Learning the piano as an adult? You are not alone

There is a reason why people learn piano quicker when they were kids. Because they haven't got bad habits to break.  As adults, we have been using our fingers in the most quirky way on electronic devices for years. Some examples here, our right index finger is repetitively clicking the mouse, our thumb is stretching uncomfortably on smart phone screens, our thumbs also hit space key too hard (because we enjoy hearing the sound it makes?!), and people who use a lot of short cuts on a computer keyboard may find their left little fingers hurt.  Oh, have you noticed your right hand fingers are bending slightly towards your middle finger as a result of holding the mouse upto 8 hours a day, 250 days a year?

So much for the inconvenient truth. When I started learning piano early last year, one of the hurdles is to get all ten fingers to sound the same by specially controlling the fingers that have been abused on electronic devices in the above-mentioned ways. So for adults, it is harder because our brains know what our hands should do but our hands are resisting the brain's order.  I was lucky that my tutor pays much attention to the techniques and never tolerate a bad habit. So under the proper guidance, a few problematic fingers are more under control. Now I can start to enjoy the sound I can make on a piano. 

To progress, daily exercise is essential, even if it is half an hour. I am a new mom and also work from home. So when the baby takes a nap, I do a few sight readings or exercises.  The baby also gets very excited and makes operatic octave changes when hearing me playing.  He might remember that I took the Prep Test when I was 7 month pregnant.

Yesterday I joined a number of primary school boys and girls to take the ABRSM grade 1 exam.  I set no ambitious target for myself or any grand plan for my child. I embark on this journey just to fulfill my childhood dream.  For readers of my blog who have been thinking about learning a music instrument for some time, my humble opinion is that you should invest your time and £ to give it a go.  Just be patient when overcoming the hand and fingers coordination issues which office workers all seem to have.