Hellow everyone

This is my second post. Im 21 and already had my first month of piano lessons, im past the baby songs and beggining a grade 1 book my teacher gave me. I'm now learning songs that requiere 2 hands and more intricate passages.My question is ¿is it really posible for me to get all the way to grade 8? I know I will never get to be a concert pianist, but i'd really like to know if it is posible to reach that advanced level

Sorry for the grammar and bad English. Im from peru.

Happy playing everyone!

Yes it's possible. Time, practice and perseverance will get you there if you stick it out. Good luck!

I thought I'd get that in early before the debate on how far it's possible to get as an adult beginner starts.

I have read lots that says I will never make it to grade 8 as an adult beginner, but there must be some of us out there, I suspect many people just quit before they get there.

32, grade 3 and dont see any reason why i cant get through the grades.... well.... if i keep knocking my missis up it might throw a spanner in the works!

Enjoy the journey... grades dont make a pianist...!

you should read http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.IV.5

Ignore the blatant advertising for his product and you should absorb the point/fact that there are efficient and inefficient practice methods. Learn efficient practice methods from your teacher, these forums, and any/all of the wonderful texts written in the last decades/centuries, as well as how to avoid falling prey to inefficient methods and in approx. 10,000 hours of [proper] practice, you can boast mastery of the instrument.

You have been playing for 30 days and you are worrying about grade 8?

You are setting up yourself for failure if you think this way.

It takes a lot of time and years of dedicated practice to reach high levels.

Worry about grade one, the rest will take care of itself as you move forward...good luck...

Up to level 8 should be possible, but it will need time. Your brain circuits and muscles have to become properly programmed, optimized for the specific job, little by little, and this needs time. Frequent practicing is needed to stimulate the process over and over again, ...and then the process over the _years_ will take place. Your brain circuits will become reorganized at your very personal pace and you have to respect this, otherwise you will only become frustrated. Better be pacient...
Of course, having a good teacher is a great advantage in general, and the only way if you also want to reach that level in a reasonable time: your teacher will help you to find the shortest way. So, you fortunately could find the shortest way, but still: the velocity along that short way is still defined by your very personal pace.

Whenever you would struggle along your way: there are plenty of beautiful pieces published, which do not request you to play with level 8 skills!
Search and listen to them. Start with this search now. You will find some really interesting ones for you, which you then could add to your practice plan. Building up a simple but personally for you selected repertoire will comfort your way to the top, especially in the moments that you don´t see the top to come any closer...
...never forget to enjoy and cherish what you reached already.
Saludos, Marco.

A musician friend told me it's about the journey. Focus on your present lesson -- and has been advised above, learn efficient practice methods.

You are beginning a new adventure -- take joy in each new step mastered -- and enjoy every day along the way.

If you stick with it I don't see why you couldn't achieve your goal. I've met somebody in their late 40's who achieved exactly the same goal. It took time and lots of leaching and lots of discipline but she did it. As everybody has said it will be a journey and you will have many high and low periods while you are learning. When you are in a slump (low) you have to work harder to believe in your goal and continue your journey even through this tough time!

I see nothing wrong with a long term goal. Just enjoy yourself along the way. Good luck!

You can get wherever you want to go if you travel the road that takes you there.

It is the journey and not the destination that are important.

Grades don't make a pianist. On paper at least my work place is filled with great pianists. There are 3 grade 7s and one happens to be young pianist of the year....

Except those grade 7s haven't played since the 80s. And young pianist of the year was acheived in 1973.

Take it from me I've been playing for a shade over a year now and I fairly recently finished off the Alfred books. The next step apparently is grade 1. But I have no intention of taking any exams.

Thank you I sincerely apreciate the time you took to answer. Im practicing every day 2 hours. Im really thanksfull for all the support. thank you for answering

ray

Thank you, its really important for me to see progress in other fellow late begginers, I'ts great the support people have here, I hope you too can archive your dreams on the piano

Thanksyou for answering.

Thank you for such an enlighted answer. I read the whole thing and im now organising myself so I can have a time to do sightread,learn songs, technique,etc in an efective way.

thanks and all the best

Ray

Thank you for answering

You are right, it's the present where I should have my mind, I'm now practicing in an efective way and stopped wasting time worrying.

Best wishes. Ray

Hellow

Thank you for answering such a long and detailed answer. im practicing 2 hours a day, I practice with the john thomson book my teacher gave me,hanon for acquiring good technique and independance, I also read all the music theory I can and sight read easy pieces and hymns with and without the piano.

thanks againg. I really apreciate your answer