Key takeaways 

• After a few months of 45 minutes per day, you should know the basics, i.e., how to read the treble and bass clefs and play them together
• Each year, you’ll get more and more advanced, and after about eight years with consistent practice, you’ll feel proficient
• Professional pianists practise for over two hours per day; it can take 15 years to get to this virtuoso level

Beginner-friendly pianos 

How long does it take to learn piano?

First, what is your goal? 

This is important to understand before you begin practising, as it will give you a clear aim and allow you to assess where you currently are in your playing journey.

For example, your ultimate goal might be to become a professional piano player, join a band as a pianist, or simply become proficient at playing the piano for personal enjoyment. 

You should also assess your current playing level in relation to these goals. Even if you have no experience whatsoever, you might be naturally proficient at picking things up quickly.

This will help you determine how intense your practice needs to be, how frequently you should practise, and roughly how long it might take to reach your objectives. 

If you’re a beginner looking to casually progress, you should aim to practise for around 45 minutes a day. After a few months, you’ll know the basics, such as how to read both the treble and bass clef and be able to play with both hands together.

Within a few years, you’ll become more and more proficient, and by about eight years, you should be adept. 

It goes without saying that the more you practise, the more of an expert you’ll become.

If you’re looking to become a professional player, you’ll need to practise for a couple of hours a day. It can take over 15 years for pianists to get to this level. 

Once you know your long-term goal, you might find it useful to map out your progress with smaller, short-term goals. This will give you a clear plan of what you want to achieve and how you intend to get there. Whether your goal is to play your favourite piece or to master scales, setting clear objectives will also help you define what “learn piano” means for you. 

These goals may also influence your purchasing decisions. For instance, if you aim to eventually become a professional player and you’re already committed to regular practice, you may be more inclined to invest in a high-end digital piano. But if you’re aiming to become a skilled hobbyist, an intermediate instrument that offers good value for money might be more suitable. 

There’s no shortcut!

As with learning anything, it’s important to set realistic expectations. The main word here is “realistic”! If you’re too ambitious, you’ll likely end up feeling frustrated that you’re not reaching your targets as quickly as you hoped. That’s why it’s important to break down your goals into smaller, more easily achievable ones, as we mentioned earlier. 

As you move into the intermediate stages, learning the piano will naturally become more challenging, so your targets should reflect this. For example, if you’re working on a complex piano piece, it’s unrealistic to expect to learn it in a single sitting. There are no shortcuts to learning, but the most valuable advice we can offer is to focus on mastering the basics first. 

What can you learn in three months? 

Whilst there’s no exact blueprint for what you should be able to play after three months, there are some techniques and abilities that you will naturally pick up. In your first three months at the piano, you’ll build a strong foundation in both technique and musical understanding.

With regular daily practice, even just 20 to 30 minutes, you can expect to play simple melodies, use both hands, and begin reading basic music confidently. 

There are countless easy piano songs out there that are great for beginners – and they’re not all nursery rhymes. Over time, as you practise, you’ll feel more comfortable with simple chords, and you’ll begin to recognise common patterns across different songs. 

It’s also in the first three months that you’ll start to pick up habits – and you’ll want to make sure they’re good ones! You should learn how to properly and comfortably sit at the piano, and you should practise with a metronome to establish rhythm.

Scales and arpeggios are important for building finger control and coordination, so you’ll probably get started with these pretty much straight away.

When you’ve gotten to grips with finger placement, you’ll then learn how to implement dynamics to give your playing more expression.

Using educational apps 

Educational apps are excellent for beginner players, as they add a fun and interactive element to learning the piano. They not only make the process more enjoyable but also give you access to a wide range of resources, from sheet music to step-by-step lessons, that can help you progress quickly.

There are many apps available, including Skoove, flowkey, Tomplay, and Zapiano. And you can find trials to these apps with selected pianos from brands like Yamaha and Kawai – if you’re in the market for one.   

It’s also worth noting that some models pair with their own purpose-built app. Casio Music Space, for example, is exclusive to Casio digital pianos and keyboards. 

Our top tips for practising piano

Structure your practice sessions

By this, we mean you should first have a routine in place, ensuring you practise regularly. You should then structure the actual sessions. Spend a portion of your practice time working on techniques and rudiments, but also make sure to dedicate time to something you enjoy. This could be learning a fun piece of music or playing along with your favourite song. 

Practise with a metronome

It can be easy to rush into a piece of music, trying to play it as fast as you can. But something that beginners often overlook is the benefit of playing with a metronome. Using one from the very early days of playing the piano will help you build a natural sense of timing and rhythm.

Focus on scales

Practising scales can improve your overall understanding of the piano and music theory. You’ll learn about how the notes relate to each other, harmonies, chord progressions, and finger placements. Plus, starting each practice session with some scales is just a good warm-up in itself, helping you move fluidly up and down the keyboard.

Enjoy it!

Finally, the most important aspect of practice is to make sure you’re having fun. If you find yourself dreading every session, your progress will slow, and over time, you may lose interest entirely. Make sure to balance scales and technique work with songs or pieces you enjoy. After all, you’re learning the piano to be able to play those things!

FAQs 

What is the 80/20 rule for piano practice? 

The 80/20 rule for piano practice means that 80% of your progress comes from 20% of your focused efforts. You should identify the most effective techniques and core skills, and concentrate on these. 

Can I learn piano in three months? 

You can learn beginner-level skills and simple songs on the piano in three months. Becoming truly proficient takes years, but you can build a solid foundation in the first few months.

Are 30-minute lessons enough? 

30-minute, well-planned lessons are enough for beginners to build a strong foundation and maintain consistent progress. However, you will need to supplement these with regular home practice. 

Final thoughts 

There’s no set time for how long it takes to learn the piano, as it all depends on what your goal is. Everyone learns at a different pace and has varying amounts of free time available. However much time you dedicate to piano practice, though, it’s important not to rush the process. Take your time, use a metronome, and get to grips with the right notes and techniques before playing a piece at full pace.