I ll be preparing for Grade 4 for next year examination and so that means I am 24 to do grade 4. I have been learning piano formally for about half a year. If lets say one year for one grade, which means 28 doing grade 8.
possibe for an adult?

If you are really good, you can skip some grades! not necessarily 1 year you must do one grade

noones too old to learn an instrument as long as you are commited to it

There's an adult beginers Forum!

You can think of your question in 2 ways.

Firstly, why not - when you think about it grade 8 is not a very high standard in the great scheme of things. There are lots of pieces way, way harder and a pass in grade 8 would not get you a place at a music school, which is where I imagine you *really* start to learn.

And secondly whats the rush. Profesisonal pianists often play 'easy' pieces. I love Ashkenazy playing Fur Elise and that's only grade 4. Several of the Chopin Mazurkas are 'only' grade 6 or so, but that doesn't stop them being fantastic pieces of music that are well worth studying. Even if you never get past the grade 6 /7 stage there's enough music at that standard to last a lifetime!

I certainly hope so - I came back to piano after a break of 23 years! I've been back at it for nearly a year now and I hope to do grade 8 next year! I think nerves are more of a problem for adults doing exams but quite often the motivation is stronger.

I'm not a pianist, I'm a violinist, but speaking from a musicians point of view, yes it's possible you could get to Grade 8 by the time you are 28.

However, the learning curve becomes somewhat exponential after Grade 5, so you might find that the technical requirements demand more and more work, and the pieces grow in length and complexity as well.

A lot depends on how you progress, how much work you put into it and how much you really want to get to that Grade 8 in the next four years.

You will also need to pass Grade 5 Theory or Practical Musicianship before you can do Grade 6 Practical - so depending on your theory knowledge already, time to prepare and take that exam will also need to be taken into consideration.

Good luck!

Hi Crebin,

Just share some of my experience...

I began learning piano from 23, did my grade 5 two years after. Then I paused for .5 year and did the grade 5 theory (since I started from scratch)... and then paused another .5 year and did my grade 7 at 27... If I can pass my grade 8 exams this year, I will have spent 6 years on piano

So it is possible! In fact I have limited time that I can work on the piano, because I am working full time, and I have this and that job (financial markets) related exams. Sometimes I even have to stop piano lessons for half a year. But when I can concentrate on the piano, I work decently hard too!

Alright, I sound like bragging now, sorry. Anyway, good luck to you!

Cheers,
Tannie

I think that is possible. It doesn't necessarily take a year for a grade, my sister went from grade 3 to 5 violin in a year and I from grade 5 to 7 piano...