how long did it take for you to 'lern' your desired musical instruments

for example guitar around 2~3 months

Violin: One day. Technically... More like a month.

The question is rather ambiguous. Please clarify.
It kind of depends on what you call "learning", eh? By that, would you mean: how long did it take to figure out how to make the silly thing work, or how long did it take for you to play the instrument as fluently/beautifully as certain prodigies in Carnegie Hall? (I.e. You can take any old piece of music and play it as if you've been playing it for years.)
In my opinion, I'm still learning. I've been playing the piano for over ten years (give or take a couple years, I can't remember when I started) and I'm constantly improving. Well then again, maybe it's because I suck, or maybe not.

Btw, please correct your spelling of "learn". It's starting to bother me, haha. *twitch* XD
Sorry, I can be a regular pain in the arse sometimes.

^I believe it's how long it takes to make it work ;) .

Clarinet- 2 days... actually being good at it: 4 years (I mean REALLY good).
Oboe- 1 day.... quit after a month.
Bass Clarinet- 1/2 days... it's been about 1/2 a month now, and I'm doing really well.

piano: a second maybe? haha anyone can work a piano XD
getting good at it: 4 years so far and i'm still not "REALLY" good yet

Tenor Sax: an hour
getting good at it: 1 year

drums: 5 minutes haha just like the piano anyone can make a drum set work
getting good: i'm not good yet just started for like a month

trumpet: 1 hour
getting good: half a year but then i switched to sax

alto sax: same as tenor since the two instruments are exactly the same just have different pitches

flute: this one was hard 2 hours for me to make a sound
getting good: 2 years

The question is rather ambiguous. Please clarify.
It kind of depends on what you call "learning", eh? By that, would you mean: how long did it take to figure out how to make the silly thing work, or how long did it take for you to play the instrument as fluently/beautifully as certain prodigies in Carnegie Hall? (I.e. You can take any old piece of music and play it as if you've been playing it for years.)
In my opinion, I'm still learning. I've been playing the piano for over ten years (give or take a couple years, I can't remember when I started) and I'm constantly improving. Well then again, maybe it's because I suck, or maybe not.

Btw, please correct your spelling of "learn". It's starting to bother me, haha. *twitch* XD
Sorry, I can be a regular pain in the arse sometimes.

sorry if you're confused or anything.. i mean about learn is how long did it took you to learn the instrument


pretty amazing some people here learning in a matter of hours

Violin: One day. Technically... More like a month.

that sounds very quick learning
I've been playing violin for 9 years now and the technic took a very long time cause it's a very advancd instrument and it takes a long time to adapt to it. When I entered in music with it I chatted with the professor and she said that usualy it takes about 4-5 years before really being good at it with the technics. For I it didn't take long for me to begin playing the actual music but it took a damn long time before being able to play it right (holding the bow and violin right)

Oh okay, that clears a few things up.
I haven't the foggiest clue how long it took me to work the piano, that was ages ago when I was six years old. I don't think it took too long. And I suppose I'm decent enough at it, considering I've only been at it for three years after I quit playing for two years. And I never really took it seriously until I joined Ichigo's, which was in June. Hehe. So now I know what I've been missing out on for my whole life. *reprimands self*
Flute, I've been playing it for three years. It took me a week to make an F natural out of it, but then again I never really practiced, I guess. Only 15 minutes every few days, lol. But as soon as I could make a sound out of it, I've been pretty good at it since. And even now I only practice it twice every five weeks. Guess who needs to get their priorities straight.

You can't "learn an instrument." It's the same thing as saying "master an instrument" mainly.

No one has. Unless you, like, Liszt.

And Thorn knows what I mean about Liszt. :P

is piano really that long to lern/master? basically it's just reading the notes right? aside from playing by the ears...

i myself just started on piano(3 days old, self taught) so far everything is managable i can read slowly but surely the simple notes for the right hand not yet started on the left though

You can't "learn an instrument."

I disagree. I think that when a musician can play on cue, that musician has learned his/her instrument. Saying that no one can 'learn' or 'master' an instrument simply because they can't play like Liszt did is silly.

is piano really that long to lern/master? basically it's just reading the notes right? aside from playing by the ears...

i myself just started on piano(3 days old, self taught) so far everything is managable i can read slowly but surely the simple notes for the right hand not yet started on the left though
No not realy I played for a month. It is easy until you have
3 differnt notes on the trebble and bass clef.
;)

those are called chords ;)
and they're not hard unless you're doing them in sixteenth notes or thirty second notes while going at allegro XD

that sounds very quick learning
I've been playing violin for 9 years now and the technic took a very long time cause it's a very advancd instrument and it takes a long time to adapt to it. When I entered in music with it I chatted with the professor and she said that usualy it takes about 4-5 years before really being good at it with the technics. For I it didn't take long for me to begin playing the actual music but it took a damn long time before being able to play it right (holding the bow and violin right)

...I like your user name...

Ok back on topic here... I guess it really depends. Kinda like everyone else is saying. :heh: For learing it in the meaning of learing the fingerings and basics... then yes a day. For actually being able to play it right and finding out all the little "secrets" and tricks... well I didn't get a teacher until about four months after I started playing, so I guess you could say it really took about six months. I just guess it all depends.

@cody/mccollaum: 3 diffrent note?

@leonheart: chords? as in the C chord(C E F)?

@Amanime: what's the diffrence if you were playing and had a teacher?? is there a diffrence? i mean what were you looking for?

in guitar it was a little diffrent from me.. i started 6 years ago.. just brought it to school and the next thing i know i was playing...

I think the piano is probably one of the easiest instruments to learn to play. I started learning when I was five, but I learned a lot of chord work and such in about a month from what I can remember. I didn't take lessons for very long, but I can still play it well and even better than I did eleven years ago [because I'm sixteen now]. As for the violin? I suppose it is easy to learn to play, and you could learn the fingerings and positioning soon enough, but how long it takes to learn to play it well is an entirely different story.

I think the piano is probably one of the easiest instruments to learn to play. I started learning when I was five, but I learned a lot of chord work and such in about a month from what I can remember. I didn't take lessons for very long, but I can still play it well and even better than I did eleven years ago [because I'm sixteen now]. As for the violin? I suppose it is easy to learn to play, and you could learn the fingerings and positioning soon enough, but how long it takes to learn to play it well is an entirely different story.

wow, you're lucky to learn the piano at such a young age.. i think piano is best when you teach them young.. for what i've read in this thread it takes time to learn piano.. and "time is gold" to say in the adult world.. meaning.. there's very little time to practice.. hehehe

@leonheart: chords? as in the C chord(C E F)?


chords is pressing any three or more keys down together ..... i think :unsure:

chords? as in the C chord(C E F)?
...

That's not C though, C is C E G :)

piano is easy is long as you don't want to play advanced stuff :think: for that you need to practice at least one hour per day.

@Noir7: hehehe.. my bad..

@Matt: what's in advance? as of now at least i want to read and play the sheets..

i guess there's a diffrence with the type of learning in play.. hehehe..

@Amanime: what's the diffrence if you were playing and had a teacher?? is there a diffrence? i mean what were you looking for?

Well... I don't think I fully understand that question.

I needed a teacher to teach me all the kinds of stuff that I couldn't teach myself. Like breaking my wrist and explaining to me what the heck a celtic grace is. That and so I could get a butt load of sheet music. :sweat: Yes, I may sound dumb to you, but at least I make sense to me.

Well... I don't think I fully understand that question.

I needed a teacher to teach me all the kinds of stuff that I couldn't teach myself. Like breaking my wrist and explaining to me what the heck a celtic grace is. That and so I could get a butt load of sheet music. :sweat: Yes, I may sound dumb to you, but at least I make sense to me.

ah ic... what where your reference or how did you teach yourself? how long did you figure out some stuff before you got a teacher? hehehe...

Um... My dad bought me a "learn to play the Violin" kind of book with my Violin. That helped a little bit. But mostly, my best friend has played her "fiddle" since she was six, so I'd usually get tips from her too.

Other than that... Have you ever heard the phrase "Wing it"?

Anyone can play... doesn't mean that they can play well. Someone could "learn the piano" and can play Mary had a little lamb. That's learning in one day. Great.

I disagree. I think that when a musician can play on cue, that musician has learned his/her instrument. Saying that no one can 'learn' or 'master' an instrument simply because they can't play like Liszt did is silly.

Oh no, don't get me wrong, someone can master an instrument.

But to ask it here is VRY rare to what my opinion of "learning an instrument" is.

But for most people standards, I've learned at a fast pace, and playing "class A" music. So you can say that I've learned the piano to an extent, yes.

But for most people standards, I've learned at a fast pace, and playing "class A" music. So you can say that I've learned the piano to an extent, yes.

what is "class A"

Highest class of music in our WSMA competitions here in SE Wisconsin School District.

oh wow... that's deep.. hehehe..

Here's the Class A list of music. But this doesn't mean I play beyond most of these also. =p


A 3061 Well-Tempered Clavier Vol. I - Prelude and Fugue No. 21
Composer: Bach, J. S.
Publisher: Alf/Bar/BH/Dov-Alf/EdMus/GS-HL/ Henle/Kalmus/Masters

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A 3062 Valses Play Op. 18 or Op. 34 No. 1
Composer: Chopin
Publisher: Alf/WB/Dov-Alf/GS-HL/Henle/ Kalmus/Peters/UnEd

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A 1 Italian Concerto Play mvt. 1
Composer: Bach, J. S.
Publisher: Alf/WB/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/Peters/ VUrt

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A 2 Fantasy in C Minor
Composer: Bach, J. S.
Publisher: Alf/Bel-WB/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/ Peters (POP)

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A 3 Six French Suites Play three contr. mvts. from Suites 1, 2, or 5
Composer: Bach, J. S.
Publisher: Alf/Dov-Alf/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/ Peters

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A 4 The Well-Tempered Clavier Vol. 1 Play one entire Prelude and Fugue from Nos. 2, 3, 8, 10, 11
Composer: Bach, J. S.
Publisher: Alf/Bar/BreitHart/Dov-Alf/ GS-HL/HL/Henle/Kalmus/Masters

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A 5 Bear Dance (from Ten Easy Pieces)
Composer: Bartok, B.
Publisher: Alf/BH/EdMus

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A 6 Rumanian Folk Dances Play Nos. 1 and 5, or 3 and 5, or 1 and 6, or 3 and 6
Composer: Bartok, B.
Publisher: BH/Kjos/Masters/Universal Ed

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A 7 Sonatina Play mvts. I and II, or III
Composer: Bartok, B.
Publisher: Alf/EdMus-HLP/Kjos/TP

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A 8 Allegro Barbaro Sz. 49
Composer: Bartok, B.
Publisher: Alf/BH/Dover/Masters/Universal

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A 9 Bagatelles Op. 33 Play No. 1 or 5, or play two from Nos. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Composer: Beethoven, L.
Publisher: Alf/Dov-Alf/GS-HL/Henle/Kjos/ Peters/VUrt

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A 10 Rondo in C Major Op. 51 No. 1
Composer: Beethoven, L.
Publisher: Alf/Dov-Alf/GS-HL/Henle/Kjos/Peters

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A 11 Sonatas Play one first mvt. from Op. 2 No. 1 in F minor; Op. 10 No. 1 in C minor; Op 10 No. 2 in F Major; Op. 14 No. 1 in E Major; Op. 79 in G Major; or play mvt. II or III from Op. 13 (Pathetique)
Composer: Beethoven, L.
Publisher: Alf/Bel-WB/Dov-Alf/ GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/Peters/UnEd

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A 12 Rhapsodies Op. 79 Play No. 1 or 2
Composer: Brahms, J.
Publisher: Alf/BretHart/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/Peters/Ricordi

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A 13 Three Intermezzi Op. 117 Play any one
Composer: Brahms , J.
Publisher: Alf/Durand/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/Peters/VUrt

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A 14 Preludes Op. 28 Play Nos. 10 & 13, or 9 & 22, or one from Nos. 15, 16, 17
Composer: Chopin, F.
Publisher: Alf/Dov-Alf/FJH/GS-HL/Henle/Kjos/Peters/Polish-TP/ VUrt

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A 15 Waltzes Play one from Op. 18 Grand Valse Brillante-omit repeats, Op. 34 No. 2, Op. 64 Nos. 1, 2 or 3, Op. 69 No. 1, Op. 70 No. 1, Op. 70 No. 2
Composer: Chopin, F.
Publisher: Alf/Bel-WB/Dov-Alf/GS-HL/Henle/ Kjos/ Peters/ Polish-TP/Schott / VUrt

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A 16 Nocturnes Play one from Op. 9 No. 1, Op. 9 No. 2, Op. 15 No. 3, Op. 32 No. 1, Op. 37 No. 1, Op. 55 No. 1, Op. 72 No. 1
Composer: Chopin, F.
Publisher: Alf/Bel-WB/Dov-Alf/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/Kjos/Peters/Polish-TP/Universal Ed/VUrt

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A 17 Etudes Play one from Op. 10 No. 12, Op. 25 No. 1, Op. 25 No. 9
Composer: Chopin, F.
Publisher: Alf

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A 18 The Cat and the Mouse
Composer: Copland, A.
Publisher: Alf/BH

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A 19 Four Piano Blues Play any one
Composer: Copland, A.
Publisher: BH

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A 20 Children's Corner Play one from Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6
Composer: Debussy, C.
Publisher: Alf/Dur-TP/EdMus/ElknVogl-TP/GS-HL/Henle/Kjos/Peters/VUrt

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A 21 La Plus que lente
Composer: Debussy, C.
Publisher: Alf/Dur-TP/Peters

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A 22 Clair de Lune
Composer: Debussy, C.
Publisher: Alf/ElknVogl-TP/FJH/GS-HL/Henle/TP

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A 23 Deux Arabesques Play any one
Composer: Debussy, C.
Publisher: Alf/Dov-Alf/Dur-TP/Henle/Kjos/Peters
Copa

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A 24 Preludes Book 1 Play one from Nos. 8, 10, 12
Composer: Debussy, C.
Publisher: Alf/Dov-Alf/Dur-TP/Henle/Kjos/Peters

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A 25 Preludes Play one from Nos. 1, 2, 3 (One book title is The Complete Gershwin Preludes)
Composer: Gershwin, George
Publisher: Alf/Columbia/NewWorld/WB

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A 26 Music for Solo Piano Vol. 1 Play Country Gardens or Irish Tune from County Derry
Composer: Grainger, P.
Publisher: GS-HL/Schott-Columbia

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A 27 Lyrische Stucke Op. 43 (Lyric Pieces) Play Papillion or Canon Op. 38 No. 8
Composer: Grieg, E.
Publisher: Alf/Any Standard Edition/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/Schott

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A 28 Notturno Op. 54 No.4
Composer: Grieg, E.
Publisher: Alf/CF/GS-HL

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A 29 Sonatas Hob. XVI: 23 in F Major, Hob. XVI: 27 in G Major, XVI: 34 in E Minor, Hob. XVI: 35 in C Major, Hob. XVI: 37 in D Major, Hob. XVI: 39 in G Major Play one first mvt.
Composer: Haydn, F. J.
Publisher: Alf/Dov-Alf/GS-HL/Kjos/Henle/Peters

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A 30 Variations in C Major, Hob. XVII: 5 Play all
Composer: Haydn, F. J.
Publisher: Alf/Henle/Peters

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A 31 Gypsy Rondo (Hungarian Rondo)
Composer: Haydn, F. J.
Publisher: Alf/GS-HL/Music Sales

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A 32 At the Piano with Joplin Play any one
Composer: Joplin, S.
Publisher: Alf

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A 33 Sonatinas Play mvt. III from Sonatina in F Major Op. 20 No. 3, or play one complete Sonatina-omit repeats from Op. 55 No. 2, Op. 55 No. 3, Op. 55 No. 4-omit DS, Op. 55 No. 5
Composer: Kuhlau, F.
Publisher: Alf/GS-HL/Kalmus/Kjos

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A 34 Six Consolations S. 172 Play one from Nos. 2, 3, 5
Composer: Liszt, F.
Publisher: Alf/Kalmus

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A 35 Liebestraum Notturno No. 3
Composer: Liszt, F.
Publisher: Alf/GS-HL/Henle

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A 36 Hungarian Op. 39 No. 12 from Etudes for the Piano (single sheet available in Alfred MasterWorks)
Composer: MacDowell, E.
Publisher: Alf/BMC/CF/Int/Kjos

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A 37 Songs Without Words Play one from Op. 19 No. 3, Op. 19 No. 5, Op. 30 No. 4, Op. 38 No. 3, Op. 38 No. 5, Duetto Op. 38 No. 6, Op. 85 No. 3
Composer: Mendelssohn, F.
Publisher: Alf/GS-HL/Henle/Kjos/Peters

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A 38 Scherzo in E Minor Op. 16 No. 2
Composer: Mendelssohn, F.
Publisher: Alf/GS-HL/Peters/UnEd

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A 39 Sonatas Play first mvt. from any Sonata except K. 282 or 545
Composer: Mozart, W.
Publisher: ABRSM-TP/Alf/Dov-Alf/GS-HL

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A 40 Fantasy in D Minor K. 397
Composer: Mozart, W.
Publisher: Alf/CF/GS-HL/Henle

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A 41 Rondo in D Major K. 485
Composer: Mozart, W.
Publisher: Alf/CF/GS-HL/Henle

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A 42 Spanish Dance (Bolero) in D Op. 12 No. 5
Composer: Moszkowski, M.
Publisher: GS-HL/Kalmus/Peters

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A 43 Three Piano Preludes Play I or III
Composer: O' Hearn, Arletta
Publisher: Kjos

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A 44 May Night
Composer: Palmgren, S.
Publisher: Alf/CF/GS-HL/Willis

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A 45 Impromptus Play any one from Op. 90, or play Op. 142 No. 2
Composer: Schubert, F.
Publisher: Alf/GS-HL/Peters/UnEd

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A 46 Fantasiestucke Op. 12 Aufschwung
Composer: Schumann, R.
Publisher: Alf/Dov-Alf/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/Peters/VUrt-Columbia

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A 47 Whims/Caprices Op. 12 No. 4, or Grillen! Op. 12 No. 4 Play either one
Composer: Schumann, R.
Publisher: Alf/GS-HL/Henle/Kalmus/Peters/VUrt-Columbia

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A 48 Lotus Land Op. 47 No. 1
Composer: Scott, Cyril
Publisher: CF

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A 49 The Lake in the Mountains
Composer: Vaughan Williams, R.
Publisher: Oxford

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A 50 O Prole de Babe #1 (The Baby's Family) Play O Polichinelo (The Punch Doll)
Composer: Villa-Lobos, H.
Publisher: Alf/Eschig-HLP/Kalmus


(Apologies for the length)

Anyone can play... doesn't mean that they can play well. Someone could "learn the piano" and can play Mary had a little lamb. That's learning in one day. Great.

...I think we've already established that...

No, that's learning a song--not the piano. Lol.

about a month or 2

I've started playing the violin about three months ago.

I've played guitar, piano, and violin for about 8 years each. Sax and flute for about 4. Steel drums and drums for 2

@jinbu07: OMG, amazing


so i would not wonder off far from the topic.. hmm.. i've been playing the guitar for 6~7 years now.. can't say i'd really masterd it.. still have a few bugs to fixed

Does Guitar Hero count? Cos I'm getting pretty awesome at it :)

@noir7: who or what is guitar hero? :)

XD You think it's a person!!
Noir7 is getting pretty awesome at a person. :bleh:


Meh. I suck.

Noir7 is getting pretty awesome at a person. :bleh:



yhea i know.. hehehe.. i saw the composition contest.. hehehe.. and he's also composing other songs... i think it's the diffrence in experience

Well, I'm getting into my eighth year of playing the flute, and I'm still learning new things every day.
But, to know how to actually play it, about a fortnight for the flute, and three hours for the alto sax.

Well, I'm getting into my eighth year of playing the flute, and I'm still learning new things every day.
But, to know how to actually play it, about a fortnight for the flute, and three hours for the alto sax.

how long did you it take for you to get the feeling of the flute? or did you forget already? if so.. i know how you feel.. hehehe.. it's the same with me with the guitar.. but now i'm counting on the piano.. it's about 3 weeks now.. hehehe.. well good luck..

The question is rather ambiguous. Please clarify.
It kind of depends on what you call "learning", eh? By that, would you mean: how long did it take to figure out how to make the silly thing work, or how long did it take for you to play the instrument as fluently/beautifully as certain prodigies in Carnegie Hall? (I.e. You can take any old piece of music and play it as if you've been playing it for years.)
In my opinion, I'm still learning. I've been playing the piano for over ten years (give or take a couple years, I can't remember when I started) and I'm constantly improving. Well then again, maybe it's because I suck, or maybe not.

Btw, please correct your spelling of "learn". It's starting to bother me, haha. *twitch* XD
Sorry, I can be a regular pain in the arse sometimes.

We are the same. I am still learning up to now. I know how to play the piano but up to now, I don't master it yet. I've been playing piano for 7 years!

I played piano for 2 years just recently started again after very long layoff (6 yrs) took me 1 mo. to learn Fur Elise, 4 months for Moonlight Sonata(all movements.)
Guitar 14 yrs (still suck)
Flute 1 yr
Trumpet 6 mo.(gave up)
Clarinet 3 yrs(hate it so not very good)