Hello, I am 17 years old, and recently, i just got into playing the piano. I have been playing for about 4 months, and so far I can play Moonlight Sonata 1st mvmt. and Nocturne 20 C#m. However, I know that I have a lot to learn if I want to become a great pianist. So, I am wondering if it is too late for me to take lessons. I took me about a month and a hlaf to learn moonlight sonata, and a even longer to learn Nocturne 20 C#m. I am not seeking anything other than advice...is it too late to learn all the proper technique?

No, it`s not too late. However, with starting at such a late age, you will have a smaller chance of becoming concert material and/or have a harder time with it. But if your in it just because piano makes you happy, not because you plan to be the next Horowitz, then by all means start piano. But you do need to get a teacher if you really want to learn technique. And make sure to get a good one.

I am self taught, also 17 and started playing the keyboard at age 16. I only learned fur elise on it and then i stopped for like 3 months because it wasnt mine. I bought my own then actually tried to learn pieces. In 5 months i learned moonlight sonata and maple leaf rag plus many half learned pieces with the help of my experienced friend. Then i got a piano, and in 2 months learned about 5 pages of la campanella and the first page of fantasie impromptu. Basically, the most important thing is i play all the time for hours. To get to a high level i think youd need to be like this to make up for lost time. If you dont want to get a teacher, yet, then a friend with experience can help you at first, to learn, but then get lessons. I may be wrong, but this has worked for me but to get really good will take loads of pratice. Hope this helps.

God, yes, by all means learn the proper techniques..even if you ARE 17, by the time you`re thirty you`ll be regretting not learning when you wanted to. I started when IN was 7, and I`m 15 now, but in 8 years you could be better than me (cause I`m just that good, lol). Good luck with learning!

Leah

i`m 17 as well, and i started taking the lessons like 8 months ago. the hardest thing about starting late is that you already have a formed hand so it`s really hard to establish the right `pianistic` position, while this process is much more natural with small children who are easier to mould... but with the right teacher and of course your own involvement it should be ok.

for me it was hard to find the right teacher - they either won`t take you seriously cos you`re not going to become `the next horowitz` anyway, or they won`t know how to work with you cos they`re used to working with small children. i think finding a student to be your teacher is an okay idea - they`re skills are at a level high enough to teach you, and you will also have a good communication, because of the small age difference.

volodis arcadi started seriously playing when he was 15, yet he has done one of the best rach 3 recordings I have ever heard, technically perfect if a little nervous sounding. Comparable to Horowitz`s recording in my opinion.

Also I think there`s no way you can ever become famous, but you could definitely be good enough to be a proffessional, it all depends how much talent you have.

thats all bs they are sayin u cant be concert matial? my friend stated at 23 and plays in symphony and and all that stuff , he was just dedicated to doin it, so if u stay focused and on track hell no 17 is fine age to starts at