Ask HN: Taking up piano later in life

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25430867

by andy_ppp • 6 years ago

2 8 6 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

So I thought who better to ask about learning piano at 38 than my favourite technical forum. I want something to do that takes me away from screens regularly and I think it must be possible to become reasonable if not great with a few years of practicing every day.

So I have a few questions on this:

1) Which piano should I get - I'd like one with as close to real piano keys as possible and a nice piano sound, looking at Yamaha P125, Kawai ES110 (sounds best) and Korg D1 (which IMO feels the best).

2) What techniques/apps/schedule did you use to learn piano? How good can you become when a bit older?

3) Is there anything else I need to know when learning piano? Should I get a teacher or just do my own learning/apps?

Thanks Hacker News!

resource0x2• 6 years ago

1) Roland FP 2) Don't play classical music. Learn music theory (The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine) and play by ear, initially transposing everything to the same key (e.g. Fmaj).

(I'm a retired programmer, playing piano for 50+ years. If you'd like to discuss, my email is tatumizer at gmail)

sigmaprimus2• 6 years ago

I learned to play back in the 80s through group and later private lessons as those were the only two options available.

I think it doesn't matter what age you start but there are some more recent innovations that You should consider in regards to learning.

IMHO You might want to hold off on the professional quality and expensive keyboards until You learn the theory and are able to play a few chorded songs all the way through.

I found a very indepth article covering this subject that may be of some benifit to You.

https://www.pianodreamers.com/ways-to-learn-piano/

Good luck, TBH I am kind of jealous as I would really enjoy playing but have committed my time and money on other projects for the next while.

andy_ppp3• 6 years ago

I was told learning on a weighted keyboard was pretty important but maybe not?

resource0x2• 6 years ago

weighted or not is not that important. What IS important is sound quality. You can't get it from cheap instruments.

andy_ppp3• 6 years ago

Also, I don’t believe you don’t have 15 minutes per day to switch off the conversational party of your mind and as you say enjoy yourself in front of the piano, away from a screen.

sigmaprimus2• 6 years ago

Actually it is the time needed to set up a space for playing. I have moved from a 3000 square foot home to one half that size and I feel like I'm drowning in boxes that need to be unpacked. Not to mention I moved in before putting in flooring so half the house has throw rugs over plywood.

On top of that I just had surgery and have been suffering some related issues which are sapping my energy.

You are right, I could find the time if I had a piano in the house already and probably will get one in the new year but ATM things are too hectic to be moving in a piano. I think I will eventually save an old upright from going to the dump and hire a tuner to set it up.

Kaibeezy• 6 years ago

I recall an article from maybe 5 years ago where a guy decided to teach himself piano by learning his favorite song. It went well, and I always meant to try that.

Seems like an article that wouldn't be too hard to track down, but I'm not finding it. I think it was a mainstream magazine like the New Yorker or Atlantic. I'll keep looking.

Not this, but it was pretty good: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/20/magazine/quar...

Ask HN: Taking up piano later in life

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