A few years in and I'm nowhere near done learning. Not even close. The more I know, the more I see how much there is to know. At first this was discouraging. Now it's the best part.
Piano isn't a skill you "complete." There's no finish line. Concert pianists with 50 years of experience are still learning, still improving. You can't master it because there's always another level.
This is actually great news. It means you're not racing toward some endpoint. There's no pressure to achieve a certain level by a certain time. You're on a lifelong journey. A bad week doesn't matter. A bad month barely registers. The only thing that matters is whether you're still playing.
What changes over time:
Year 1: Survival. Building basic skills. Everything is hard. Lots of frustration, occasional breakthrough moments. The beginning is chaotic but exciting.
Years 2-3: Competence. You can learn new songs in weeks instead of months. Basic theory makes sense. You have a repertoire. Playing feels more natural than mechanical.
Years 4-5: Confidence. You can sit at any piano and play something respectable. You understand your strengths and weaknesses. You can learn pieces independently without tutorials.
Years 5+: Growth shifts from "can I play this?" to "how well can I play this?" Interpretation, expression, nuance. The technical foundation is there; artistry develops.
What stays constant: There's always something you can't do yet. Always a piece that's too hard right now. Always room to improve timing, dynamics, touch. The ceiling keeps rising.
The social aspect grows. At parties, gatherings, events – you can contribute something. It's a conversation starter, a way to connect. The practical value of piano as a social skill surprised me.
It compounds with age. Unlike athletic skills that peak early, piano actually improves with age up to a point. Musical understanding deepens. Interpretation matures. A 60-year-old with 40 years of playing often outperforms a 30-year-old with the same time invested.
My relationship with piano keeps changing. First it was a challenge. Then a hobby. Now it's just part of my life. Something I do regularly, like exercise. Not every session is exciting. But I can't imagine stopping.
If you're just starting: welcome to something you'll carry for life. The investment pays off forever. Just keep showing up.