Forget exams and play piano for the “joy” of it

Every adult should start taking piano lessons, if they had always dreamt about playing the piano. While its never too late to play the piano, it also important to be practical with your aspirations.

There are many who learn to play the piano, just for the joy of it. But then after taking lessons for a year or two, its quite easy to get caught in the race to appear for exams.

Its only when you don’t get a favorable result that you start doubting your capabilities. But then, you could still play well, without appearing for any exam.

Here’s an incident that I would like to share.

Adult taking piano lessons fails grade two, decides to forget exams and just play for the “joy” of it.

A friend of mine (in his early forties) turned to the piano a few years ago (he loved jazz piano). After learning for a couple of years, he became more ambitious (happens with most) and decided to appear for grade two exam.

Unfortunately, he failed in the exam, which made him realize that he should be playing the piano just for the joy of it.

During the exam, he played Mozart’s Minuet in G, Gedike’s Moderato, and Richard Rodney Bennett’s Thursday. For grade two, he did the scales, the arpeggios, the contrary motions, and eve did the pieces – some Handel, a lullaby and a show tune called I’m an Old Cowhand (from the Rio Grande).

But when the marks were out, it was a fail – 85 out of 150, 15 below the pass mark. “Needed more stability, fluency and accuracy for a pass today.” said the examiner.

That is when the doubt started creeping in.

“I could forget exams and just play for the “joy” of it. Or press on, practice more, and pass grade two in the next attempts?”

Also Read: How to play piano by ear

Does a middle-aged man, of declining years and no obvious potential in this regard, spend thousands of hours practicing the piano? Can relatives – ever supportive – bear more hours watching a tortured soul jabbing at the white keys and swearing?

For with middle age sometimes comes that middle age realisation. The possibilities aren’t endless. That ceiling – it does exist.

Also Read: Adult Piano Lessons – Effective Ways to Learn for Adults & Seniors.

It’s never too late to play piano (there’s even a book by that name). While I believed it, and want to believe it, we might easily add, no such thing as a sure thing. And perhaps, as Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry always said: a man’s got to know his limitations.

What do you think? Would you be too disappointed if you failed the exams, but are able to play several songs after a couple of years of lessons? Please let us know here.