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Is 18 too late to learn piano?

It's never too late to start learning piano. Whether you're a returning player or brand new to piano, here's what you need to know about learning as an adult.

flowkey.com - Yes, You Can Learn Piano As An Adult. Here's how - Flowkey

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But, against all odds: she's making excellent progress. I asked her why she chose such an advanced piece. She said, "I just LOVE this song! And I'd love to play it someday. Doesn't matter how long it will take. I don't want to play different songs anyway." That’s what I call dedication! Just goes to show how much a great song can motivate you.

Starting early isn't always an advantage

I was lucky enough to have parents who sent me to a piano teacher when I was a kid. Unfortunately, the pieces I had to learn during the first years weren't all that nice. Because of this, I rarely felt motivated. Practicing was a struggle. I often just sat grumpily at my keyboard, sulking like a toddler. This all changed a few years later, when I began to play pop songs and a few classical pieces that I thought were cool. But soon enough, puberty and other interests began to compete for my attention. Over my teenage years, I didn't improve much at all. Today, I'm still not that good at playing the piano! Sure, I'm grateful I had the chance to learn an instrument as a kid. I'm sure I benefitted from it in many different ways. But I'm not sure if I'd have managed to play "Comptine d'une autre été" even during the best of times! That's my piano learning story in a nutshell: First I wasn't motivated, then I got distracted. As they say: all roads lead to Rome. Starting early isn't the only path to mastering an instrument.

Your brain can do it!

Of course, if you aspire to a career as a star pianist, you have to start early. If you want to play the piano because you want to play songs you've always loved, you can start anytime. There's no rush, no competition to win, no expectations to meet. It's just you and your piano. Trust me, instruments are patient companions and enjoy every minute you spend with them I've met too many people who consider themselves too old to start learning an instrument. But this just isn't true. After all, our brain capable of learning new things at any point in our entire lives (it's called "brain plasticity", if you want to dig deeper). New brain connections may not develop as rapidly in adults as they do in children. But this doesn't mean that our brains retire once we hit 18! Plus, as an adult, it's much easier for you to grasp abstract concepts like notation and translate them into hand movements. So when it comes to comprehending music, it's an advantage to be older and wiser. You learn much faster by understanding, not by relying on trial and error.

All it takes is you, a piano, and a song you love

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When did selling ivory become illegal?

1989 A worldwide ban on ivory sales in 1989 led to a rebound in the population, to about a million.

nationalgeographic.org - The History of the Ivory Trade | National Geographic Society

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