It’s a question I often get — from parents looking for lessons for their child, but also from adults who want to start themselves. And honestly? It’s a good question. But what does “well” actually mean? For one person, being able to play a simple pop song is fantastic, while another dreams of playing Chopin on a stage.
I am Luca Ridolfo, a piano teacher in The Hague and founder of Studio MusicalMente. I’ve been teaching for more than 15 years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all that time, it’s this: everyone has their own path. But I can help you understand what it roughly involves.
What do people mean by playing “well”?
When someone tells me they want to learn to play “well,” I usually ask them a few questions. Because often, people mean very different things:
“I just want to be able to play for myself.” For many, “well” means they can play simple pop songs, grasp basic chords, and have developed a sense of rhythm. They want to play “Happy Birthday” at a birthday party or their favorite song from the radio. This is a wonderful goal and completely attainable!
“I want to sound truly musical.” Others want to go further: smoothly playing pop songs, improvising, and playing with dynamics. They develop real musical control and want their playing to have emotion and expression. They dream of surprising friends with a beautiful piece or perhaps performing in a small setting.
“I want to play at a high level.” And then there are people who really dream of technical mastery and interpretation at a high level. Think of serious amateurs or professional pianists who can play Chopin on stage. This is years of dedicated practice and study.
So the real question is: What do you actually want to achieve with the piano?
Because once you know what “well” means to you, we can make a realistic plan. And the great thing is: you don’t have to know right away where you will end. Many of my students start with goal 1 and discover along the way that they want to go further.
What determines how fast you learn?
There are a few things that really impact how quickly you progress — and no, talent isn’t necessarily at the top of that list.
Age and the ability to learn new things
Children often learn motor skills faster, but adults usually have more patience and understand musical structures quicker. What I often see in adults — and this is almost always true — is that they fall into two groups: those who have done something with music as a child, and those who didn’t. And that difference is noticeable immediately. The first group picks things up super quickly. They recognize patterns, understand chords, rhythm, structure. It’s stored somewhere. The second group really starts from scratch, and it just takes a bit longer to internalize the musical thinking. But that’s fine too — with the right guidance, everything will work out. You just shouldn’t compare them.
Quality over quantity
A common mistake: practicing for hours on end. In practice, it’s better to practice consciously for 25 to 50 minutes, with breaks, than to endlessly repeat without structure.
Your instrument and playing posture
Do you play on a keyboard without weighted keys? Then you’re missing an important piece of technique. A good digital piano gives your fingers the feedback they need to really learn to play. And also important: make sure you sit properly. Posture makes a world of difference — for your playing and for your body.
Taking lessons or learning by yourself
And then something often overlooked: do you learn with a teacher, or do you do everything yourself? If you have someone sitting next to you who has seen hundreds of students, you get feedback in one second that you might otherwise be stuck on for weeks. A good teacher sees what you don’t yet see. Of course, you can also learn online — there are wonderful videos and courses — but you often don’t know how much experience that person really has. And they don’t see you, so they can’t intervene if you’re practicing with a wrong technique, for example.
What can you realistically expect?
Based on my experience with hundreds of students here in The Hague (but also in Italy and Spain), an average learning curve looks something like this:
0–6 months: The fundamentals You learn to grasp basic chords, play simple melodies and pop songs, and develop a sense of rhythm. This is often what people mean when they say they can “play a little piano.”
6 months – 2 years: Musical development You tackle your first real pop and classical pieces. You begin to play with dynamics (soft and loud), and your musical control becomes noticeably better. Your fingers become more fluid, and you start recognizing patterns.
2–5 years: True musicality You feel comfortable with more complex pieces, can improvise, and play fluently in different styles. You develop real musical control and expression. This is where many hobbyists are satisfied.
5+ years: Advanced level You play at a semi-professional level with technical mastery and interpretation at a high level. Think serious amateurs who can play Chopin on stage.
Important note: These timelines assume regular practice (3-5 times a week, about 30-45 minutes per session) and good guidance. Everyone has their own pace, and that’s just fine!
How to make faster progress?
My philosophy is simple: always practice in different ways. That’s why my students achieve so much. We tackle challenges from multiple angles — sometimes I compose special exercises or songs for a specific problem, sometimes we just play together in a group.
This way, your brain forms multiple connections, and you don’t endlessly repeat the same thing. Practicing becomes much more enjoyable, and you reach your goals faster!
- Variety in practice
- Practice difficult sections separately
- Practice with varying tempos
- Mark fingerings, so your hands know where to go
- Work with a metronome and gradually build up the tempo
- Consciously analyze sheet music — train your musical memory
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
The plateau
Around month 9, many people think: “I’m not getting any better.” Then it’s time to try a different style or learn a new technique — step out of that comfort zone.
Loss of motivation
Often around month 5 or 6. That’s why I work with small weekly goals in my lessons, and I always try to add a social component. Playing together can really work wonders.
Test your knowledge!
1. What does the average beginner usually mean by “being able to play the piano well”?
2. According to Luca, what is more important than talent when learning to play the piano?
3. Why does it matter if you practice on a keyboard or a digital piano?
4. According to Luca, what helps the most to break through a practice plateau around month 9?
5. What is a common mistake when practicing piano?
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“; } });Finally: your learning path
Learning to play the piano is not a sprint. It is personal, something that develops at your pace. In practice, I find that you can master the basics fluently with about 6 months of practice. Want to go further than that? Then you enter a different gear — and that’s beautiful if you’re enjoying it.
It’s not about ticking off hours, but about building a routine you enjoy and can maintain.
Want to start? Feel free to book a free 15-minute introductory session. We’ll look at your goals together and see if my teaching method is right for you.
Who am I?
I am Luca Ridolfo and I founded Studio MusicalMente in 2018. I’ve been driven by music from a young age. But I was no Musical Prodigy. I took great joy in making music and had a drive to learn more about it. My music teachers always supported me and encouraged me to keep going.
And indeed, I went on to complete a music education at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. And even now, I never stop learning.
I strongly believe that everyone can improve their musicality and that it should not only be reserved for children. That’s why I decided to open a music school for adults in The Hague.
I believe that learning creative hobbies with experienced role models is one of the best ways to develop new skills and learn more about yourself.