Piano Guidance
Photo by Charles Parker Pexels Logo Photo: Charles Parker

Is it possible to learn piano in a year?

One year. You can expect to reach beginner level after around a year. This would correlate roughly to Grade 1 or 2 level (ABRSM.) Expect to play very basic pieces and have a reasonable grasp of learning from sheet music, playing basic one-octave scales, etc.

What is the fastest video to reach 1 million views?
What is the fastest video to reach 1 million views?

Butter by BTS is the video that has garnered the fastest 1 million views on YouTube.

Read More »
Which is the most popular instrument?
Which is the most popular instrument?

The 10 Most Popular Musical Instruments Piano/Keyboard. Some experts separate the two, and they do have different uses, but the basics are very...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

This is a common question when it comes to learning any instrument. Sure, you’ve bought yourself a piano, got a teacher, maybe signed up to an app like Flowkey or Simply Piano. But how long will it take for you to actually be able to say “yes, I can play the piano?” You’ve made a start, but where does it end?

The real answer to this question, unfortunately, is “it depends.” There is no definitive end to your piano learning journey; you will be learning for as long as you are playing. Even concert pianists at the highest possible level are still learning. I will say that this process is often quicker for children than it is for adults, for the same reason that children pick up languages easier; their brains are more malleable. That’s not to say that adults can’t reach a level of decent proficiency at their craft; you just might need to be more patient. However, here's a rough estimate of what you can expect your level to be after a certain amount of time. Figures are based on an adult beginner who has no prior experience of playing the piano or any other musical instrument.

Beginner

One year

You can expect to reach beginner level after around a year. This would correlate roughly to Grade 1 or 2 level (ABRSM.) Expect to play very basic pieces and have a reasonable grasp of learning from sheet music, playing basic one-octave scales, etc.

Intermediate

Three to four years

You can expect to reach this level after around three to four years. Expect to be playing at roughly a Grade 4 or 5 level (ABRSM). You should have a decent grasp of more advanced concepts at this stage, such as sightreading, more complex rhythmic patterns, as well as scales in most keys up to two or three octaves. You should be comfortable with learning pieces by yourself without having to rely on a teacher at this stage, but expect most of your guidance still to come from your teacher or tutor.

Five to ten years

Expect to reach this level after at least five years and up to ten years. By this stage you should be playing at a Grade 8 (ABRSM) level or beyond. You should have no issues sightreading pieces around three or four grades below your playing level. You should know scales, arpeggios, broken chords, etc in every key. You should be very comfortable choosing your own repertoire and learning pieces by yourself at this stage.

Is it OK to take a break from piano?
Is it OK to take a break from piano?

The short answer is yes, it is okay to take a break from piano, but it is important to do it for the right reasons, and to understand the...

Read More »
Can you learn piano at an older age?
Can you learn piano at an older age?

No matter when you begin piano, you can have the enjoyment of playing an instrument, plus all the great mental, physical, and emotional benefits....

Read More »

Should I learn scales or chords first piano?

Most teachers teach their students piano scales before piano chords. Music scales are the foundation of music theory. Chords are based on their respective piano scale. It is recommended to learn the easiest to the hardest piano scales first.

If you have ever taken piano lessons in the past, most piano teachers/instructors will begin teaching their students piano scales, a fundamental concept of music theory. If you have never attended piano lessons and are wondering where to start, we recommend you start with the most popular piano scales as they are the easiest to learn and memorize.

Why is that, you may ask?

Music scales are the building blocks of music theory. Without scales, there would be no structure to music. Musical pieces would sound chaotic and disorganized without them. Piano chords themselves are exclusively tied to their corresponding scale. In other words, piano scales are essentially the building blocks of piano chords. For this reason, the two go hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other, and certainly, piano chords cannot exist alone. ◈ It is recommended to begin teaching or learning the most common piano scales.

Quick Summary:

Most teachers teach their students piano scales before piano chords

Music scales are the foundation of music theory.

Chords are based on their respective piano scale.

It is recommended to learn the easiest to the hardest piano scales first. ➜ Related: 3 Reasons Why Piano Is Easy To Learn – Plus More!

How many pages of script for 1 hour?
How many pages of script for 1 hour?

Generally speaking, hour-long episode scripts can be anywhere from 45-63 pages, although a majority of the time you want to stick with 50-55 pages....

Read More »
Why do people kiss 3 times?
Why do people kiss 3 times?

The Dutch Cheek Kiss In the Netherlands it is considered quite normal for Dutch people to greet each other with three kisses on the cheek. It is...

Read More »
What does dirty bird mean?
What does dirty bird mean?

The dance originated after Jamal Anderson, former NFL running back, would score a touchdown during games. Anderson would bounce from one foot to...

Read More »
Why do guitar players have long nails?
Why do guitar players have long nails?

The main reason classical guitarists play with long nails is it gives them a wide range of expressive capabilities. For one, nails allow you to...

Read More »