It Has Nothing to Do with Age

More than ten years ago, I attended a piano festival in the USA (I prefer not to specify the location). During one of the master classes, I performed the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 10, No. 2 for a well-known pianist, X. Apparently, the piece I chose wasn’t challenging enough for such a high-level festival.

At the time, I was in my mid-twenties, just beginning my serious piano studies after a ten-year break. I had stopped playing at seventeen, and this was the start of my first real piano education.

You might find it surprising what I was asked after performing Beethoven.

The male pianist looked at me and asked, “How old are you?” Perhaps he asked after learning a bit about my background, but I clearly remember the impact of his words. In America, asking someone’s age can be considered inappropriate, but in Japan, it’s quite normal—though perhaps not always the best practice. I answered his question.

Everyone in the room was quietly listening to our exchange, including a young Korean girl who performed Chopin’s Piano Etude Op. 25, No. 6 after me. I remember her performance clearly. She played with incredible musicality, even though the tempo was relatively slow. The etude is notoriously difficult, so she was already an exceptional talent. After her performance, the pianist didn’t offer much specific feedback. His comments were vague, and he didn’t demonstrate how he would approach the piece. Perhaps he wasn’t able to play it as he intended. I’m not sure. But what stuck with me most was his next remark.

He turned to me and said, “You’re too old! Too old to start piano!” His tone was almost playful, and he smiled as he spoke. But his words were loud enough for everyone to hear, and I was left confused about his intentions. Was he telling me to give up the piano because I wasn’t young enough?

It was an uncomfortable moment. I didn’t look around to gauge others’ reactions—my focus was entirely on processing what he had just said. I was shocked, embarrassed, and I’ll admit, it affected me deeply that summer. But the recovery was quick. I practiced harder than ever, determined to move past those hurtful words. The following year, I took another step forward and pursued my master’s degree in piano performance.

Piano has nothing to do with age. Not everyone plays the piano to become a famous pianist. To this day, I still don’t understand why he made such a comment. But what I’ve learned is this: If you love the piano, just play it. Keep practicing. With dedication, progress will come, even if it takes time and patience.

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