The Piano Learning Strategy Adult Students MUST Know

Recently I've started to get very interested in the needs of older piano learners. In this tutorial I outline some of the problems they face and explore the one key strategy that can make the difference between success and failure for them.
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[@BillHilton]

👉Improve your piano skills with my great value Piano Packs and 3 Ebook Bundle deal: www.billspianopages.com/piano... www.billspianopages.com/bundle 👉Join my Patreon community - we're a very friendly bunch of piano learners! www.patreon.com/billhilton 👉My gear (in association with Sweetwater.com) Nord Piano. Latest model is the Nord Piano 5: sweetwater.sjv.io/Gm3RNn Rode NT-USB microphone: sweetwater.sjv.io/AWXR6a Sony DCZV1/B digital camera: sweetwater.sjv.io/3erm1n (Disclosure: I receive commission from Sweetwater if you click through and buy these or any other products from their website.)

[@Omega0401]

I think this video should have a million likes but maybe there aren't that many that want to learn to play the piano or haven't found this channel. Excellent lesson Bill!!! Thank you for thinking of the older generation and hope you continue helping us. BTW I'm over 70 and continue to learn.

[@BillHilton]

Thank you very much - right now it's on 363 likes, so still a few to go! It's great to hear that you're working hard - keep it up!

[@TheDragonhawkKnights]

Hey Bill, good stuff! I've been playing since I was 5 when my grandmother was still alive. She's since passed away but she laid the foundation of my music theory and chord progression. I just turned 40 and I'm so glad that I've had music in my life for the whole journey. Bless you for what you do to give others the gift of music!!! You're a godsend!!

[@BillHilton]

Hey there! It's great to hear about the foundation your grandmother set for you in music theory and chord playing. It's amazing how long that stuff stays with you.... Thank you for the kind words and do keep on playing!

[@desmckenzie9341]

Brilliant Bill ! You Tube is full of teachers who don’t teach HOW to learn but it’s what I need as a 68 year old learner . I look forward to your future work in this area. This was a great tutorial. Happy trails mate.

[@BillHilton]

Thanks very much Des - that's a very good way of putting it! And to you!

[@alexiswoodbury7326]

KZbin is full of teachers who focus on their looks and posting the same video 3 times a month just to have 'content'. This guy is the real deal.

[@BalatonDreamer]

I learned trumpet as a kid, starting around 9 years old. Quit as a young adult for a non-music career (which I loved, no regrets), then started piano in my post-retirement 60’s. Definitely got better results for the time invested as a kid. Another big difference is motivation and goals. As a young trumpet player I was motivated by the end result, the dream of being an outstanding player. As a retirement piano beginner I’m motivated more by intangibles and enjoying the process. I’ve made a lot of progress but I have no delusions and not even any interest in being an acclaimed player, I just do it for the challenge and my own interests.

[@BillHilton]

I think you've hit on quite an interesting difference between adult learners and kids, there: I think it's quite an unusual kid that is motivated by enjoying the process of learning, with all its frustrations and challenges (which isn't to say they don't find learning absorbing, because often they do: it's just rare to meet a kid who finds the idea of going through a challenging process inherently appealing, if you see what I mean). A lot of adults just enjoy doing challenging things for the challenge, and can contemplate them in the abstract and say "I think I would find that fun". I certainly get that, and get it more and more as I age.

[@olufjakobsen6208]

Hej Bill Hilton. 70 years old from Denmark. I started your piano course beginner, but I can find all 24 major and minor chords, I can play Bach Prelunde in C major, but not with dynamicic in the music, and other easy pieces. I have very difficult to read the note over and under the lines, in both hands, and I can se the note, but it takes time when I se it, to it comes dawn to my hand. Sorry my pure English, I hope you understand. My goal is to play classic musik on intermedia level. Thanks for all the free video you had made.😂

[@SpiritualLo]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEOS, I'm literally so grateful that I've found your videos. Idk why but your videos are helping me more than anyone's videos have. I just bought my first keyboard and I'm so excited and I'm having fun with it and I pray that I don't lose that childlike approach I have currently!!! Anyway, Youre awesome, thanks again.

[@BillHilton]

You're welcome! Good luck, and do indeed hold on to the childlike approach - it's the secret to so much creative success!

[@ricardotemporalgrein4482]

I've recently started your begginer course in KZbin and it's just amazing. The way you teach, the way you express music, it's simple, direct and fun. Thanks Bill, from Brazil! Learning as an 30 years old adult! Thanks man, a lot! Been enjoying so much.

[@BillHilton]

You're really welcome, Ricardo - I'm glad it's helping you! You're in a really good position at age 30: young enough to have lots of time to make progress, but also mature enough to have self-awareness of your own learning style. The very best of luck, and let me know how you get on!

[@LatitudeMexico]

I’m 56 and have been studying from zero about two years, what really slows me down and often get me frustrated is how difficult and slow have been learning to sight read, I’m getting better now, but going very very slow

[@BillHilton]

Sight-reading is actually a tremendously difficult skill, and one that very few people really perfect - it seems that some have a knack for it, in the way that others have a knack for improvisation or songwriting or whatever. If it's any consolation, I've been playing the piano since October 1982 and I'm still *terrible* at sight-reading. So keep working at it, and don't forget that there are other musical skills just as valuable!

[@markcracknell6796]

Hi, on sight reading, it's an element if the Abrsm exams, so isn't it something I (or anyone) would have to study hard and do well at in order to not drag down my grade mark.

[@paulhaines7551]

Try learning how to play from guitar chords?

[@AmandaSnoise]

I downloaded an app to play with during boring times (in line, waiting for someone) called music reading trainer. It's like a game where you tap on the screen keyboard while reading. And you can noticeably improve your response time. It's helped a ton. That and the landmark method. Forget the "every good boy does fine" nonsense that takes too long.

[@Clown_Wizard]

I am 40 and have been playing for 2 years (and played guitar for much longer). I improved my sight reading by transcribing pieces I knew how to play or arranging guitar part for piano onto staff paper. Even doing short pieces can help. I found that, in a backwards way, learning the keys first and then reading it while playing helps with the literacy. It definitely feels like doing homework, but it pays off!

[@lshwadchuck5643]

Very wise advice. I came to your channel over five years ago. I was 67 and a rank beginner. Here I was trying to learn little blues riffs. I can laugh now. I spent two years on teach-yourself books, plus Hanon, Czerny, beginner pieces, etc. Then I found the foundation course I've been working ever since. In 15 steps I'm on 8 but I'm constantly working steps 1 and 2. I don't know about other adult learners, but I've found patience and humility to be my most valuable assets. My teacher has never taught children. We do no music theory, no drills, learn no pieces. It's all improvisation from within a basic harmonic vocabulary with a basic rhythmic framework. My goal five years ago was to be a lively, rhythmic player. Within narrow parameters, I am that now. I know that if I continue to add one baby step's worth of complexity only when things have gotten really easy, I'll get there. Most people are in a hurry to play their favourite songs. That was the first thing I gave up. For now. I've got the rest of my life.

[@estherg7363]

Hey thanx so much for that. Where can I find that course

[@lshwadchuck5643]

@@estherg7363 It's not really a course, it's a model. I've had two coaching sessions a month for three years. If you're interested after watching this video on Phil Best Music, there'll be a link to the site. 'Fluency in the language of music on the keys - my common sense model of musical language'

[@BillHilton]

That's an excellent account of your experience - thanks very much indeed. I'd agree that patience and humility are absolutely essential, and they continue to be essential... basically forever. There might be a few geniuses out there that manage everything first time, flawlessly: the rest of us need to be aware of our failings and persist all the same!

[@lshwadchuck5643]

@@BillHilton Yup, being honest with ourselves keeps us from trying to produce results we're not ready for. I subscribe to a couple of older players on KZbin whose sadly halting, unrecognizable performances keep me clear on what delusion sounds like.

[@trieshard1]

I am a very adult learner and my mistakes have been hopping from one book and KZbin teacher to another in the hopes of finding a magic method. Also trying to learn music which has been really much too difficult for my standard. I have learnt them through hard, frustrating practise. Now I realise that if I'd started with a solid, basic knowledge I'd be much further down the line towards my goal which is to play nicely, hit the right notes and have the confidence to play in front of my family. (earphones are a godsend!!) So I've started on your course, I've downloaded 3 scores and am trying very hard to get things right. 🤞

[@BillHilton]

Good luck, and thanks for putting your faith in my course! A sense of direction and drilling down the basics are unappreciated but essential. In some ways that’s something to take heart from: the secret of success really is just doing fairly simple things consistently for a long time!

[@molenz1960]

This video earned you a new subscriber. I'm 53 and have been learning piano for the past month (no past musical experience), I have practiced every day for one or two 20 minute sessions but usually longer. I have followed numerous KZbin videos and have made progress, I can definitely do things now that were impossible for me 2 or 3 weeks ago. I am now at a point where I need structured lessons instead of randomly jumping around so I will be starting your course from the beginning and following the advice you've given. Like most people I want to go fast and make rapid progress but I realise now that requires me to go slow.

[@man0sticks]

Bill, the problem you describe is an interesting dilemma for adult learners. The fact of the matter is that there are no teachers of adult piano students who were themselves adult beginners. In other words, if you are an adult beginner at the piano, there are no teachers who have any idea what it’s like to learn such a difficult and complex skill as an adult because none of them have done it. If it were up to me, every piano teacher who proposes to teach adult beginners, should study Chinese as an adult to get a taste of what it’s like to learn a new language, long after the time of life, in which this type of learning comes easily and naturally.

[@BillHilton]

Yes, exactly: this is why I'm having a crack at the maths (even though it *is* something I also did as a child: perhaps Chinese should be the next project...)

[@djhonza1939]

I am absolutely so happy to have found your page. A late 40s edm producer here, trying to learn the piano for creating melodies and chord progression. Looking forward to lesson 1.

[@BillHilton]

Welcome aboard - give me a yell if there's anything I can help with!

[@user-xm9pk1xt5j]

I know exactly what you say. As an adult, I rushed through my first year of self-teaching myself piano, and knew I got nowhere. After one year, I returned to lesson 1 nursery rhymes, got a better method book this time and started my journey anew - from scratch. I have no regrets of doing so - I am a better pianist now than if I continued blindly on my impatient and unthorough piano learning. Paying full attention, not rushing at the start and learning everything very thoroughly is essential to not get into trouble or bigger trouble later on. I am still quite unsatisfied with my left-hand though.

[@BillHilton]

That’s good to hear - thanks for the comment! It’s interesting that you mention the role of attention, which I think is often overlooked. A really good book that covers that subject is Stanislas Dehaene’s How We Learn. Dehaene places a great deal of weight on the importance of attention: basically, the closer the attention we pay as we learn something, the better we learn it - which sounds obvious, but he looks at it from a neuroscience perspective and explains why it’s really true. I leant on his stuff pretty heavily when I was writing How To Be A Better Musician, and he’s worth a look if you find yourself interested in this sort of thing.

[@ant7936]

Excellent info/ reminders. Thanks.

[@BillHilton]

You're welcome!

[@MusicDive-ex7mi]

Thank you for the video and all you work (I am not learning yet via your series, but I listened to those videos). So kind of answering your questions, I would point out two things. Objective, teaching as general -- introduce one element only. Period. This is a rule. If you introduce multiple new elements in indivisible section, this is asking for problems. I am not saying entire lesson has to have one new element, it can have more, but then they cannot be glued together. Basically it should work like this -- from student perspective, incoming new element, ironing it, moving to the next -- knowing you have solid foundations. And the second is subjective -- it is a matter of selection of the pieces. I would kill for a book with pieces with increasing difficulty where I could whistle, or hum to given piece (if the pieces would be popular, so I would know them by heart already, even better, like for Elise, or Hit the Road Jack). If the piece is just a group of weakly related sounds, learning it will be an ordeal -- because it will sound badly at the beginning, and it will still sound badly at the end. I hope my comment will help in tiny bit, and again -- thank you for your work and open approach.

[@EvgeniyBerlin]

Amazing explanation, thank you very much Bill!

[@BillHilton]

You're welcome, Evgeniy - glad you liked it!

[@perry1309]

Totally understand what you're saying Bill. I'm in my 50's and week 5 of learning piano. Anything new I need to keep up repetition and recapping. In addition to that I find that this practice needs to be consistent practicing everyday. Love your style teaching, understanding and passion.

[@BillHilton]

Thank you! Yes, consistency really is key when it comes to making progress at our kind of age (I’ve just turned 49…). The progress is definitely possible, but for a lot of people it seems like a mirage because they’re not learning in a way that suits their level of maturity and development. Really glad you liked it.

[@TimE_5150]

Just picked up the book, the lesson packs are next. I have been at this for a while and your tips have helped me in the past. I Look forward to learning from you Billy. Thanks for what you do!

[@BillHilton]

Thanks for buying them, Tim - and thanks also for the kind words: you're very welcome!

[@Lathamhipsurgery]

Such a great video. I have been trying to master the piano for nearly 25 years. I played until I was 10 and found it easy but stopped because I CBA to practice. I took it up again in middle age and had lessons F2F but struggled for the reasons that you have so eloquently described. I did Grades 5 and 6 a few years ago and was determined to pass Grade 8. I have failed it 3 times because I failed to build the foundations and fell apart in the exams. I have F2F lessons every week but struggle to p[ay when I'm being watched. It's a common problem for adults, I know. I have been revisiting pieces and have gone back a few steps to play some easier stuff to try and build confidence again. I can sight read well but seem to have a mental block when i try to improvise. I look at the piano and it mocks me! Thanks for sharing your wisdom and enthusiasm.

[@BillHilton]

Thank you! I can identify with much of that: I’ve always found it harder to play (at least from score) if I’m being watched - things seem to fall apart much more easily. Practical exams used to be a nightmare. I’m less affected if I’m improvising. One technique you could try - and I know this sounds a bit nuts, but bear with me - is to record, or even better, video yourself practising, especially with a view to producing a video’d performance to show to other people. I find that having the camera running creates a similiar, albeit less intense, psychological pressure to the one I get from being watched, and I think that filming myself a lot - as, clearly, I have done for the past several years now - has helped my overall playing confidence. Just a thought: might be worth a shot!

[@Lathamhipsurgery]

@@BillHilton thanks for your reply. It is appreciated. I tried the ABRSM Performance video exam at my last attempt. It was quite an ordeal performing 4 pieces in one take! Loads of mistakes and re-starts! Ironically I’m alright with the oral part of the exam.

[@raylevi5617]

I just started studying piano at 63+ years old. I am using 2 apps pretty much daily and finding out more stuff on KZbin like Bill's here to fill in the gaps like Seating, posture, how to hold your hands, scales, etc. These videos are great and I have already understood how important reinforcement is. I am going back over the lessons I have just learned because I know they haven't really "sunk-in" yet. And anything I can do to sight read music, which is really hard, i.e. I can't remember the notes I am staring at, even though I've just played them over and over. I get exactly what you're saying and I'm going to follow your direction with repetition, scales and tallying. no one else seems to mention scales. Thank you!

[@oldepersonne]

Excellent video; the key to learning anything.

[@BillHilton]

Thank you!

[@user-fp4os5tl6s]

Thanks for the video, Bill. I'm 72 and started your For Beginners course a year ago. Prior to starting, I had no music training since primary school. Now i am so pleased to be able to read and pick out some simple tunes. You have reinforced some of the techniques I have been using, I play all the pieces going back to Lesson 5 every day, trying to get a bit more expressive with each playing. I look forward to your videos for your older students.

[@alexiswoodbury7326]

I've been a guitar teacher since 2007 and I always, ALWAYS say so much of what you say here. Now I'm gonna pester my students with this stuff even more!

[@craigdouglas9979]

Good video!!

[@michael.a.covington]

This has a close analogue in learning foreign languages. It pays off to spend a lot of time reading and listening to *easy* material even long after you consider it too easy. You're reinforcing what you already know, making easy things easier. (Yes, it's me, the linguist again.)

[@davidgiuliani1657]

Loved the video and appreciate you considering us "old" folks. As a 50 year old learner, I think time is a double-edged sword. While I agree with your statement that two years isn't daunting, most adults struggle to balance busy lives with making time to practice on a regular basis. I've taken the "golden hour" approach, getting up an hour earlier to ensure I get at least one practice session in a day. If that weren't possible, I'm sure I'd be more frustrated with my progress and be more prone to adverts promising quick results. As you develop more content aimed at adults, maybe consider reinforcing the idea that building a habit of practice is important.

[@BillHilton]

I try for the golden hour thing, too: I find I can get as much done between 6am and 7am that in the whole rest of the morning, almost. With two kids (one smallish, the other very small - I started late 😂) every spare minute is valuable. I agree about habits. One of the most interesting things about some of the education apps/websites - I'm thinking particularly of Brilliant and Duolingo - is the way they encourage streaks as a way of building the habit of learning.

[@jimfuqua3170]

You nailed me. I've purchased several piano learning programs. I seem to get to about the same place in all of them and hit a wall. Then it's off to a new one hoping it will be better.

[@BillHilton]

Glad it hit the spot, Jim! Have you tried my free beginners' course? It's right here on KZbin. If you've learned before you won't need to start at the beginning (indeed the whole course may be below your level), but it's free and a lot of people have had success with it, so it might be worth a look! Here's the playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLpOuhygfD7QnP46wUgQudOySX_z2UOhXs

[@carlgrainger2669]

maths works … just realised why I’ve been going nowhere over 40 years with my self taught “1 step back, 1 step forward” method 😂

[@BillHilton]

It's all about the progress, Carl! 🤣

[@MrKorok1000]

Great advice for any other instrument as well. Develop good basics before beating yourself up about not nailing the more advanced stuff. Nice video as always!

[@BillHilton]

Thank you, Steven - glad you liked it!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Fantastic advice as always. I started piano at age 23 from scratch and lot of this sounds familiar! There's still time for this to help me I think 😄 What I found helped me was practicing at the time of the day when I felt most refreshed. The goldilocks zone between morning coffee and my day job works for me best ☕

[@BillHilton]

Thanks Chris! Yes, I think there’s definitely something to be said for finding the right daily slot. I usually wind up doing actual practice (as opposed to practice I need to do for videos) right before bedtime, when I’m usually knackered - probably not ideal!

[@JeroenvanKleef]

Very interesting stuff Bill! The overshoot tip is a great one. When I’ve spend quite some time learning a new piece getting it right for about 95% I lay it aside for some time (can sometimes be months), then pick it up again and start with the basics still being there but having renewed focus and energy to really make music of it. Sometimes you can stay stuck on a piece for too long and that also doesn’t make it a lot of fun. As a child it’s easy to learn to play the noted and develop skills. But I found, specially as a keyboard player which is heavily disconnected from the sound you’re making, learning to really listen to what you produce came at a later age, I guess for adults that part might be easier. Like system one is setting in the automated part of playing the right notes and system two can work more on analysing that to check if it sounds the way you want.

[@BillHilton]

Dank je! Yes, agreed re: listening. Certainly I notice among piano learners there’s such a strong focus on “pressing the right notes” (I guess it’s the same, or even more tempting for organists…) that sound can fall by the wayside. And a focus on the overall sound *does* improve with age - or at least I think mine has.

[@DougyWW]

I went to Wikipedia for a “quick” read on cognitive vs procedural memory. It’s a wee bit deep in medical jargon but quite informative none the less. The key take away, to Bill’s comments, being that cognitive memory requires attention to utilize and attention is a limited resource hence the brick wall at lesson 8 or 9. A musician teaching left hand said practice until you can do it and carry on a conversation - ie it’s now in procedural memory and automatic. Very cool stuff.

[@BillHilton]

I’m glad I sparked your interest enough to want to do that, Dougy! It’s a fascinating area, and - I think - useful to have some understanding of, on the basis that if you understand *why* something is difficult then the struggle to get it right isn’t quite as demoralising…!

[@carylchapman9952]

56 yr old returning adult student. During Covid lockdown decided to pick piano back up and am talking lessons. Going one step back before moving forward is such a great approach. Would love love to learn jazz. Just trying to figure out where to start. Improve and licks seem very challenging- glad I found your channel

[@BillHilton]

That sounds great, Caryl - lockdown was a little while ago now, so I'm glad you've stuck with it for some time. Give me a shout if you have any questions/need any pointers on where to get started with different skills!

[@carylchapman9952]

@@BillHilton Covid got my motivation back to play. Lessons started in 2022. Trying to learn my flats and esp sharps. Sharps are my downfall but im trying

[@gerthornslet4156]

Hello Bill, I’m 70 years old. I have played pop Music on my organ and arrangement keyboards, now I play jazz to have some more Challenges. I find it VERY hard, and I Can see what You mean. Keep up the work on courses, and I will try to follow up.👍🏼

[@BillHilton]

Good to hear you're working hard, though, Gert - good luck with the progress. I certainly plan to keep making new material: let me know if you have any suggestions for things you'd like to see!

[@bethanylowe8773]

Really good content BIll! (This was the problem when we learnt Latin - by not memorising it the looking-up became too burdensome.) I find my jazz playing improves the most when I go back to early stages again having tried out something new for a while. Consolidating all the bits together! No skills are basic, they are all important... The intelligent/ambitious adult was definitely me!

[@BillHilton]

Gratias tibi ago (he says, as someone who got his GCSE Latin mostly by educated guesswork) - your opinion is obvs of particular value, so I'm really glad you liked this one!

[@TonyT57]

Thank you Bill for another great video! My story: I am 66, a retired software engineer. I started learning to play the piano in April 2022. Even before my retirement, my approach was to avoid making any specific goals and plans: just practise every day and feel good. I am happy with that, I enjoy my practice sessions, usually 45 minutes. When not at home, I practise for at least 5 minutes on my mock-up keyboard (I printed the actual layout of the keys and glued those four sheets of paper together). Looking back at my 18 months of learning - it was great, I really made a huge progress...

[@vincentecrepont4063]

There are folding keyboards around $80. Connect it to an iPad or computer as a MIDI controller. Sounds good. But keyboard is not pressure sensitive

[@joshuamcbride9576]

I love this topic, and I feel like few are addressing it. I'm 40 and in my 3rd month of lessons. In a lot of ways I'm progressing quickly, but there are some techniques we fly past. Perhaps that the method books not fully understanding adult learners (despite it being an adult curriculum). Thank you for addressing this topic.

[@BillHilton]

You're welcome, Joshua - you're exactly the type of learner I have in mind here, and your point about some techniques flying past is indeed exactly what I'm trying to get at here. I hope all goes well for you, and let me know if you ever have any questions you want to run past me.

[@vighneshramesh5149]

Hi Bill, I am 26 now. I have been learning piano for the past 3 years. In the beginning, my learning was very productive. But as I go further the learning process is getting slower. During the first year, the learning curve was exponential. I went through scales, chords, hand coordination etc. The short term goals helped me to keep motivated and learn. But currently I don't see much improvement in my playing. I don't get clarity in what to practise. Nowdays I always end up in playing what I already know. I usually stumble upon what to learn next?

[@JRF2k]

I'm 50 and just started to learn. I have the Alfred's Adult All-In-One course book I am going through, but I am really confused on how and what to practice. I go through the stuff in the books and do the simple songs over and over again. I haven't looked forward in the book, so I am not sure if there will be drills or scales to learn. I have a hour or so a day to practice, but like you've said, it's not about what you practice so much, but about how you practice and finding the 'sweet spot'. Glad I found your videos and website!

[@BillHilton]

No problem! If you want any kind of specific guidance or suggestions, just give me a yell!

[@JRF2k]

@@BillHilton Thanks for the reply. Right now I am just trying to figure out a good way to practice while learning what Alfred's is teaching me. Maybe the book finally gets there? Like, play these exercises, do these scales, learn this song kind of thing. I am doing this without a teacher right now because I don't know if I'll stick with it and so I don't want to waste their time or my money on lessons, but if I start to really like it and improve a little, I'll probably seek out an actual teacher. That's my plan anyway. What would a good practice routine look like?

[@AmandaSnoise]

I had that book and didn't like it. I think I even ended up losing it. You tube vids are better! The only thing useful in that book are the hanon exercises, which are explained nicer on KZbin anyway. This guy's lessons are very good!

[@karlmccreight8172]

I've learned from a genetic test, that I had inherited an alzheimers gene. That scares me, so I seek ways to maintain my brain neuroplasticity as long as possible. Of course I play music and try working on my underdeveloped sight reading skills or try learning to improvise over unfamiliar chord progressions. I try overstepping the borders of my own comfort zone within my music, but I also seek other ways of training outside my domain. One of my strategies: Going through the exercises in an old book called Miracle Math by Harry Lorraine. It's not just playing around with digits- it's useful for doing basic arythmetic problems with many digit numbers without the aid of paper and pen or calculator. It's similar to the procedure when a professional japanese book keeper using an abacus- but my goal is to do calculations my brain only. My process is slow but steady. It also seems to help me to develop more empathy towards students who struggle while learning a new form of art called playing music. Good work by the way- thanks for posting this.

[@dw9652]

This has come at the perfect time for me, I was using Hoffman's Academy like a year ago and feel like I built a solid foundation but then I strayed away from watching lessons and focused on learning songs I actually wanted to learn, but what I've realised is I haven't progressed as fast as I'd hoped because I maybe picked songs that were maybe a bit too challenging for my level Now I'm going back to the basics and having this structure is definitely gonna help me progress - I'm 26 btw

[@BillHilton]

Good to hear! I originally had a section in this video about twenty-somethings but I decided to cut it as it was a bit baggy. The gist of it was that the 20-30 age group is the one that most often asks me "am I too old for this?". So it's good to see you taking such a positive and pro-active approach. Give me a shout if there's anything specific you need to know/need help with!

[@dw9652]

@@BillHilton thanks Bill, really appreciate the reply and that means a lot - you're such a thorough and thoughtful teacher!

[@DougyWW]

I’m a 72 yr old kid, type A+ personality, but I find I seasonally play piano. From May thru Sept I can’t bear wasting the sunshine and am exhausted by sunset so I don’t maintain my practice. The Oct or Nov arrives, life slows down as winter sets in and I need to restart my piano journey. I accept that as a personal limitation/choice but the issue is - what’s an efficient way to restart the engines to get back into the swing. That’s my thoughts on adult learning. Great video.

[@BillHilton]

Thanks Dougy! You're not alone in that habit: my KZbin views through the year tell the same story - things are busier during the northern hemisphere winter. To an extent it's the same with me: obviously I play for a living so I still practise and make tutorials and so on during the summer, but I don't have the same drive for it, because I want to be outside...!

[@floring67]

I used to be an advanced amateur pianist at 18 years (the level required to enter the conservatory in Romania 39 years ago), but I had breaks totaling about 15 years (5+7+3 years), alternated with inconsistent practice. Since my returning in 2021 I restarted from basics, scales, Joseffy, Hanon, Dohnanyi. For the moment I only keep all the flat major scales, hands separately and together, slowly and then with metronome, at the beginning of my practice sessions of about 2-2.5h a day, then I work on several pieces. For reinforcement, after I've revisited for a period all scales (in demiquavers) up to metronome 140 per crotchet, I went back to up to 90 per crotchet only flat majors, cause they are more difficult to play evenly, and I focus on playing them as equally as possible and pianissimo during a 30-40min warmup. Not really enough time to start playing exercises while I focus on rebuilding some repertoire now. All what I am doing in practice is by instinct. I've noticed my memory is not the same as before, neither my internal hearing or sight reading; those are the things I find harder to train (perhaps nothing to be done about the memory, only to spend more time on the pieces). That's how I found out that working on several pieces, even if not very recommended, it's better for progress.

[@Parkerz007]

Hi I’d like to know if it would be possible to buy just the one book….How To Really Play the Piano…. Amazing videos….the best on KZbin…I’m glad I looked first before spending silly amounts of money on an app. Awesome job…thank you so much for your work!

[@BillHilton]

Hi - apologies for the delay replying to this! Yes, you can buy How To Really by itself at www.billspianopages.com/how-to-really - let me know if you run into any problems!

[@catherineb3841]

I started learning at 58 (without any musical background) and I am now 72 . I work on pieces around grade 6 now (I also keep on learning grade 3 and 4 pieces because it is more satisfying), I started in a class setup for about 5 or 6 years where I made some very good piano friends and the teacher gave us very good basics, but I now think that the breaks and holidays were too long . I then had two or three frustrating years of not so good teachers and a feeling of not progressing (this was when I hit the point between beginner and intermediate , I would have worked at around grade 3 and 4 then) . I have had a very good teachers for four years now : he always pushes me and we do lots of scales and arpeggios work. I have always practiced very regularly. One has to enjoy the process of learning, and accept that progress is very slow but it does happen.

[@BillHilton]

I really ought to do a Comment of the Month Award or something, Catherine, because you'd win it with this - thanks very much indeed! I often come across older learners who simply think that progress is impossible, so it's fantastic to hear of someone who has done so well. There are lots of useful hints on progress in there, too: regular practice, scales and exercises, and good teachers (or, for self-teachers, I guess that translates into good methodology/a good course).

[@catherineb3841]

@@BillHilton ha ! ha ! Thanks , I am glad if my experience helps others !

[@Martinbeef]

I was learning the piano well about 15 years ago and I developed arthritis in my fingers. I saw a registrar at the hospital and he just told me to stop, so I did. Subsequently, others doctors have said that advice was ridiculous and I should have carried on. Also, my fingers are short and stubby, so I sometimes get stuck (literally) between the black keys (f sharp, g sharp, a sharp) which can hurt. I have a ton of piano books, including one of yours (thanks!) and I live with chronic illness and tiredness as well as depression. I am however determined to push on with learning and want to get back to piano. However, when I’ve gone back to having lessons my fingers literally shake whilst I’m trying to play because I suppose I’m scared of failure!!! Wow, I know that’s a lot! I am trying to compose music and make videos for KZbin, just to show my composition skills (which are limited but growing). I’m in the early stages of that. But….i know going back to the piano would help a lot. I’ve got my 88 key electric piano gathering dust. So, what do you reckon? I know you’re a very busy man but I’d appreciate a short response. Thanks.

[@BillHilton]

Afternoon, Martin! My experience is that *any* kind of finger pain or discomfort gets a very mixed response from the medical profession. It ranges from your initial experience (“doc, it hurts when I do this” - “well don’t do it, then”) to some I’ve met (often musicians themselves) who are very understanding and thorough. I’ve had various kinds of finger and hand pain over the years (no arthritis yet, thank goodness) and the best advice I’ve had has always been from physios. Just a thought, if you ever happen to see one. Anyway, to answer the main question… definitely go back to the piano if you can, because there’s nothing quite like it for composition (and there’s nothing quite like composition for boosting up your music skills…). Obviously you might need to figure out a strategy for dealing with the arthritis (I’ll be interested to hear it if you do) but even if your keyboard time is limited because of that there’s still a ton you can do with keyboard and other tools (like one of the free DAWs, or a notation programme if you can read music). Please let me know how you get on, and don’t hesitate to send me any recordings/tag me in video posts if you want any help/feedback, because I’ll be delighted to. Good luck! 👍👍👍

[@justinmanser7525]

I guess kids also aren't so mentally chained to 4/4 from years of hearing music, and they can learn weird time signatures a lot easier. I remember singing London's Burning which is in 5/4 as a kid in British school, with other kids joining in at the end of bar 1 but starting with the first lyrics to give it that weird call response vibe. I have been tapping bass over 30 years, a great deal of it on the street as a solo busker so I think learning keyboard for me is more of a mental exercise in forgetting my left hand because it's no where near as tied to the mechanics of the instrument as a 4 string. I have only been learning a day or so though, got the bass chords to the theme from the TV show Severence (great piece!), but I am lost trying to put in the melody....now I'm practicing the c major scale up and down with both hands, to see if I can get more relaxed but deliberate with independence. I want to learn fast, I learnt bass incredibly quickly but I realize that I just have to leave the keyboard on and every time I walk past it I do something...even started doing Hall of the Mountain King because I knew it years ago...oh and that great Jam For World In Action too....At first I'll just pick up a few things, getting myself used to learning again is as you say very different at 51 years old! Thanks for the vid!

[@BillHilton]

You're really welcome, Justin! 51 isn't that old (at least not compared to a lot of people I hear from!) and given your previous musical experience I bet you'll do really well! 👍

[@catharinemartins4830]

I am 23 but I feel my brain is very slow to learn things. I feel lost about what to do each day of my learning routine and I tend to bunch things up untill there are so many things that I give up and restart again from scratch. I am so happy I have found your channel today!!! English is not my first language but I will try to catch up (at least I can learn piano and workout my english at the same time lol)

[@BillHilton]

Welcome aboard, Catherine! You're in good company, because I feel my brain is slow to learn things, too. But that's not a problem, because the way to do well with piano is to take things relatively slow and relatively steady over a long period of time. Are you following some sort of course or structure? If not, you might find it useful - even if it's not exactly the right course for what you're aiming to do, it will at least give you a sense of direction. There's my free course here on KZbin - kzbin.info/aero/PLpOuhygfD7QnP46wUgQudOySX_z2UOhXs - and lots of other good ones, so look around a bit and see what's right for you. If you have any questions or anything I can help with, don't hesitate to get in touch!

[@catharinemartins4830]

@@BillHilton thank you very much for your kind reply And for the recommendation!!

[@JohnGraham78rpm]

Spot on Bill! I have found that my theoretical knowledge outstrips my practical knowledge. I go back expecting to play a piece flawlessly, only to find that I am struggling. Very dispiriting.

[@BillHilton]

Thank you, John! I know that feeling exactly. That said, that dispiriting feeling is something I think we can cope with and work through better as adults: it's the sort of thing that often puts kids off learning a skill for good.

[@dannuttle9005]

Like you, I brushed up long-rusted math skills some years back. I worked through the details of proving the derivative of f(x) = x^2 so many times that it became ingrained in my brain. I had not merely memorized the steps of going through the proof. (If I merely do that, it eventually gets forgotten.) The thing I was proving was itself embedded. I couldn't forget it now if I wanted to. I see piano in a similar light, although obviously it's also different. I embed what a I-bIII-IV-I progression sounds like (among many others), so that now whenever I hear it in a song, I just smile knowingly. Yup, I know what that one is! I feel it as much as know it.

[@BillHilton]

Yes! And that's the key to nailing this kind of thing, I think - much of it comes down to realising the true embedding takes more effort than your reasoning mind thinks it ought to. Well done on the derivatives, btw: I'm still re-practising simultaneous equations 🤣

[@dannuttle9005]

@@BillHilton Don't feel bad. I began with some pretty basic (OK OK--*very* basic) algebra, and struggled with it. It was embarrassing! Oh also, Desmos is another resource (graphing) you probably already know about.

[@JohnFossbass]

Excellent Bill.I’m 76 and currently working on my grade 6 abrsm. I used to able to remember music very easily but now I’m finding I have to actually look at the music much more. That’s probably doing me a favour and improving my reading ! I now have to drill stuff in to get it ,like you say. That’s ok but it’s time consuming .I used to take lessons but good old Covid put the block on that. I wonder if I should return. I’m an experienced musician having played guitar and bass for many years to a high standard but I still find piano a challenge. I should’ve started young like you. But ……..

[@BillHilton]

It sounds like you're making really good progress, there - well done! You're a great example of what's achievable in more mature years (though they do say 70 is the new 40...)

[@T-marie-N]

@@BillHiltonHa, ha! You know who says that? People in their 70s. As a person in that category I can tell you--it'd be rare 70s person that is a 40s person.

[@BillHilton]

I admit I tend to be on the optimistic side. I’ve just turned 49 and I’m just about prepared to admit I may be entering early middle age 😂

[@T-marie-N]

@@BillHiltonThat's it--hit me where it hurts! My son will be 50 in Dec. so I'm old enough to be your mother! Thanks for all the great content, Bill.

[@BillHilton]

@T-marie-N You’re really very welcome - I’m glad you like it!

[@franciscomagalhaes7457]

This was really interesting. I'm 37 myself and want to be able to improvise, no matter how absurdly simple the melody or technique is (I'm especially interested in cocktail piano), read and write sheet music. So far I think I've got a grasp on the theory I need to get there. I'm also experimenting with something in order not to grow bored or frustrated: instead of endless drills, I'm trying to get to a point where I can play some music as fast as possible, in the hopes that my brain will feel rewarded sooner and that I will feel I'm making progress. I have a really hard time doing drills without external input, because I tend to do this sort of thing ad nauseam when I'm learning something new and never quite feel "ready" to move on to more complex stuff, eventually growing bored of the process, so with the piano I'm trying something new, with your help.

[@BillHilton]

I'm glad you liked it, Francisco! Regarding boring drills, keep an eye out for the next tutorial, because I'm working on some drill ideas that are definitely not boring... I hope!

[@franciscomagalhaes7457]

@@BillHilton Oh I certainly will, thank you very much =)

[@acreguy3156]

Amazing content, Bill. Here's an interesting thought. I started piano lessons when I was 7 years old but dropped out after 3 months. We had a dual manual organ at home and I learned by ear because piano lessons in the early 60s were boring (to a kid). By high school, I played in the band and learned to read. I also listened to a lot of top notch players, as sort of an ear training thing. I dropped out of music completely until I was 30. By age 39, I was back into playing piano in various bands - no charts - all by ear. At 70, I'm still playing in bands (5 at a time!) by ear and making my own chord charts. In your world, I would be classified as a "hybrid learner." I'm neither a kid learner (lack of time spent in lessons) nor an adult learner. As an adult learner, I've picked up tricks of the trade by watching and listening to the great players. About 12 years ago, I received 17 lessons from an amazing accomplished player who has played all his life and has his Grade 10 piano. He not only taught me tricks of the trade but also the theory behind them. The moral is: I'm one of many players who fall somewhere between your theory on how kids and adults learn to play piano. Are we handicapped by this or do we have an enormous advantage? Thanks! I Subscribed and Liked.

[@BillHilton]

Thanks very much indeed! That's a very useful account, actually, because I think there are a lot of hybrid learners out there. The most typical situation I see (of several) is probably where someone has had an even bigger learning gap than yours - often in the order of four or five decades, having had lessons as a child and wanting to restart in retirement. These learners say to me "I need to start from scratch" but are often amazed by how much they retain (unconsciously) from early lessons. As you say, you're probably much more in the middle zone between "kid learner" and "adult learner", having effectively been both. I'm not sure I really know whether it's a handicap or an advantage, because that would depend on your perspective: if you were wanting to become a concert pianist you'd be at a major disadvantage compared to someone who had had constant lessons from childhood to adulthood; but if you want to (continue to) play in bands, then you have major advantages over somebody who has had nothing but formal lessons (which haven't changed that much from the sixties, for better or worse...) not least your ability with chords. I hope you're still playing when you're 105!

[@acreguy3156]

@@BillHilton Thanks Bill! I appreciate your insight. Formal training is of course very important but I'm amazed at the number of well-trained players who can only read. That is, they can't improvise unless the solo is written out, which seldom happens. I get stale once in a while when doing improv soloing, but I think I have just enough formal training to refresh the air once in a while. I just listen to the great players and try to fashion some new sounds. Perhaps I'm winning and just don't realize it. I will keep playing as long as I can. Thanks again for the great advice and excellent videos!! Stay well....

[@phildxyz]

I learned classical piano from a young age and am a pretty fair sight reader and player. However, the last few years I've been in several pop and Jazz bands. At first I had to find scores for everything. Then I found I could think fast enough to play chords from leadsheets. Then, on a few joyous occasions my brain let me make up some basic improvisation by interpreting the melody line. However, I still find it impossible to play without some dots in front of me. Would so love to be able to play the inside of my head without the need for notation. Anything you can produce to help me along this road would be greatly appreciated. Your videos on jazz improvisation starting with rhythmic improvisation on a single note were particularly helpful. I'm 66 BTW...

[@BillHilton]

Well it sounds like you're doing pretty well if you're still developing new skills at that rate, Phil! There's certainly going to be more stuff coming soon, and I have the idea coming together for a new book/collection of bits that might help with this kind of thing. Very useful comment, thanks very much!±

[@DrLogical987]

Such a good point. The internet if full of people handing out advice, based on their experience as a kid... To 50somethings.

[@BillHilton]

Absolutely - this is the key problem! The difficulty is that those of us who learned stuff as kids either don't recall which bits we found difficult OR they were the sort of problems we didn't struggle with. We might have been less good at the diligence and long-term strategy, but we contracted that out to teachers and parents ("you're not having your pudding until you've done some piano practice" - the ultimate motivator!)

[@janetgoodall6372]

Really great video Bill, I find that I have so much knowledge that I don't know what to play and feel really stuck, 😂

[@BillHilton]

Thanks Janet - I hope you're well!

[@richardbeasley9084]

50+. One day under my belt. No musical experience. Will report as things progress. Looking forward to the journey, which may be us old folks advantage.

[@BillHilton]

Please do, Richard - good luck, and I look forward to hearing how you get on. Give me a shout if there’s anything I can do to help!

[@DrLogical987]

Worth saying. I bought the Piano Packs off the website. The interesting things is, because there's an Piece to learn, it sort of sets up a schedule to repeat the exercises at least till you've finished learning the price. For me, that's quite a lot of both repetition... But also a lot more time coming back to the improv exercises which really benefit from lots of time. All good stuff.

[@BillHilton]

Thanks Lionel - I hope you're well!

[@elaimaro122]

I'm learning piano for about a year and while I improved quite a bit from Not knowing how to play at all, I really struggle to keep up my practice routine "mentally manageable"? Whenever I try to move on to a new topic I feel so overwhelmed that's it's super hard to power through it. I have a coach ang he says I'm making good progress, and I'm trying my best, but it's so tiring how hard it feels keeping up with it. ( I do have ADHD and I think in some aspect practicing like a kid is better for me)

[@BillHilton]

That’s interesting - you’re the second adult piano learner with ADHD I’ve come across recently. I won’t try to second guess your coach, as he’ll have the best insight into your needs, but I wonder if careful goal setting might be one way around the problem of finding it tiring. In other words, try to “chunk’ your learning into manageable amounts (like, “by the end of this week I want to be able to play the right hand of the first eight bars of this piece” - where that goal is actually quite doable). I always tell people that the best learning happens in the sweet spot between challenging and achievable. Maybe with angling things a bit more towards the “achievable” end of the scale might help. And see it as a marathon rather than a sprint! Does that help?

[@elaimaro122]

@@BillHilton That is a great advice! I was going to talk with my couch about planning out our "course" a little more. I'm in the process of learning how to communicate my feedback properly. I want to learn to make my own music which makes matters more complicated as to what do I prioritize learning to get there. Thank you for the reply, I was not expecting it!

[@shawmutt]

Late 40s here (ugh, can't believe I'm typing that) My problem is memory. I seem to learn something, move onto the next thing, and completely forget the first thing in a short time. I really think your method of going back a step will help, I'm going to start doing that.

[@BillHilton]

That's what I'm finding with the maths, as it happens - I'm having to do a lot of reinforcement-type exercises just to remember the processes for solving different types of problem. If I don't, and I leave it a couple of days... I've forgotten. Good luck with using the approach on piano, and let me know how you get on!

[@vincentbuonora9416]

As an educator in foreign language and real estate economics, I see that as an adult learning piano, would have the following advantage over children….1) discipline to proceed in an organized plan 2) knowledge of analysis of how concepts relate to each other 3) having better ear training by learning Romance languages and their tonalities….4) patience for long term goal 5) appreciation of what I have received and now received in life.6) motivation

[@BillHilton]

Excellent points, Vincent - thank you for contributing!

[@junofirst01]

Age 51 here. Last yr I started your learner course & quickly hit lesson 7 then it suddenly got very complicated. There was too much to think about, as you say here: I did not reinforce the earlier skills into system 1 memory. Had same issue when just learned how ride a motorbike until did not have think about changing gear.

[@BillHilton]

That's a really great example of the effect I'm talking about - thanks very much!

[@anne-mariefurse6714]

I was only saying last night how it is much harder to learn as an adult. I learnt as a child and haven't played for about 40 years and it is frustratingly difficult now. I'm just not as quick ( im in my 50s) so this video made a lot of sense thanks.

[@BillHilton]

Yes indeed - though at the same time it's important not to underestimate the strengths we bring to the table. Life experience, grit, concentration and all the rest make a huge difference. I'm 49 now, and I have much more of all of those than I did when I was a kid. So it's swings and roundabouts in some ways at least...!

[@cako1948]

Hi Bill, I have somewhere between 50 and a 100 piano books and I have every selt teaching books from Fanny Waterman up to the latest ones, and this has been going on for perhaps 40 years and I can still only play perhaps 10 or so, I have bought loads of you tube corse and I have 2 of your books , so tell me the way to become a good piano player, I will buy any course, I hope you will recommend one of yours, my ‘big’ problem is that I have A D H D, which was undiagnosed for ever, so Bill, save a 75 year old gezzers piano dream with your suggestions. Yours in hope Barry Fearn. PS I am buying book right now.

[@davidtaylor3563]

As a sixty something beginner, I find that my system 1 embedding is faster and easier when I like what I’m working on.

[@BillHilton]

Same here, David! I expect a neuroscientist could tell us why that is, but I think it's a pretty universal thing at every level.

[@vvv435]

The challenge is to keep it interesting. I got to a point when the basic things are dull and interesting things are too hard to be enjoyable.

[@BillHilton]

Yes indeed. The double challenge is that different people find different things interesting/rewarding. So, for example, some people are motivated by the end result and others by the process (see discussion below…)

[@FlyBoyGrounded]

This video started off really interesting because I'd just left a comment on another video saying I'm really good at maths but nowhere near as good at sight reading musical notation. They're both languages with fundamental building blocks (counting for maths) but I keep being told by piano teachers that knowing which note is where on the stave or on the keyboard aren't the most important thing and neither are scales so what's the building block for piano?

[@BillHilton]

Yes, I’ve seen both comments! This is just a holding reply so you know I’m not ignoring you - you’ve raised some important questions and I want to chew them over a bit rather than just banging out a quick reply.

[@BillHilton]

Evening! By way of reply to both this and the other comment you posted shortly afterwards, I've actually shot a short video (so much to say, so little time, it's quicker than typing etc etc). Anyway, you can find it at this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipaQpn-kbMapjbs -- it's unlisted, so only people following this comment thread will see it.

[@kcollins3451]

I am 62 and have been learning jazz piano for five years. I have found that I constantly underestimate how long it takes to learn a song or an exercise so that I can play it automatically without hesitation. II V I, chords, tunes or scales, I have to drill them over and over until I am sick of them and then practice them again. If I am still reading them off a page while playing then I haven't learned them enough. I can't absorb the information off the page fast enough to play it in time. BTW, re your video, I'm a maths lecturer.

[@BillHilton]

That actually sounds familiar - the constant underestimation aspect you're describing is something that I think I've always experienced with piano practice (and, in fact, with practising anything). I suspect it's a case of conscious brain thinking "I grasp this at an intellectual level - so how hard can it be!?" and not accounting for the difficulty (and investment of time needed) to learn things at an instinctive level. Maths is proving revelatory in this regard, actually: I steam through the easy material ("oh, simultaneous equations: I did these at school, piece of cake...") until a problem comes along that throws me, and I have to go back and unpick my learning. I guess it's the same for adults on the piano.

[@Chris-cf2kp]

10:12 I think along with what you mention here, it's worthwhile to also mention the understood research of states of optimal creativity vs optimal focus - which are characterized by divergent thinking vs convergent thinking which can both be influenced by habits and physiological states. The Huberman Labs podcast analyses these states here ( /watch?v=KPlJcD-o-4Q ) and then goes into great detail about tools and methods to optimize them here ( /watch?v=uuP-1ioh4LY ) where he specifically focuses on how these tools do not rely on plasticity alone and where the states of divergent vs convergent thought can even motivate plasticity in ways that contradict common perceptions of reduced plasticity for adults. Definitely invaluable info to adult learners and any other age for that matter.

[@BillHilton]

Now THAT, Chris, is absolutely invaluable - I'll take a look at both of those. Thanks very much indeed. There's also potentially stuff there that I can reference in the next digital edition of the book: I'm aiming to get to print with it later this year, and the better-informed and more up-to-date it is in research terms, the better. Thanks again!

[@Chris-cf2kp]

@@BillHilton Indeed. His channel has a wealth of freely accessible information related to the brain and body with each video devoted to specific areas of focus where I think anyone can find a topic of interest relating to themselves or their pursuits.

[@Chris-cf2kp]

@@BillHilton I think this one would also be worth watching, I found it very interesting kzbin.info/www/bejne/gofbfZKmlNCHpcU

[@BillHilton]

Marvellous - thanks!

[@Chris-cf2kp]

@@BillHilton Absolutely! Hope it helps expand your teaching and learning resources as it has for me.

[@nagatto48]

Hi Bill Tengo 75 años y me cuesta mucho tocar a velocidad a no ser que lo que toque sea muy fácil

[@joeh4437]

I am 60, play a melodic instrument (jazz trumpet) at a somewhat advanced level (play publicly in jam sessions often, understand theory well, have quite a few tunes internalized, can improvise without it being a train wreck) Now trying to add piano to my toolbox with essentially no prior experience with the keyboard….I would at least like to be able to play the changes competently from a lead sheet. How would you advise such a student?

[@BillHilton]

Interesting challenge, Joe. Clearly you have a big advantage to start with in that you have a grasp of the underlying theory. So the big hump to overcome is working on your knowledge of which note is where on the piano keyboard and how different chords sit under your fingers - and working on it to the point where it’s instinctive. It’s also going to be handy to work on things like touch, pedalling, espressivity and so on. One approach - and this assumes that you can read music at least to some extent - might be to get a couple of chunky compilation-type songbooks and play through them, ignoring the written piano parts except insofar as they give you useful information about chord voicings, and instead just focusing on playing the chords, or melody in the right and chords in the left. To start with I’d avoid specialist jazz fake books and maybe just get hold of a couple of those popular collections of Broadway songs or tunes from the 30s and 40s and so on. I got half of my musical education from those things: the piano reductions are often poor, but they usually give you at least a bit of information you can use, plus the melody and chords are typically well laid-out and clear. Does that help?

[@rebeccamouse9294]

What about the leap in difficulty between ABRSM Grade 5 and 6? Is that something we can eliminate with good foundation?

[@valgca]

I am one of your senior beginners and I've gotten to the scales section where we are doing two sets up and down. My brain (or my fingers) are really struggling with two hands together. I can do one hand perfectly but when I try to do both hands things tend to run amuck. I haven't gone past lesson 6 because I'm thinking I should master this first . What do you think?

[@BillHilton]

Morning - sorry for the delay getting back to you on this! It's definitely a good idea to make some progress on this before moving on, but I wouldn't necessarily say you have to perfect it. Maybe take a week in which you focus on this and one or two of the other things you've learned in the course so far and really reinforce them so you have a strong foundation to build on. In terms of the scale itself, here's a possible strategy: carry on with the separate hands practice, but also try the two hands together several times a day in several separate sessions (they don't all even have to be at the piano: you can practise scales on a table top). That feeling of difficulty is just your brain doing the work of learning, so keep pushing through: steady but persistent, with lots of reinforcement. Do you want to try that for, like I said, a week, and let me know how you get on?

[@valgca]

@@BillHilton Thank you very much for your response. yes, I can see that my daily practice is slowly showing improvement each day now. Although I can‘t do what you do, of course, if I take it slowly I can go up and back correctly with hands together. I am really enjoying your lessons.

[@abc456f]

I'm 66 and have played on and off all my life. But I reached a certain level and never got passed it. Not sure where to start to get my playing where I know it could be. I don't want to waste time on basic beginner stuff. I don't read but I'm pretty good at chords. My left hand is the weakest part of my playing. Do you think your course would be worthy of my time?

[@BillHilton]

I would say give it a look: maybe trot through the first half dozen lessons focussing on things you don’t know, and try to see if you can make progress on some of the material that you find challenging (which might be later in the course) and figure out whether that’s something you find rewarding. I think reward is a key thing here - if you can find some angle in that is challenging enough to help you make progress but also gives you a sense of progress, that is what is going to move you forward. My course might help you with that, or it might not (or it might be too basic) but it’s probably worth a shot. Let me know how you get on and come back with any questions - it sometimes takes me a little while to reply but I always do (if I don’t, prod me!)

[@abc456f]

@@BillHilton Thanks for the prompt reply. I'm recovering from surgery atm, had a kidney removed, but sometime in the next few weeks I'll give your course a go and let you know how I'm getting on.

[@BillHilton]

@@abc456f All the very best for your recovery!

[@abc456f]

@@BillHilton Thanks very much!👍

[@ananthd4797]

Could you define the age bracket you would count as an adult? Starting at 18? 35? 50?

[@BillHilton]

Tricky! Probably early adulthood - somewhere between 18 and 25. I'm basing that not on anything scientific, but rather on experience of when people starting approaching their learning like adults. From what I've seen, the crossover happens for most people in the classic university years, 18-21. So, for example, some years ago I spent a lot of time teaching a non-music subject to postgraduate students, who were mostly 21-25. By and large they'd taken on the characteristics of adult learners: they were less malleable than younger learners, more independent, more inclined to reference their own experience (for better and worse). There are huge variations, though: I spent many years delivering corporate training to adults aged 18-60+, and often came across people at the older end of that range who had a very open-minded, child-like approach to learning. In terms of the learning speed/plasticity stuff, I don't really have the expertise to say: I know that psychologists tend to draw a line between the learning speed people have in their pre-teenage and early teenage years and what they're like later, but it's rare to read of a "cut off" age for childlike vs non-childlike learning.

[@ananthd4797]

@Bill Hilton I was curious what you think, especially because I feel like the way I approached learning has been very much like a child, and my progress at learning piano was faster than your average child. Eventually I found that the same methods that work for children (scales, arpeggios, rigorous technical foundations etc) have been very effective. Also, I can't stand the thought of spending two years to get good at something, so there's that!

[@naukadladzieci]

You've identified everything correctly. Please concentrate on videos, like video course rather than pdf, Im 43, granted, a vit of an IT, but sorry, books and pdfs is a waste of life these days for many adults.

[@mattkaspar2031]

Most annoying problem as an older adult: that pesky inner critic tastelessly heckling me with a loud drunken slurry voice. When successes are escaping me - and I sometimes think I am practicing the mistake more often that the correct notes - I try to fall back to my golf-training frame of mind, meaning switch clubs, go to a different part of the game, maybe that drunk cannot keep up. Get a little confidence and go back. Cheers Bill.

[@BillHilton]

You're welcome, Matt! The loud slurry drunken inner critic gets worse as one gets older, I think. I find that he's mainly a drag on creative work: when I was in my teens and twenties I had a comparatively sober and polite inner critic, who let me would churn out dozens of songs. The result was that some of them were terrible, but some pretty good. These days he's absolutely off his face - nine pints down and starting on the Jack Daniels and Coke - and I have to fight past him to get *anything* done...!

[@N-JKoordt]

Others would say - don't work on more than one piece at a time, if you want to make progress.

[@fjufbjdhhfhgrjhh8621]

Honestly: I don't believe in that theory that children learn better and faster... As a kid I learned almost nothing. It's after school when I got a job that I learned most. At age 30 I started learning keyboards (mainly self taught but also with lessons) becausd I had discipline. My way of thinking and learning is 1000 times better than it was as a kid.

[@BillHilton]

Honestly, I'm coming round to the same opinion. I see so many adults make such good progress that I really do wonder if the received wisdom (which I've propagated plenty in the past myself) really is right. Still thinking about this one: I may be coming back to it in another video soon!

[@dannuttle9005]

If you are not aware of Khan Academy, you should be. Lots of great math-building skills there.

[@BillHilton]

Yes indeed! I'm using Brilliant.org at the minute, but I'm looking at Khan for additional exercises/angles on things etc

[@user-mc2el4tx5c]

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭ ‬ “and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:15 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” ‭‭John‬ ‭10:10‬ Jesus loves you