I have recently taken up the piano and am working towards my grade 1 exam. I think I'm going feel really silly when I take the exam (at the ripe old age of 41!) - presumably most examinees will be very young. I know that there is an adult assessment but I would like the satisfaction of knowing I have reached the exam standard for both practical and theory. Has anyone else taken their exams "later on in life".

Hi Brooksie
I am replying both as a piano teacher of adults and as an adult learner (cello) myself. There is absolutely no need to feel silly about taking a piano exam at your age. Yes, its true the waiting room may be full of little 7 and 8 year olds but so what. The examiner will be thrilled to see you. I spoke to one examiner who told me she had recently taken grade 1 in violin to remind herself of what it was like! They can't mark you any differently but they are usually very sweet and encouraging. I took my grade 1 cello aged 45 with my 14 year old son accompanying me. I really enjoyed it. I have several adults who have taken exams all aged from 40+.
Nerves are often a problem though so my advice would be to get lots of performing experience it. Play to friends and family first but make sure you also play to people you are not so comfortable with. Visualise yourself playing in front of the examiner and try and have a few mock run throughs of the whole exam. Have you got a teacher? If not and you want a little more info about the exams you can PM me if you like. Lots of luck and throw yourself into the music!

Hi Brooksie

Of course you're not too old! Have a read through the whole of this board, and you'll see that you are one of the younger ones around here!

And you won't feel silly taking the exam, I promise. Most of the exam stewards are delighted to have a "grown-up" to chat to in the waiting room, and the examiners are really supportive.

Cheers

Katyjay

I took up the guitar at 41 and took my grade 1 at 42.
You will be surprised at how many adults actually do exams.
I was warming up in a room whilst waiting to do my grade 4 exam earlier this year, when another chap at the opposite side of the room was playing his grade 1 pieces for his own preparations.
He had been playing the guitar since 1959, and that isn't mistyped, I do mean 1959.

Of course you're not too old.

I have a student in her fifties who is taking grade one in a few days.

Older students find the examiners very pleasant, and I reckon there are more adults taking exams than you think.

Another student of similar age who took grade 3 last year felt a bit like you do; when he finished his exam he admitted to the examiner that he had not really known how he would react, nerves and all that, first exam since schooldays. The examiner replied that he was the first adult who hadn't gone to pieces that day!

Enjoy your playing

Maggie

You are NEVER too old to try something new!

Hi Brooksie

You are not alone. There are heaps of us! If you have the time, take a look through the thread I started in this forum called

Adult Beginners
starting piano in mid-life.

It actually started as a thread in the general discussion forum but became so popular that the Administrators decided to create out of it the Adult Learners forum!!

So it's all there already. Comments from adults on a variety of topics including the ordeal of exams...

Best of luck with your music.! Hope you enjoy it as much as we all do, keep us posted on your progress and welcome to the club!

I agree you are never too old. I took up guitar at 38 did grade five at 41 and I am studying for grade 5 theory now

QUOTE (Rainbow @ Dec 1 2004, 05:05 PM)

You are NEVER too old to try something new!

Yeah, i agree with you, rainbow . Of course you're not too old. There are a lot of adult learners in this forum. You're not alone, and just TRUST YOURSELF! Ok??

An examiner colleague of mine examined an 83 year old lady taking Grade 3 Piano a few sessions ago. So, you're certainly never too old!

Go for it and good luck

I did my grade 3 earlier this year at the age of 42 and am waiting for grade 4 results. Find I enjoy preparing for the exams much more than actually taking them.

My ten year old daughter is also doing her grades and finds the exams much less stressful than I do!

You are never too old. I have just had a 67 year old do a Piano Performance Assessment, who is going on to do Grade 1 in the spring.
David

Go for it Brooksie. I didn't start singing until I was 43. You're never too old. Enjoy!



Amber
x

Brooksie, you must be joking! As I have said before I am well into adulthood (returning to piano age 41), I have just returned from performing at a concert our teacher arranged for all his pupils ages 6- not sure (older than me). We are all at different levels, having loads of fun, testing ourselves with exams as well, learning how to conquer our nerves playing in front of others and laughing when we are the oldest ones in theory or practical exams. It is just amazing learrning as an adult, make sure you find a teacher who is expereiced with adults and preferably with a group of adults so you can meet up and play together. Our concert was geat, adults and children together, even some ancient parents of us adults in the audience!

Go for it Brooksie, loads of adults take the exams. I would imagine that the examiners find it a refreshing change when an adult learner walks in to sit an exam.

I took up the flute at a similar age four years ago, and passed Grade V earlier this year.

The exam is a rather odd experience, not to mention challenging, but the fact that younger people take the exam doesn't really come into it - you are trying to achieve a standard that is the same for everyone.

I wouldn't overestimate the importance of the exam - after all, the point of learning an instrument is for the fun of it usually, but working towards the exam does give you a structure and a notion of progression that I find very helpful.

Best of luck!

no, my pno teacher's husband (a former ABRSM examiner) had once told me that 'remember, it's never too old to learn.' taking exams at any age doesn't make any difference.

he also told me that the oldest candidate that he had ever examined was an old lady aged 65 who entered herself for G1. however, she failed coz she couldn't play a thing due to extreme nervousness! (he didn't tell me in which country was that)

from Duen-Duen (Hong Kong)

There is a man in my A level music class`s that is 84

hey brooksie

when my mum was little she used to learn the piano, but gave it up quite quickly.

Now she says she wishes she hadn't given up.

I think she should start learning again, but she says she is too old. She is only 44 and I think that she is being very stupid, thinking that!

Of course you're not too old to start, where I live there was a lady who took her driving test- at the age of somethig like 88.

go for it!

good luck

Hi Brooksie (and all you other adult learners on this site)

I have been following the discussions on this website with great interest for some time now and have not been able to join in due to not having my own PC, now I have - Hooray!!!

I started Piano about 18 months ago when a girl in my ballet class gave me her piano as she was moving to Spain. At the time I was having to face the depressing reality that I was no longer improving and my body was starting to complain. I thought I dont want to be pushing a zimmer frame by the time I'm 50! (I'm now 44 by the way ). I also thought I can only get better at the piano seeing as I'm a complete beginner and indeed I have!

I took my grade 2 piano exam last Summer and passed, Yes! I did get very nervous. But I found the examiners report fair and very encouraging and am now working towards grade 3 in March.

I find time spent at the piano very therapeutic , sometimes I get frustrated when I feel I'm not improving but know that ,having done ballet, improvement comes eventually with frequent practice. I was not that keen initially on doing the exam but found not only that the syllabus work has helped me improve but I have also enjoyed doing the syllabus as well as practising sight-reading with lots of other music that I fancy playing.

I am trying to get work on my performance nerves by playing in front of family and friends- lucky them!! I even organised a childrens xmas party with pass the parcel etc. so that I could play piano, stopping when you go wrong is then not a problem!

I believe learning piano later in life helps keep your brain active and young and is so rewarding, the only thing I miss is the comraderie of others that I enjoyed when I was doing ballet which is why I am so glad I have found this website.

Sorry this message is so long but Happy New Year to you and all the other adult learners.
Keep on playing.

What a lovely message, Annette and oh gawd, I do so love the spectacle of dancing. Just a terrible shame that one has to let up on that so early in life. I doubt you'd approve (!!!) but I'm a terrific fan of Merce Cunningham. Though I prefer dancing in live performance I just gaze and come out in goosebumps watching the Royal Danish Ballet doing Firebird.
Still, just letting yourself go in music at whatever level is as you say, a gorgeous therapy. You get good days and bad days but a little practice every day and - on average - you are bound to improve. My own background is chequered but I seem to be settling down to piano now, early 30s, though I did my grade 8 long ago (and almost blew it...but I did pass by the skin of my teeth). Even started to teach piano now.
Good luck.
Rhapsodin.
x

Im Grade 5 and about to get back into it ( via a digital piano) after a break of 12 (ish) years and been told i will probably have to jump down a couple of grades first to get back into the swing of things.Im 36 so you are not the only one !

you should teach piano Rhaps dear,after all you are grand 9 on grand woohoo! im still ahead though, im grade 11!!

You should never feel too old as long as you enjoy it. I also think you have to be realistic and consider that it's probably not going to materialize in playing for a living. I started at 12 and went up to Grade 3. Had 10 years without lessons and took it up again in my 30's. I'm now 41 with Grade 7 and Piano duet exam as well. If you ever feel silly, just remember all those others at your age who can't play a note!

Hello Rhapsodin

Thanks for your response have just got a lovely new computer so am looking forward to joining in more.

Am planning to go to Chertsey Hall on the 26th maybe see you there?


Annette X

QUOTE (Brooksie @ Nov 30 2004, 02:00 PM)

I have recently taken up the piano and am working towards my grade 1 exam. I think I'm going feel really silly when I take the exam (at the ripe old age of 41!) - presumably most examinees will be very young. I know that there is an adult assessment but I would like the satisfaction of knowing I have reached the exam standard for both practical and theory. Has anyone else taken their exams "later on in life".

Hi, I'm 43 - I took my Grade 2 at age 41 and I did feel ancient sitting with all the 10 year olds! I didn't mind , though my kids age 9 and 10 thought it hilarious! I just sat my Grade 4 (and passed) last november. and am sitting my G3 theory in March. I am loving it, and enjoy working towards a goal (an exam). Best of luck with your Grade one1
Susan