Frequently Asked Questions
Questions I get asked a lot, answered honestly.
Am I too old to learn piano?
No. I started at 23. I know people who started in their 40s, 50s, 60s. Your brain can still learn new skills. Will you become a concert pianist? Probably not. Can you learn to play songs you love and enjoy music for the rest of your life? Absolutely. Here's my story if you want proof.
How long does it take to learn piano?
Depends what "learn" means. Playing recognizable songs with both hands: 3-6 months with consistent practice. Sounding "good": 1-2 years. Intermediate level: 2-4 years. There's no endpoint – even professionals keep learning. My full timeline breakdown.
Do I need a teacher?
Not necessarily. I learned without one. But a teacher can catch bad habits early and accelerate progress. If you can afford lessons, they help. If you can't, self-teaching is completely viable with good resources. Most of this site exists because I self-taught and want to help others do the same.
What keyboard should I buy?
Something with weighted or semi-weighted keys. This matters more than brand. Budget $300-500 for something that'll last years. Yamaha P-45, Casio CDP-S100, Roland FP-10 are all solid choices. Full buying guide here.
Digital or acoustic piano?
For most beginners, digital makes more sense. Cheaper, no maintenance, volume control (headphones), no tuning needed. Modern digital pianos are good enough to develop real skills. Full comparison here.
How much should I practice?
Consistency matters more than duration. 15-20 minutes daily beats 2 hours on weekends. I use the 10-minute rule – commit to just 10 minutes, non-negotiable. Usually turns into more. The key is showing up every day.
Why is my left hand so bad?
Because your non-dominant hand hasn't done precision work for 20+ years. It's normal. Everyone's left hand sucks at first. Don't ignore it – practice left hand separately from day one. Full guide to fixing it.
Do I need to learn music theory?
Not immediately, but eventually yes. I avoided it for 8 months and regretted it. Theory makes everything else easier – patterns appear, songs make sense, learning speeds up. A weekend of focused learning covers the basics. Theory explained simply.
Do I need to learn to read music?
It helps a lot. You can learn songs from YouTube tutorials without reading, but you become dependent on tutorials. Reading music takes maybe 3 weeks of focused practice for basics. How to read sheet music.
What songs should I learn first?
Start simple – Ode to Joy, simple arrangements of pop songs. Then move to stuff like "Lean on Me," "Let It Be," "Hallelujah." Build up gradually. Full first songs guide and easy songs list.
I hit a plateau – progress stopped. What do I do?
Plateaus are normal. Your brain is consolidating before leveling up. Switch what you practice, take a short break, get outside feedback. Don't quit – push through. Full plateau guide.
How do I stay motivated?
Don't rely on motivation – rely on habit. Show up even when you don't feel like it. Keep at least one song you love in rotation. Record yourself to hear progress. Find community. Full motivation guide.