Is the Piano Hard to Learn?

Of all the musical instruments out there, the piano is perhaps the most elegant and classy. As such, it can seem like a very attractive idea to learn how to play it. As is the case with learning anything new, it is natural to ask the question, “Is the piano hard to learn?” Let us find out.

Why Learning The Piano Isn’t Hard:

Any learning endeavor can appear daunting until it is tried. Watching a piano maestro work his or her magic on a piano can make it seem like it is too tall a mountain to climb for mere mortals. However, the key thing to remember is that even these maestros started as novices, and learning to play the piano reasonably well is something that is well within the capabilities of most people. Here are all the reasons why learning the piano is not difficult.

It Is One Of The Most Straightforward Instruments

Chances are high that you have seen the keys of a piano. The keys are laid out in a very easy-to-understand manner from a visual standpoint. There is a very straightforward pattern of twelve keys consisting of seven white keys and five black keys that is repeated across the piano. This is advantageous as it is a lot easier to visualize basic concepts of music theory on a piano compared to almost every other musical instrument. This makes it much less challenging to learn the notes and the various chord shapes resulting in a learning curve that isn’t very steep.

Plenty Of Learning Resources Available

The piano has been around for quite some time now, and even today, it remains a highly popular instrument. You will, therefore, be spoilt for choice when it comes to learning resources. It isn’t too difficult to find a great instructor who can either teach you the piano in person or virtually over the internet. For those who do not want to commit to a teacher, there are plenty of online tutorials and books that can help you get started at your own pace, and with enough dedication, you can even teach yourself to reach a pretty high level of proficiency on the piano. In fact, most digital pianos come with onboard tutorials that can, at the very least, help you take the first few steps in learning to play the piano all by yourself.

Versatile Instrument

The piano has existed in some form or the other for a few centuries, and a big reason behind its longevity is its adaptability. Irrespective of which genre of music you are into, you can learn to play some version of your favorite song on the piano. This is very helpful in maintaining a sustained interest in learning the instrument. There is nothing more gratifying than playing your favorite song on the piano.

Physically One Of The Least Demanding Instruments

Don’t get us wrong. You will still feel some physical discomfort, especially during the initial stages. However, compared to, say, a guitar or a violin, this discomfort is nothing. This is a great boon for those starting out as it is one less discouraging factor to worry about. With proper stretching and a few finger exercises, you won’t feel any major discomfort after just a few days. It can often take many weeks or even months to develop the necessary strength and resilience on other instruments.

Electronic Versions Are Quite Accessible

A pretty common obstacle in trying to learn a musical instrument is the cost involved in getting a decent quality investment. Just ask any violinist, and they will tell you how expensive some of the good violins can be. Electronic versions of the piano are really affordable, and over the last decade or so, even the entry-level keyboards are of a sufficient enough quality that you won’t need to think of an upgrade for at least the first few years of the learning process. An electronic keyboard isn’t exactly the same as a piano, but it is sufficiently close enough to one, at least during the beginner and intermediate stages of learning how to play the piano. For those willing to search and with a bit of luck, plenty of acoustic pianos can be bought on the second-hand market at surprisingly low prices.

Why Learning The Piano Can Be Difficult:

It isn’t all a bed roses, though. We do not want to paint the wrong picture and suggest that learning the piano is the easiest task you can embark upon. If that was the case, then every other person would be a pianist. Here are some of the reasons why learning the piano is difficult.

It Requires A Lot Of Dedication

This is one trait that the piano shares with every other musical instrument. While a piano offers a much gentler initiation, to get any good at actually playing the piano, you will still have to put in hours and hours of regular and unrelenting practice. This is not a problem during the initial honeymoon period, but after a few weeks, it can get difficult to stay focused and motivated. The first few months will involve a lot of repetitive exercises that are essential to developing muscle memory as well as your hearing, but this can get very boring very easily. You really have to commit yourself to keep chipping away at it to become proficient in playing the piano. This is easier said than done, and the hundreds of thousands of aspiring pianists who abandoned their pursuit of playing the piano are a testament to this fact.

It Is Easy To Hit A Plateau

Say you have the willpower and the determination to keep pushing yourself to keep practicing and learning. It will still not be enough at certain stages of the learning process. Most people imagine learning something new as a linear graph that keeps going up. This is usually not the case with anything that is creative. You will regularly come across phases where it can seem as if you are not progressing at all. It will be as if you have hit your limit and that there is nothing more you can learn. This, again, is a part of the process, and it requires a lot of determination to go through such phases. Not everyone can, though, and this can often be too discouraging for some.

Too Many Learning Resources

This might seem like a paradoxical statement, but, as the popular saying goes, too much of a good thing is not good. Owing to the global popularity of the piano and the huge demand created by a large number of prospective learners, there is an overabundance of learning resources. This competition has also led to false marketing of courses that offer fake assurances of making you proficient in playing the piano in as less as a few days. This can create unrealistic expectations. It can also lead to a wastage of time as potential students tend to spend more time searching for a good lesson or tutorial instead of actually learning something.

Acoustic Pianos Tend To Be Expensive

There are no two ways about it, new acoustic pianos are expensive, and they always have been. While electronic versions can come pretty close, nothing can truly beat the feel and sound of an acoustic piano. The good news is that you will need to become a pro-level pianist to be able to take advantage of something like a concert piano, and getting there takes a lot of time. 

A Few Key Strategies That Will Help You Learn The Piano Easily

• Try to do the best you can with what you have instead of trying to find the best learning material and instrument in a bid to play better.
• Set realistic expectations. Do not try to do everything as quickly as possible. Some steps can take longer, and everyone has their own pace of learning new things.
• Celebrate the small achievements like being able to play your first chord, scale, and song
• Be patient. All good things take time.

Is the Piano Hard to Learn? – Summary!

Learning a musical instrument like the piano is a noble and fun venture. Knowing how to play the piano can not only give you a sense of pride but will also instill and enhance many wonderful qualities such as discipline, perseverance, creativity, and determination. However, learning the piano isn’t for everyone, and hopefully, by now, you should be able to understand if learning the piano is something that will be difficult for you or not. Personally, I believe that the piano is one of the best musical instruments, and while it’s not the easiest one to learn it is definitely not the hardest. However, with the willingness to learn and practice, playing the piano can be relatively easy, especially if you opt for a tutor.