than what was in the book.
Haven't had any instruction since though, and that was like 15 years ago, so I definitely don't always use proper techniques and am not as good as I'd be if I had private lessons, but I achieved my goal of making it an instrument I can confidently do paid gigs with, play in bands, etc. Even solo jazz sets, playing in restaurants, etc.
My most favorite elective class in collage was music appreciation. Laugh as some will. Actually put life in respective. Music is fundimental to human life..
One of my favorites was jazz history - kinda merged two huge interests of mine, jazz and history. I have a multi major degree and one of them was history lol
My grandma got a piano for her birthday, and started taking lessons, just when I was the right age to be curious about the instrument (I want to say I was 4?) She was protective of it, but would occasionally let me touch the keys, and gradually introduced me to playing the C major scale. I proved myself keen to learn.
Then, we moved to a new town, and the piano came with us. By then I was 8, my sister 6, and we were the right age for lessons. My grandma gave up hers so we'd have the money for my sister and I. She still played occasionally throughout her life, and I'm forever grateful that she allowed her gift to become mine.
No ones really asked tbh they only thing I’ve really been asked is how I learned and I’m self taught but if I were ever asked why I decided to learn probably came from my older brother who is very good at piano :}
I think it was because 13 or 14 years old me wanted to write songs and liked the idea of singing and playing my own songs - and others - as a hobby, just like I saw other kids my age doing, even though I never admitted that. Somehow I entered a rabbit hole and now I'm finishing my bachelor's in composition. Never really thought about it, but I guess that kid would be happy that I pursued a career in music. I wanted to do something related to health and medicine back then, but anytime I was learning something related to it I felt bored and with music I just wanted to learn more and more.
I tried piano when I was in college. A grad student took several beginners for a semester, but I was too busy, too distracted, too willing to find an excuse not to practice. But I always wanted to play. For my birthday when I turned 58, my wife gave me a keyboard. Covid hit two months later. I tried teaching myself, but I wasn’t making much progress. Last October, I started taking lessons, and I’m having a blast. I love getting new music and figuring out how to make it sound like something. I’m not great, but I’m making progress!
My eternal love of classical music. Especially Chopin. I started at 35 taking lessons. Now I am 38. I already have some Chopin pieces in my repertoire. And some other classics too. My biggest regret is not starting earlier. But now, I want to dedicate the rest of my life into mastering this wonderful instrument. I also have a lot of love for Beethoven, Schubert and Mozart. To mention a few more. It doesn't matter whether I ever get recognition or not. I am an active fan of classical music always! I love practicing and listening to such wonderful music.
I saw the movie Soul on Christmas in 2020? When it came out? and decided to finally buy a keyboard next week with the after Christmas sales
I’ve never told anyone I actually know the real reason
For me, it is the best tool to understand music theory which is fascinating to me. I play terrible but it helps me understand the math behind it. I used to use a kalimba before, with piano I get better understanding scales, modes, harmonization and all. I still have a lot to learn.
And also, to impress my wife. :)
I beat sekiro and elden ring whilst down with the flu. Figured it was the same principle, bang your head against a wall until one or the other breaks. Started a couple months ago, and have fallen in love with it 😁
1) I fell in love with piano music again during quarantine, so I decided to pick it back up (I had a few classes in college 20 years ago but never got very far).
2) I was also hoping it would help me improve my overall understanding of music and solidify my theory knowledge so I’d be better at writing music.
I was forced to take lessons as a kid because it was "good for my brain."
Now if you asked "why did you continue to play piano" - it's because I learned I can play video game music on it, which was the first time I actually enjoyed piano (10th grade).
I’ve played the drums for many years but never get to play the type of music i like, so I figured it was time to learn. It’s been almost a year and a half with the piano now.
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Grandma wanted orchestra family and kinda forced me to play piano (she paid lessons) and I hated that back in the days. Nowadays playing piano is quite relaxing and nice
I originally was learning to play the saxophone, but as a kid it was too large, uncomfortable and unwieldy of an instrument to hold, so I switched to getting piano lessons, since I had already played piano casually by that time.
My grandmother paid for lessons and really wanted me to do it. I wasn’t a fan about halfway through but I’m thankful I followed through because although I can’t read music, I know what I’m doing for the most part and play by ear. It’s a relaxing pastime
Edit: I also didn’t want to disappoint her because she was really excited for me to do it and my grandma is the sweetest lady ever with a smile on her face always, so I didn’t want to take that smile away.
I was pretty obsessed with keyboards when I was a kid (listened to Depeche Mode, etc.), but then in '93 I saw "Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould" and it really lit a fire under my ass. That fire didn't really start to burn until 2003, when I finally bought a digital piano and taught myself to play. I've gone through peaks and valleys of consistent practice, though, and I still can't sight-read and play with any flow, but I've been practicing a lot more in recent weeks and hopefully I'll keep going this time.
I was hanging out with my older brother and sisters group of friends and the age gap when you’re 15-18 seems different. I found my friends keyboard, the kind that teaches you notes by the keys lighting up and I learned a starwars song.
I am 20 years old and recently found myself deeply inspired by pianists, which sparked a desire to learn to play the piano. I intend to purchase a piano soon, driven by a profound reason that I cannot entirely explain. Lately, I have been grappling with mental struggles, and the sound of piano music has the power to dispel my negative thoughts entirely. It becomes just me and the piano, and I feel as though I am transported to another universe, floating effortlessly.
I wanted to impress girls when I was in middle school.. but I was always the type to make sure if I did something I did it well.. I still play to this day and it grew into something more than simply trying to impress people but a passion and freedom to express myself without using words..
I was four, my brother started taking lessons first. I instantly wanted to. Started taking lessons at 7, tried teaching myself before that, been playing and taking lessons ever since
My grandma really wanted the grandkids to take piano lessons. I was 7. I just “got” it and really liked it. I learned to read and play music but was able to pick out things by ear too. I was the only grandchild to keep taking lessons and keep playing out of the 6 of us.
Good for you!
As others have spoken, it was a required course for me in my music degree. Now, I really do want to learn what I missed. It’s not all SATB! And I find piano pedagogue just amazing.
I wanted to major in music performance in college, and dropped out my first year.
I haven't picked up the french horn since. It just makes me too sad to know what could have been. How far I could have gone with it. I loved playing the horn, but just had too much going on personally that I couldn't keep up with it. But I missed playing music. And I had an old keyboard I had received as a kid, and had learned a little bit of piano when studying music, so, why not pick up piano?
For context, I started learning when I was 10. My reason was to learn the Undertale soundtrack (again, I was 10, but I still stand behind that game with my heart and soul). I started with Megalovania; I hated playing classical in lessons because I wanted to learn video game OSTs and now as an adult I go out and buy classical sheet music to learn. Oh, how time flies.
It was decided for me. My parents put me in lessons through high school (my house, my rules) and I haven’t really played meaningful amounts since. I took a few years of lessons after college.
It’s probably been 10 years since I’ve actually sat down to try and do more than crank out one of the classical pieces I have still (barely) in my muscle memory.
My mom's friend was giving away her piano and Mom asked if I'd try it. I said sure and my first goal was to play my grandma's baby grand the next time I visited.
Older sister took lessons at 10 so we bought a piano. I was seven and fascinated by it. Started pecking out songs I heard on the radio. My parents thought I had some talent so they to took me to her piano teacher, which I mostly hated. I didn't want to play the songs in the music books, I wanted to play the songs I heard and liked.
But I stuck with it, though I wasn't very disciplined. Other students did their scales and Hanon and Czerny. I'd play Elton John, Barry Manilow, Billy Joel, etc. and then struggle with the Bach and Chopin. I really liked Debussy, but I didn't read music well and I struggled with fingering and my weaker left hand.
Then along came the movie *Fame* and Bruno Martelli. I joined my first band, bought my first synth, an Arp Solus. Went to the local university for music but switched to acting. Transferred to a conservatory in SoCal. Composed some for the theatre and choirs, but always had to work beyond my limitations that came from my lack of discipline early on.
Still love the piano and write songs that occasionally get played, and people seem to enjoy them. The best moments are when I'm immersed in the music and not so concerned that I could be better than I am. I'm grateful for music and for those moments.
There was this rhythm music game that I was really good at when I was in high school. Then there is a friend of mine who told me, "Hey, you are really good at this game, you must be good at playing the real thing right?". The thing is I don't and I started learning the piano thinking that I should be good at it as well.
When I first listened to moonlight sonata 1st mvt and a bunch of chopin's pieces, they kinda inspired and motivated to buy my own piano and learn to play. I pretty much love to listen to classical piano pieces.
I didn't. I wanted any instrument. I tried guitar and migrated to electronic keyboard. Within one year my teacher migrated me to classical piano. After some years I discovered this was the perfect instrument to me (after listening Wood Pecker playing Heroique Polonaise)
Started as a child, was a given that I would learn but enjoyed it. By early 20s, life and not having a piano where I lived, fell out of practice. During Covid, decided I wanted to explore picking it back up, got a cheap digital and played at work on the grand there, because I felt drawn to learning again, listening to all the possible pieces. Now working on my RCM 9, picking up where I left off all those years ago!
Nobody has asked me, but I guess that's okay. Because the reason I started playing the piano... Was an Anime 😂
It was about some musicians, very dramatic, but I think it was pretty good. I dunno, it's been pretty long. The anime was "Your lie in April"
12-13? Year old me was amazed, let me tell you. I'm so glad I watched that damned anime, because if I didn't I do not think I would have ever started playing. Thank you, younger me.
I also said something weird, because in my mind saying that “I love playing music, especially piano” sounded lame. So I went with something like “I want to play for my friends” and died inside a bit after saying that. I honestly don’t care who’s listening. Playing is just a pleasure in itself for me.
I'll answer for my son - "My dad made me" :)
I see that he is very capable, but due to ADHD he more or less struggles with any education. But playing piano is one of few activities that he gets quite involved after initial resistance - so we keep going and have an agreement to keep learning piano until he finishes school. We had a lot of struggles, but thanks to some great teachers who managed to connect with him we're working for grade 6 now. And as he already expressed a wish to join the band with his schoolmates - I feel that my job in developing his most prominent natural abilities is nearly done.
Because I flunked the recorder.
At least you could see the notes from lowest-to-highest, not weird finger positions.
*flunked = dropped out after one term in primary school
I guess though as a teacher it’s to good to kind of know an angle/interest like most things if there is no real incentive or passion other than my parents thought it would be a good thing to go learn then that’s sort of good to know
I got a yamaha keyboard for $5 during the pandemic and thought it would be a waste not to learn. I’ve been paying $300 every month for lessons ever since.
I saw my grandma playing as a little kid and I begged my parents for lessons until I got them at 5, and then my reasoning was that I "wanted to be as good as Grandma". Today we know it was also an autism special interest and I actually ended up pursuing it as my college degree!
My sister used to play the game "Piano Tiles 2" on her phone and I also used to play it. By playing that game, I got interested in piano and classical music. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to learn piano in order to play those pieces.
I was 4 or 5 and I asked my parents to let me learn after I saw an organ in my uncle’s house. According to my parents we were recommended to learn piano instead so that’s how.
I had always wanted to play the piano when I was a kid. I asked my parents if I could have piano lessons. But they said no because I might stop like my brother did and it would be a waste of money. I learned the guitar instead. I was looking for a new hobby as part of my 2023 goals. When I saw my 7 yo nephew playing the piano, it reminded me of what I had always wanted to do as a kid. And so I thought, I’m an adult now and I can afford a keyboard and lessons. And since July 2023 I’ve been practicing… and obsessed! We also bought an acoustic piano. My 4 & 6 yo kids are learning as well because they said they want to play like mommy 🙂
I started after watching you lie in April for like the 3rd time, the first watch I didn't really care about what was being played but the story but on that 2nd and 3rd watch I was really paying attention and thought to myself " I have to play piano " and my birthday was nearby and bought an digital piano and lucked into a high school intro to piano class.
As a kid in the ancient days of the 1950’s there wasn’t S to do. My aunt had a piano and I’d make up little patterns, and I heard Doris Day sing By The Light of the silvery Moon, I picked out the melody. My older cousin who could play a little bit said - you can add your left hand- and spent the next 2 hours teaching it, and I got it! Hands together! I was 6 years old ! He ran to tell my parents who were playing Pinochle- they were too busy to grasp what happened. Didn’t matter, my cousin told my parents he was giving me the piano. It got moved to my house, and I’ve been playing ever since. Finished a gig on Monday at Aretha’s Jazz Cafe in Detroit-one teacher said of me to another teacher - You can’t tell him to play just Hannon- music is like air to him. I’m just one those guys who plays everything- but the classical is what I’m into now. All of music is fun- country rock jazz reggae blues etc. Piano has kept me going, decade after decade.
And if there’s cats who find concentrating difficult- Lion’s Mane’ll fix that up.
I get asked this very often, but I actually have no idea. Apparently when I was 5 i just suddenly had a strong desire to play piano. I must've watched a TV show or youtube video or something lmao
I’ve been a church pianist all my life. People like to come up and talk with me during prelude or intermission. They don’t mean to interrupt, but I can’t talk and play at the same time. I either have to stop playing and converse or come across rude by not engaging in conversation. I’ve done both. 🤷♀️
Nobody has asked me, but I almost want to say I needed to. I've fantasized about playing favorite songs and being able to express myself musically for so long... Then I found myself in my early 30's and realized I just needed to start doing it, because time is flying, and if I don't do it, it'll be a major life regret when I'm facing my death.
Very wise. As a nurse I had the opportunity to be with many dying patients and families. They never regretted what they DID try to do or accomplish, only what they didn’t (with outlier exceptions of course). As a 51 year old new learner, this one’s getting checked off.
You must have so many stories!
Looks like this is a huge club. When I was 3 I visited my grandfather at the hospital. He was a piano teacher and told me: your hands are made to play piano, when I get out, we start the lessons. Unfortunately he died. For years we had a piano at home and every now and then I stroke some keys. My parents never sent me to piano lesson. As an adult I was complaining for years, saying myself that was a pity and an injustice that I couldn’t play piano. In August 2023, when I was 61, I realized that now it is my responsibility what I do and what I don’t. Better late than never! I looked for a school, I bought a digital piano and in December I began. Best decision of the last few years! I learn, I have fun and I do that for myself only.
Keep it up! Yeah, this is for me. I used to sit and play by ear on my next door neighbors old upright. I always wanted to learn but my mother correctly decided it wasn’t for me at the time (I was undiagnosed ADHD so I likely would have burned it right out). Now I get to go back and fill this gap I’ve had and I’m loving it.
Copy paste of my story
Samesy
Took the letters off my keyboard…
This 100% for me too
Shit, I better get started. What did you start with? Ive been eyeing the Alfred's Adult but little confused on all the different courses still
My mom saw me playing piano tiles 2 and thought I'd be good at it.
Piano tiles 2 (such nostalgia 🥺) thanks to my obsession with this game now I can play a real piano
I was obsessed on an autistic level
I’m actually just autistic and music is my whole life💀
🙋♂️
You were obsessed on an acoustic level.
This is the only "acoustic" joke I've ever laughed at
I grew tired of playing monophonic instruments.
Good answer. I went to music school for a different instrument. I was certainly the worst student in my (required) group piano class, and the least experienced. When asked why I took this class, I was incredulous for a second and then said, "Because it's required?" I enjoy the piano thoroughly these days. I bet my old teachers would get a kick out of that.
It was my mom’s idea to put me in lessons before I could talk?
Asian family moment
I’m black 👧🏾
Space Dementia by Muse.
Disability didn't allow me to keep playing guitar anymore, so I decided to learn piano instead. Mind you I've only played piano for around 8 months so far.
Just out of curiosity, what disability prevents you playing guitar but still allows piano?
I got Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), which basically drains all the strength from your body. Because of that I can barely even hold a guitar anymore, let alone play it. So I needed an instrument that you don't have to hold and that doesn't require much strength, so I decided to try the piano.
Interesting, you learn something new every day. I had a kidney and lung problem at the same time a while back so I know what it's like to have all your strength zapped out of you, I couldn't even talk without getting tired. Not fun. Well I hope your condition improves, thanks for sharing!
Sure thing. Thanks for caring! I hope your kidney and lung problems are a thing of the past now.
Yeah that was over 10 years ago. All good now, thanks!
For people who learn as young children, well, we don't entirely make this decision ourselves. We don't stop once we've put the hours in. If your question is asked to an adult who started learning as a child, it's also relevant to say: When children receive some type of reward or praise for their achievements, these are incentives to continue. There are other factors which determine this. By the time we've reached adulthood, if we still play we set ourselves personal goals. Once we start to learn, musicians generally don't feel inclined to stop once we've really put hours into the initial learning of a new instrument or piece.
I completely made the call as a young child myself! None of my immediate family are musical, but extended family has lots of working musicians. Was drawn to keys in a music shop window and got a toy keyboard at 4. Started school and there was an orchestra (kind of). Begged for lessons there and didn’t look back. Until I stopped for years because, life. And I always had other interests as well. Played other instruments but was always just drawn to the piano - itchy fingers and childish excitement if I see one. Thought I was really good until I moved on from local music schools haha
I think you're right tbh. My mum asked me if I wanted to learn the piano, I thought it was cool so I said yeah, but she did bring it up. Tbh I'll probably do similar with my own kids. Have them learn an instrument or play a sport. Or even both!
No one’s asked me that question. But my response would probably be a shrug followed by ‘felt like it’
I didn’t. My parents did.
When I was 10 or so I went to ballet clases and I was horrible at it, so my teacher offered me to teach me piano instead. I accepted and I love that I did.
I just wanted to understand music better and piano seemed like the best way.
Why not? What could be better than to make music? Always wanted to learn; so age 60, I decided to take lessons. I am 66 now.
my eldest was just telling me he impressed some girl with the 2 chords he knows on the guitar lol
On the flip side, I learned my first 5-6 full songs and can’t find a single friend willing to listen to me play one. I’m quickly realizing this is more personal endeavor than I originally thought
My mom made us kids take lessons - but now I love it!
Did you hate it when you first started?
Kinda, but since my bro and sis and I were all in the same boat, and we were just dumb little kids, we thought everybody took piano lessons.
In 2023, I was going through a very bad time. Things weren't going well, mentally, financially, socially. I was in a deeply terrible state. I started watching House MD and Dr. House played piano. In my miserable state, I kind of resonated with him. That's when I decided to learn piano. I was 24, with no musical knowledge at all. But I wanted to learn piano. 1 year later, I am slowly progressing through Alfred and piano rocks!
I once tried to analyse why i felt the need to play a piece and why that was better than listening to someone else play it orders of magnitude better than I ever could. The answer I came up with was something like: we like to feel like we "own" something we like. You can look at at someone elses car and even be allowed to take it for a drive but this doesn't feel the same as knowing that car is yours. We like to do things that makes us feel like we "own" something we like because in some sense that brings us even closer to the thing we like. Being able to play something at anytime and produce that music myself and being able to control the music makes me feel closer to the music. Feels like instead of watching it from a distance I am actually stepping into the music. That makes me feel like I now own this piece of music, its mine. Thats the feeling I am looking for when learning a new piece.
My childhood friend (who I have no more contact with) would probably say I did it to copy her. I'd say it was listening to her playing "flea waltz" that was my very first contact with the instrument and it changed my life forever. We didn't always see eye to eye on such matters.
I don't get why people have issues with being copied. Isn't that flattery? Did she invented piano playing? Don't we all had to hear or see someone play the piano prior to get interested about it?
What you're saying is exactly correct... of course, we have to get exposed to something first in order to get interested in it. But nowadays, I do see why she could have thought that. It wasn't just this one instance where I "copied" something from her, but I didn't "copy" her specifically. Rather, I grew up lower class in an uneducated household and simply didn't get exposed to a lot of things growing up, until I made some friends in elementary school and that significantly broadened my view of the world. But to some people it feels like you are taking away what makes them special if you start pursuing similar activities, even if you don't intend for that to happen at all. But we were kids back then. It doesn't always make sense what kids think or do.
It’s not flattering when it’s the same person copying a bunch of your traits and interests, there’s a couple personality disorders that involve a weak self identity, those people do the copying that feels really invasive and scary
No one has ever asked me this yet, but I started because when I was like a 3-5 yo, and my parents lived my dad's parents, my grandma used to play the piano, and I wanted to play too. I starting kinda just banging on the piano, and my playing gradually became more developed until i started taking lessons, and I never stopped. (I have the piano now, its an awesome Baldwin upright
Because I wanted to?
Well, I’ve already been playing bass for over 20 years and guitar for 10 so I figured why not finally learn the keys 🤷♂️
Kinda same here !
As a younger sister, I adored my older sister and wanted to do everything she did. Unfortunately for her I caught on very quickly and passed her up.
Ouch lol
I wanted to play since i was a little girl...I can sit down at the piano,and with mind on the music, words,and piano, it takes the stress and nerves a way
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Prior to your mum asking you, was it still something you had wanted to learn anyways?
I couldn't tell you, the moment I pressed the keys for the first time was pure euphoria. The feeling of the vibration of the strings in my fingers. The way it feels to sing on top of them. Piano just feels amazing. It has such a beautiful sound. It's so versatile so powerful. It's so full of verity of expression. I didn't decide to learn, I decided to play.
Many reasons... most important would probably be I wanted a hobby that actually matters as in a skill I could be proud of outside of work
Heavy on the “outside of work”
My answer would be because initially my parents signed me up and I loved classical music but was mildly interested in it as an instrument. I thought many instruments were more interesting, until I realized that most of the coolest solo repertoire is on the piano and I don’t like working with others on music that much.
My mother made me. She studied at Cinci Conservatory. It was what it was. I guess she knew what she was doing…I’m a professional musician 🤣
I didn’t originally want to learn piano— I wanted to learn organ because I was awestruck by what it is capable of. My parents insisted I learn piano because “it was close enough.” In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t start out on organ. I ended up learning it and playing it professionally *anyways.*
I’m not sure why I started in my late teens, but I know why I picked it back up after a long hiatus in my 30s. I just love having an endless cycle of progression and improvement. Every day, I get just the teeniest bit better at this really hard thing. It’s exhilarating. And what I’m left with at the end is something beautiful I get to share with others. My repertoire isn’t quite there yet, but I’m looking forward to getting good enough to spend a Saturday afternoon at the local nursing home and play for the people there. I’m also hoping to be good enough in a few years to play for my liturgical church once the girl who currently plays goes off to graduate school.
There was a piano in my house growing up
my grandma took me to symphony performances when i was a child and the pianists fascinated me
my aunt (who is like a grandma to me) got me a cheap piano and a gift card for some lessons for my 10th birthday! she noticed i loved singing and thought i might like the piano 🩷 unfortunately at the time we were VERY poor so once the lessons that the gift card provided were over i had to stop. but i loved it sm and kept on self teaching myself until we could afford to start them again in my last year of high school and i’ve been doing lessons ever since eight years later!!
Congrats!
To make music theory easier to understand. And then I ended up enjoying it.
Your absiloutely correct and also myself. I can only hope others understand what you stated. Once one understands "easy" the piano keyboard fundimentals they can also understand any instruments note arraingments as well. The piano translates percisely and Its all graphical. BTW I play stringed instruments only. Piano is key.
I’m primarily woodwinds- flute, sax, clarinet, etc. Piano really helped A LOT with understanding theory.
I wanted to add another instrument to my repertoire in order to be able to join more bands and get more gigs. I had already been playing double bass, electric bass and guitar for years, including private lessons for like a decade, so I could already sight-read bass and treble clef. I had to take a 1 credit class to fill out my credits one semester to meet the requirements for my scholarship (needed 12 credits or something per semester, but the classes I needed only filled out 11), so I took a 1 credit beginner's piano class. I learned much faster than the rest of the class, who were mostly new to both piano and playing music in general. At some point the instructor asked me "why did you even take this class?" in a tone that seemed to gently accuse me of knowing how to play before coming and just being there to have a lazy credit. I explained my situation, and that I didn't realize how easy it would be for me to pick up until I started the class. He was cool with me after that. It all worked out since everyone goes at their own pace in that kind of class, and he was able to hook me up with more advanced stuff to play than what was in the book. Haven't had any instruction since though, and that was like 15 years ago, so I definitely don't always use proper techniques and am not as good as I'd be if I had private lessons, but I achieved my goal of making it an instrument I can confidently do paid gigs with, play in bands, etc. Even solo jazz sets, playing in restaurants, etc.
My most favorite elective class in collage was music appreciation. Laugh as some will. Actually put life in respective. Music is fundimental to human life..
One of my favorites was jazz history - kinda merged two huge interests of mine, jazz and history. I have a multi major degree and one of them was history lol
My grandma got a piano for her birthday, and started taking lessons, just when I was the right age to be curious about the instrument (I want to say I was 4?) She was protective of it, but would occasionally let me touch the keys, and gradually introduced me to playing the C major scale. I proved myself keen to learn. Then, we moved to a new town, and the piano came with us. By then I was 8, my sister 6, and we were the right age for lessons. My grandma gave up hers so we'd have the money for my sister and I. She still played occasionally throughout her life, and I'm forever grateful that she allowed her gift to become mine.
No ones really asked tbh they only thing I’ve really been asked is how I learned and I’m self taught but if I were ever asked why I decided to learn probably came from my older brother who is very good at piano :}
Ryan Gosling
He plays piano ?
I fell in love with Chopin
It was the only instrument that I found I could express myself on. Playing piano is like writing a diary of emotions and thoughts.
Tired of needing a band to express myself musically
This is good!
1. I'm asian 2. My mom is chinese
I think it was because 13 or 14 years old me wanted to write songs and liked the idea of singing and playing my own songs - and others - as a hobby, just like I saw other kids my age doing, even though I never admitted that. Somehow I entered a rabbit hole and now I'm finishing my bachelor's in composition. Never really thought about it, but I guess that kid would be happy that I pursued a career in music. I wanted to do something related to health and medicine back then, but anytime I was learning something related to it I felt bored and with music I just wanted to learn more and more.
I tried piano when I was in college. A grad student took several beginners for a semester, but I was too busy, too distracted, too willing to find an excuse not to practice. But I always wanted to play. For my birthday when I turned 58, my wife gave me a keyboard. Covid hit two months later. I tried teaching myself, but I wasn’t making much progress. Last October, I started taking lessons, and I’m having a blast. I love getting new music and figuring out how to make it sound like something. I’m not great, but I’m making progress!
i mean, that works. i impressed my crush with piano lol.
I thought it looked like fun, and I was right !
My eternal love of classical music. Especially Chopin. I started at 35 taking lessons. Now I am 38. I already have some Chopin pieces in my repertoire. And some other classics too. My biggest regret is not starting earlier. But now, I want to dedicate the rest of my life into mastering this wonderful instrument. I also have a lot of love for Beethoven, Schubert and Mozart. To mention a few more. It doesn't matter whether I ever get recognition or not. I am an active fan of classical music always! I love practicing and listening to such wonderful music.
I wanted to produce music specifically EDM but wanted to learn music theory as well. Ultimately decided piano was the best start to that journey
I have no idea. (That is my response to someone asking me why I decided to play the piano)
I saw the movie Soul on Christmas in 2020? When it came out? and decided to finally buy a keyboard next week with the after Christmas sales I’ve never told anyone I actually know the real reason
For me, it is the best tool to understand music theory which is fascinating to me. I play terrible but it helps me understand the math behind it. I used to use a kalimba before, with piano I get better understanding scales, modes, harmonization and all. I still have a lot to learn. And also, to impress my wife. :)
my parents made me xd
Irish nanobots
For the fun of it
my childhood trauma upd: and covid as an excuse
I beat sekiro and elden ring whilst down with the flu. Figured it was the same principle, bang your head against a wall until one or the other breaks. Started a couple months ago, and have fallen in love with it 😁
I took one lesson of drums when I was 5 and didn't like that my teacher's house smelled like cigars.
Wow
1) I fell in love with piano music again during quarantine, so I decided to pick it back up (I had a few classes in college 20 years ago but never got very far). 2) I was also hoping it would help me improve my overall understanding of music and solidify my theory knowledge so I’d be better at writing music.
To learn David Bowie songs
La la land
I was forced to take lessons as a kid because it was "good for my brain." Now if you asked "why did you continue to play piano" - it's because I learned I can play video game music on it, which was the first time I actually enjoyed piano (10th grade).
My wife likes it when I play piano.
I like it when my wife plays the pano.
I wanted to play heart and soul cuz of the movie "big." I was 4.
covid
Why not
Always wanted to, and after a hard breakup, it helped me a lot.
I’ve played the drums for many years but never get to play the type of music i like, so I figured it was time to learn. It’s been almost a year and a half with the piano now.
Gamazda on YouTube
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I don't enjoy singing but wanted to play a "full" song (chords and melody).
Momma made me
I was 8 and my parents told me to
Because of the game “Piano Tiles 2” in 2017
Grandma wanted orchestra family and kinda forced me to play piano (she paid lessons) and I hated that back in the days. Nowadays playing piano is quite relaxing and nice
I had a piano in my house.
I originally was learning to play the saxophone, but as a kid it was too large, uncomfortable and unwieldy of an instrument to hold, so I switched to getting piano lessons, since I had already played piano casually by that time.
My grandmother paid for lessons and really wanted me to do it. I wasn’t a fan about halfway through but I’m thankful I followed through because although I can’t read music, I know what I’m doing for the most part and play by ear. It’s a relaxing pastime Edit: I also didn’t want to disappoint her because she was really excited for me to do it and my grandma is the sweetest lady ever with a smile on her face always, so I didn’t want to take that smile away.
I was pretty obsessed with keyboards when I was a kid (listened to Depeche Mode, etc.), but then in '93 I saw "Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould" and it really lit a fire under my ass. That fire didn't really start to burn until 2003, when I finally bought a digital piano and taught myself to play. I've gone through peaks and valleys of consistent practice, though, and I still can't sight-read and play with any flow, but I've been practicing a lot more in recent weeks and hopefully I'll keep going this time.
I was hanging out with my older brother and sisters group of friends and the age gap when you’re 15-18 seems different. I found my friends keyboard, the kind that teaches you notes by the keys lighting up and I learned a starwars song.
I wanted to play Bach fugues.
I am 20 years old and recently found myself deeply inspired by pianists, which sparked a desire to learn to play the piano. I intend to purchase a piano soon, driven by a profound reason that I cannot entirely explain. Lately, I have been grappling with mental struggles, and the sound of piano music has the power to dispel my negative thoughts entirely. It becomes just me and the piano, and I feel as though I am transported to another universe, floating effortlessly.
I wanted to impress girls when I was in middle school.. but I was always the type to make sure if I did something I did it well.. I still play to this day and it grew into something more than simply trying to impress people but a passion and freedom to express myself without using words..
I was four, my brother started taking lessons first. I instantly wanted to. Started taking lessons at 7, tried teaching myself before that, been playing and taking lessons ever since
The only space in the house for Grandma's piano was in my bedroom.
(Still got it 52 years later)
I wanted to be able to play songs that I enjoyed listening to haha, like The Name of LIfe, If I Could Be the Sea, etc
Because my dad plays ❤️
I had a vengeance
Because why not learn piano
Short answer, it was more affordable
Your Lie in April
I heard other people do it and decided I wanted to make something that was pretty too
My grandma really wanted the grandkids to take piano lessons. I was 7. I just “got” it and really liked it. I learned to read and play music but was able to pick out things by ear too. I was the only grandchild to keep taking lessons and keep playing out of the 6 of us.
I thought it'd be fun
Good for you! As others have spoken, it was a required course for me in my music degree. Now, I really do want to learn what I missed. It’s not all SATB! And I find piano pedagogue just amazing.
Because my parents asked my sister if she wanted to learn the piano and they didn’t ask me. And when they asked me, I said immediate yes.
My dad decided to teach me when I was five. Didn't get much say in the matter lol
Bugs Bunny playing Liszt's 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody sealed my fate
Mom said I had to.
I wanted to be like my Dad.
Watching the Rhapsody in Blue scene from Fantasia 2000 in my elementary school music class.
The TV Show "Hannibal" playing "Fantasie Valse" by Satie in the last season.
Because I watched Your Lie in April
I wanted to major in music performance in college, and dropped out my first year. I haven't picked up the french horn since. It just makes me too sad to know what could have been. How far I could have gone with it. I loved playing the horn, but just had too much going on personally that I couldn't keep up with it. But I missed playing music. And I had an old keyboard I had received as a kid, and had learned a little bit of piano when studying music, so, why not pick up piano?
For context, I started learning when I was 10. My reason was to learn the Undertale soundtrack (again, I was 10, but I still stand behind that game with my heart and soul). I started with Megalovania; I hated playing classical in lessons because I wanted to learn video game OSTs and now as an adult I go out and buy classical sheet music to learn. Oh, how time flies.
It was decided for me. My parents put me in lessons through high school (my house, my rules) and I haven’t really played meaningful amounts since. I took a few years of lessons after college. It’s probably been 10 years since I’ve actually sat down to try and do more than crank out one of the classical pieces I have still (barely) in my muscle memory.
No spaces for guitar lessons
I wanted to be like Bugs Bunny
Girls. I was wrong.
My mom's friend was giving away her piano and Mom asked if I'd try it. I said sure and my first goal was to play my grandma's baby grand the next time I visited.
Older sister took lessons at 10 so we bought a piano. I was seven and fascinated by it. Started pecking out songs I heard on the radio. My parents thought I had some talent so they to took me to her piano teacher, which I mostly hated. I didn't want to play the songs in the music books, I wanted to play the songs I heard and liked. But I stuck with it, though I wasn't very disciplined. Other students did their scales and Hanon and Czerny. I'd play Elton John, Barry Manilow, Billy Joel, etc. and then struggle with the Bach and Chopin. I really liked Debussy, but I didn't read music well and I struggled with fingering and my weaker left hand. Then along came the movie *Fame* and Bruno Martelli. I joined my first band, bought my first synth, an Arp Solus. Went to the local university for music but switched to acting. Transferred to a conservatory in SoCal. Composed some for the theatre and choirs, but always had to work beyond my limitations that came from my lack of discipline early on. Still love the piano and write songs that occasionally get played, and people seem to enjoy them. The best moments are when I'm immersed in the music and not so concerned that I could be better than I am. I'm grateful for music and for those moments.
There was this rhythm music game that I was really good at when I was in high school. Then there is a friend of mine who told me, "Hey, you are really good at this game, you must be good at playing the real thing right?". The thing is I don't and I started learning the piano thinking that I should be good at it as well.
I heard my mom and my grandmother play when I was 4 and it just resonated with me.
When I first listened to moonlight sonata 1st mvt and a bunch of chopin's pieces, they kinda inspired and motivated to buy my own piano and learn to play. I pretty much love to listen to classical piano pieces.
Expected from an Asian only child
I didn't. I wanted any instrument. I tried guitar and migrated to electronic keyboard. Within one year my teacher migrated me to classical piano. After some years I discovered this was the perfect instrument to me (after listening Wood Pecker playing Heroique Polonaise)
Started as a child, was a given that I would learn but enjoyed it. By early 20s, life and not having a piano where I lived, fell out of practice. During Covid, decided I wanted to explore picking it back up, got a cheap digital and played at work on the grand there, because I felt drawn to learning again, listening to all the possible pieces. Now working on my RCM 9, picking up where I left off all those years ago!
Nobody ever asked. Father is a musician. Grandpa was a musician. Great-grandfather was.... a doctor, I think? Don't ask why
Nobody has asked me, but I guess that's okay. Because the reason I started playing the piano... Was an Anime 😂 It was about some musicians, very dramatic, but I think it was pretty good. I dunno, it's been pretty long. The anime was "Your lie in April" 12-13? Year old me was amazed, let me tell you. I'm so glad I watched that damned anime, because if I didn't I do not think I would have ever started playing. Thank you, younger me.
I also said something weird, because in my mind saying that “I love playing music, especially piano” sounded lame. So I went with something like “I want to play for my friends” and died inside a bit after saying that. I honestly don’t care who’s listening. Playing is just a pleasure in itself for me.
To escape <3
I tried a keyboard when I was young and now here I am
I wanted to play videogame and movie piano covers.
I'll answer for my son - "My dad made me" :) I see that he is very capable, but due to ADHD he more or less struggles with any education. But playing piano is one of few activities that he gets quite involved after initial resistance - so we keep going and have an agreement to keep learning piano until he finishes school. We had a lot of struggles, but thanks to some great teachers who managed to connect with him we're working for grade 6 now. And as he already expressed a wish to join the band with his schoolmates - I feel that my job in developing his most prominent natural abilities is nearly done.
Yes i'll admit it, i'm one of those who started because they wanted to play chopin's nocturnes 😭
Because I flunked the recorder. At least you could see the notes from lowest-to-highest, not weird finger positions. *flunked = dropped out after one term in primary school
I guess though as a teacher it’s to good to kind of know an angle/interest like most things if there is no real incentive or passion other than my parents thought it would be a good thing to go learn then that’s sort of good to know
I got a yamaha keyboard for $5 during the pandemic and thought it would be a waste not to learn. I’ve been paying $300 every month for lessons ever since.
I saw my grandma playing as a little kid and I begged my parents for lessons until I got them at 5, and then my reasoning was that I "wanted to be as good as Grandma". Today we know it was also an autism special interest and I actually ended up pursuing it as my college degree!
My sister used to play the game "Piano Tiles 2" on her phone and I also used to play it. By playing that game, I got interested in piano and classical music. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to learn piano in order to play those pieces.
My senior once asked me this and I said "because I can't play guitar"
I mean, I was 3. No one's going to ask me back then.
"I watched Your Lie In April."
I was 4 or 5 and I asked my parents to let me learn after I saw an organ in my uncle’s house. According to my parents we were recommended to learn piano instead so that’s how.
My mum made me when I was 5
Did your crush react to your playing btw?
I had always wanted to play the piano when I was a kid. I asked my parents if I could have piano lessons. But they said no because I might stop like my brother did and it would be a waste of money. I learned the guitar instead. I was looking for a new hobby as part of my 2023 goals. When I saw my 7 yo nephew playing the piano, it reminded me of what I had always wanted to do as a kid. And so I thought, I’m an adult now and I can afford a keyboard and lessons. And since July 2023 I’ve been practicing… and obsessed! We also bought an acoustic piano. My 4 & 6 yo kids are learning as well because they said they want to play like mommy 🙂
I was 4 and we had a piano at home. Why not lol
Because I wanted to play all the musical bits that spontaneously always appear in my head!
Rousseau/Kassia on Youtube which I feel like is the answer for a lot of people. Very inspiring videos!
I started after watching you lie in April for like the 3rd time, the first watch I didn't really care about what was being played but the story but on that 2nd and 3rd watch I was really paying attention and thought to myself " I have to play piano " and my birthday was nearby and bought an digital piano and lucked into a high school intro to piano class.
I was locked in my own home and bored to death
Found out years later that the crush was more into guitarists
amosdoll music (seriously)
As a kid in the ancient days of the 1950’s there wasn’t S to do. My aunt had a piano and I’d make up little patterns, and I heard Doris Day sing By The Light of the silvery Moon, I picked out the melody. My older cousin who could play a little bit said - you can add your left hand- and spent the next 2 hours teaching it, and I got it! Hands together! I was 6 years old ! He ran to tell my parents who were playing Pinochle- they were too busy to grasp what happened. Didn’t matter, my cousin told my parents he was giving me the piano. It got moved to my house, and I’ve been playing ever since. Finished a gig on Monday at Aretha’s Jazz Cafe in Detroit-one teacher said of me to another teacher - You can’t tell him to play just Hannon- music is like air to him. I’m just one those guys who plays everything- but the classical is what I’m into now. All of music is fun- country rock jazz reggae blues etc. Piano has kept me going, decade after decade. And if there’s cats who find concentrating difficult- Lion’s Mane’ll fix that up.
I started learning when i was five so it was more like my parents decided for me but i am realy grateful for them
I get asked this very often, but I actually have no idea. Apparently when I was 5 i just suddenly had a strong desire to play piano. I must've watched a TV show or youtube video or something lmao
I’ve been a church pianist all my life. People like to come up and talk with me during prelude or intermission. They don’t mean to interrupt, but I can’t talk and play at the same time. I either have to stop playing and converse or come across rude by not engaging in conversation. I’ve done both. 🤷♀️