The ability to learn how to play the piano has two aspects. On one side, we have all the pianists possessing varying degrees of expertise who hail from many different walks of life. They prove that anyone can learn to play the piano. On the other side are many aspirants who, at some point in the past, tried to learn to play the piano but failed to do so for some reason or the other. Depending on which side you look at, learning to play the piano can appear to be either easy or extremely difficult.
So, is the piano difficult to learn? The answer is a bit subjective, and it totally depends on you and what you mean by “learn”. We will break down the learning process based on the various stages in this process. We will then point out what is easy and what is difficult about each stage which should allow you to gauge if learning the piano is your cup of tea.
Table of Contents
Beginners
These are people who have little to no knowledge of music theory and how a piano works. Most people who give up on learning how to play the piano fall in this category.
What Is Easy For Those Just Starting Out with Playing the Piano?
Identifying the Notes
As the keys are laid out in a very distinct pattern, identifying the individual notes is extremely easy. In fact, most students learn to identify the different keys on their first day. Most other instruments are quite confusing when it comes to this step in the learning process.
Physical Endurance
This is another avenue that is very welcoming as far as pianos are concerned. The keys are relatively easy to press, and as long as you stretch properly, your fingers won’t hurt as much as they would with most other instruments.
Getting a Good Sound
Due to the previous two reasons, almost anyone can press a piano key and make it sound the way it is supposed to sound. On most instruments like the violin or the trumpet, simply getting the instrument to play a note properly is a huge hurdle.
First Song
Playing your first song on an instrument is a huge accomplishment, and there are many easy songs for the piano that can be learned on your first day itself. This has the added benefit of being a great morale booster.
>>Also Read: Piano vs Keyboard: Is Piano and Keyboard the Same?
What Is Difficult For Those Just Starting Out?
Changing the Key of a Song
While the keys of a piano are laid out in a straightforward manner, this does present a drawback. Each scale shape is different. Since there are twelve scales, you will have to learn 12 different patterns. The same applies to chords. As there are major chords, minor chords, diminished chords, and a bunch of other chords, learning all the different shapes and patterns can be incredibly overwhelming at first. This can make it almost impossible to play a song in a different key than the one you learned in the first place.
Playing with Both Hands
Getting that coordination between the left and right hands can also be challenging. Often, you will find yourself paying too much attention to one hand, leading to mistakes. Thankfully, this doesn’t last very long as long as you practice properly.
Getting Used to the Touch Sensitivity
Piano keys have what is known as velocity sensitiveness or response. Simply put, the harder a key is pressed, the louder it will sound. Initially, your fingers will all have different levels of strength. Some notes will be louder than others, and when this is done unintentionally, it can sound quite strange. This, too, is temporary as, with time, you will develop the necessary strength and control in each finger to make each note sound exactly how you want it to.
Intermediates
These are folks who have been playing the piano for at least a few months and are by now well versed with the basics. This is where the fun really begins.
>>Also Read: Is the Piano Hard to Learn?
What Is Easy For Intermediates?
Playing Chords and Melody Lines at the Same Time
By now, you can use both hands easily and can thus play chords on the one hand and melody on the other, allowing you to create rich sounds all by yourself.
Experimenting and Improvising
At this point, you will have a good enough understanding of music theory to make your own music and chord progressions.
Being Able to Play Along With Other Musicians
Playing with other musicians or playing along with a singer is a lot easier as you can play the piano pretty much on instinct.
What Is Difficult For Intermediates?
Staying Motivated to Learn More
Since you are able to play in front of others, which in turn will bring some attention and admiration, it is very easy to get complacent and feel like what you know already is more than enough.
Advanced Piano Players
These are the true heroes of the piano world. They are the ones that persevere through all the difficulties and get to a point where they can be called pros.
What Is Easy For Advanced Players?
Creating your Own Compositions on the Fly
Your expertise will be so good that you can literally be called on to a stage in the middle of a song you do not know and still be able to play along beautifully to it. You can also create your own music at the drop of a hat.
Understanding and Implementing Advanced Music Theory Concepts and Techniques
This is pretty self-explanatory. Basically, you will be able to use some really impressive and oftentimes visually appealing techniques without breaking a sweat.
What Is Difficult For Advanced Players?
Hitting a Plateau
The rate of learning and progress will become much slower. At times it can feel as if you are stuck at the same level and cannot progress any further. Thankfully, this doesn’t last for more than a few days and usually goes away with a small break.
Clearing A Few Misconceptions Regarding Learning To Play The Piano
- The length or thickness of your fingers does not matter.
- You do not need to come from a musical family to be a good pianist. It isn’t something in your genes. Rather, it is your commitment to the craft that matters.
- You do not need very expensive pianos to be able to play well.
- You don’t need any special abilities.
What Can You Do To Make The Piano-Learning Process Easier?
While there is no one right way of learning how to play the piano, there are a few tried and tested methods that have worked for centuries, and following these should help you immensely.
Get A Good Piano Instructor
All you have to do is look at the life history of some of the greatest pianists, and you will see that they were guided towards their greatness by a great teacher. You will find a lot of online tutorials that will promise quick results with minimal effort. However, these courses are tailored for a general audience and won’t cater to your specific needs. This is especially true for beginners. You absolutely need a teacher who can teach you at your own pace and guide you on the path that works for you.
Set Realistic Expectations
Managing expectations plays a big role in successfully learning something new, and learning to play the piano is no different. If you set a target of being able to play ‘La Campanella’ within a few weeks, then all you will be setting yourself up will be for disappointment. Instead, remember that initially, the progress will be slow, and it will be all about baby steps. Being realistic about your goals will ensure that you can make steady progress without being disheartened every time you see a piano.
There Is No Substitute For Regular Practice
There is no shortage of piano lessons and tutorials which means that this is an area with a lot of competition. As such, some courses and instructors will advertise almost magical claims of teaching piano in as little as 100 days. Do not fall for such claims. There are no shortcuts, and while a song or two can be learned in a few days, it will take many months and even years to properly learn the piano. The only quickest way of learning to play the piano is by practicing regularly. The more hours you put into it, the quicker your progress will be.
Is The Piano the Hardest Instrument? – Final Thoughts!
Being able to play the piano is so much more than just another skill. It is something that can substantially improve the quality of your life. Is learning to play the piano the easiest thing to do? Most certainly not. As a matter of fact, the piano is one of the hardest instruments to learn. However, it isn’t impossible either. With the right approach and proper guidance, almost anyone can be a pianist. It is all about committing to the cause. Is piano the hardest instrument? It definitely isn’t. It isn’t as physically demanding as many other instruments. Everything is laid out in such a systematic manner that figuring your way around a piano is quite an intuitive process. Don’t believe us? Watch a tutorial on how to play the bagpipes, and you will understand how undemanding the piano really is.
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