How long does it take to learn piano?

How long does it take to learn piano?

One of the big reasons some people are hesitant to learn piano is because of time. There are many misconceptions that finding time to play piano will be difficult, or that it’s too hard. Here we answer three most frequently asked questions to encourage you to take that first step. Once you get started, we’re sure you’ll love it!

How long does it take to play piano well?

Ultimately, it depends on what you want to do, and how much time you are able to put into practicing and lessons. You may want to be able to read music, learn how to play your favorite song from the charts or a film, or play much-loved classical tunes. At the risk of stating the obvious, some ambitions are easier to fulfil than others, but having even a vague outcome in mind will help you figure out where to start.

Man playing white Roland FP digital piano

Once you’ve thought about what ‘type’ of player you’d like to be, you can start thinking about which approach suits you best. Settle on a format that appeals to you as having a regular routine will help increase your motivation, which is another critical factor in how long it takes to play well.

With the right attitude, most people can achieve one piano level per year. There’s no doubt that piano lessons will expedite your progress, and there’s a strong case for seeking out a teacher for a half-hour weekly lesson. But if traveling to a piano teacher takes more time than you can spare, that doesn’t rule you out from learning piano online at home. Choose a digital piano with Bluetooth connectivity and you can access online tutorial videos and learning apps like Skoove, then stream the audio through the instrument’s onboard speakers. On the flipside, if you’re always traveling with work, a lightweight portable keyboard could be ideal, letting you set up fast in a hotel room and polish your skills.

How long does it take to learn a new piece?

Of course, that depends on the piece, but for an average player, it’s not unrealistic to be playing Level 5 pieces after four years learning the instrument. You get better at playing the piano through repetition; you’re training your mind and body to read and interpret the notes, and translate this information into coordinated physical movements, staying in time while also keeping your eye on the next section of the music. If you can drive a car, you’ll remember how weird it felt at first trying to coordinate the various pedals, gears, and indicators, while trying to remember the rules of the road and not crash. After you’ve been driving for a while, these actions (hopefully) happen automatically, almost subconsciously. It’s the same for the piano.

Woman learning piano using an app

Ultimately, rapid improvement all comes down to staying motivated – and one of the best ways to stay motivated is to mix things up. It’s ironic that one of the main ways of learning piano – repeatedly playing piano scales – is among the least favorite part of practice or lessons. While you should, to an extent, commit scales to muscle memory (so your fingers instinctively know what to do next without you having to consciously think about it), there are still many ways to have fun while you learn. Always remember: with music, you get out what you put in. Lose a TV show. Unplug from Facebook. Put down your phone. You have more time than you think – and there’s no better way to spend it.

How many hours per week should I practice piano?

The simple answer is ‘as many as you can manage’, but let’s be realistic – while it makes sense to practice as much as you can, the demands of modern life get in the way. There’s no point sugar-coating it; learning to play piano requires practice, and lots of it, but it’s your choice how you practice and what you learn.

Your practice could involve scales, chord inversions, and Hanon exercises, or it could be listening to a favorite song repeatedly, while you try and copy the pianist in the video. Whatever route appeals, just accept that you’ll need to put the time in – and while progress may be slow at first, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll improve just by showing up and getting to work.

A pianist using a tablet and a portable piano to play a song

A little goes a long way, and just 15 minutes each day has a greater impact on musicality and muscle memory than a weekly three-hour marathon. It also fits more easily into your schedule.

If you have a piano teacher, they’ll help you find out how to get the most from your piano practice time and work out a practice plan which will include exercises for developing the correct playing technique, along with some music which is the right level for your ability.

Short and often is a great way to start, so pick something you want to play, and commit to a short daily practice session. Shorter sessions also mean you’re less likely to get bored.

How Roland pianos help with piano practice

If you’re buying a piano for the first time, a Roland digital piano can make things a lot easier, especially during the early stages when you need to find a system that works well for you. For example, you can turn the volume down or plug in a set of headphones and play quietly; useful if you’re not yet at a level that you want other people to hear, or if you want to practice late at night, or even early in the morning when people are asleep.

Many Roland digital pianos also use Bluetooth to wirelessly connect to your mobile device, so you can use popular apps and online practice videos. Once connected, the audio from your smartphone is routed through the piano’s internal speakers, or headphones if you prefer to practice in private. This means you can play along with your favorite artist and bands or practice with some online lessons.

Most Roland digital pianos let you record yourself while playing, which means you can then listen back to how it sounded. You’ll usually know if you play the wrong note or chord, but playing back and evaluating your performance lets you concentrate on whether you did a good job, assessing timing, sense of rhythm and pacing, finger strength, playing accuracy, and so on. You just press the record button and start playing. Once you’re done, press play and listen back to see what you need to work on. Easy, and a great way to work on your technique!

Perfect when you have limited time

GO:PIANO

GO:PIANO

Full-size 88-note piano. Play-anywhere portability. Smartphone-powered instruction.

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FP-10

Roland FP-10

This portable piano provides impressive performance with dynamic grand tone and stage-ready onboard speaker system.

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RP102

Roland RP102

Competitive price meets powerhouse spec in the RP102, with performance driven by acclaimed SuperNATURAL technology.

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