Piano lessons help should I...?

Question

I have wanted to learn the piano for a couple months now. I enjoy listening to songs from it and taught myself to play a couple pretty easy songs on my keyboard but I need to know if it's too late for me to learn (i'm 13 almost 14) also do you think if I ask my parents for piano lessons for my birthday (in less than a month) that I would get them? They think that I quit on things but that was only once.

Answer 1

I taught myself how to play piano/keyboards in approximately 2 years with absolutely no lessons whatsoever.  All I bought was a book of chords and scales.  Once you know all your chords and scales (as well as an acute understanding of how chords and scales are constructed), the rest is talent and practice.

If you want lessons really bad, ask yourself what you want to get out of those lessons.  Do you want to learn a few songs that they'll teach you?  Do you want them to teach you songs that you'll ask them to teach you?  Do you want to play classical music?  Do you want to write your own songs?  Will this just be a hobby for you, or a passion?

There's a lot that you can teach yourself, just as long as you're a patient person (not to mention persistent and tenacious).  How good you'll be as a self taught musician will depend upon your skill in art in general, as well as how much you practice.  The first year of playing while teaching myself, I did little else than play keyboard and listen to new music.  It was pretty much like this:  wake up, use toilet, play piano, eat, play piano, play piano, eat, play piano, drink, play piano, use toilet, play piano, pass out on piano, wake up...etc.

I suggest you buy some blues and jazz cd's.  For piano, I suggest Thelonious Monk, and Chick Corea.  But in truth, any jazz is good.  Why jazz?  Because its one of the most difficult genres of music to be good at, let alone just play.  I attribute most of my skill to the fact that I taught myself backwards, sort of.  I learned blues at the same time as jazz, so I could both learn basic structure as well as the improvisational ideas behind jazz.

So heres what I suggest:  

1. Buy a book of chords and scales (I recommend the Hal-Leonard Keyboard Chords & Scales book)

2. Teach yourself a few simple songs like 'Imagine-John Lennon' or 'What a Wonderful World', by getting the chords off the internet (www.azchords.com) and using your chord book to figure it out on your own

3. Buy Blues and Jazz cd's and try to play along with the songs (don't worry if you dont get it right away).  Maybe buy a 'how to play the blues' book as well to learn basic blues structure and theory, but not absolutely necessary.

4. Continue learning songs you like by using the internet (www.azchords.com), gradually picking harder and harder songs.

5. Buy some skilled music, like Steely Dan, Leon Russell, Miles Davis (b*****s Brew), King Crimson, stuff like that, and try to learn some of those songs.

6. If you havent already, start making your own songs using what you've learned.

7. Don't stop.

Yeah, so this was a long answer.  But I hope it helps.  I'm sure you dont need lessons.  Most lessons dont teach you anything that helpful until you've already spent months doing what THEY want you to play, and spent waaaaay too much money.  If you are passionate enough, then you should easily be able to teach yourself.

Peace.

Answer 2

To tell you the truth, if you really want to learn you can be great at anything you want to be.  You are still very young and I don't think it is ever too late.  Incase your parents don't end up getting you a piano instructor anytime soon, you should go to Zebra Keys online and try out all their free piano lessons.  I think if you go on thre and start learning from the website on your own and show them how much you have improved they will be impressed and I bet they will be more inclined in getting you a teacher.  But anyways give this website a shot. http://www.zebrakeys.com

Answer 3

It's not too late at 13 (almost 14).  I didn't start till I was 30.  

Your parents may have a legit concern about you sticking with it.  A piano is expensive.  You have to prove to them your committment.  Get a beginner piano book and practice on your own for a while (I know this kills the birthday idea, but you must show patience.)  After you have shown them you're serious, then you can broach the subject.  It's your best chance.

Answer 4

You are not going to get any younger.  If you want to play piano, Great!

As to convincing your parents, of course you are going to tell them that this is what you want to do and you are going to give it your best shot. You might even tell them that if you should, heaven forbid Quit. They will save some money.