Should You Take Piano Grade Exams as an Adult Learner?
As an adult picking up the piano, you’re likely to have often thought about what your goals with the instrument might be. One of the common doubts is: should I aim for graded piano exams? There are many benefits to working towards them, but some downsides too. Here's a look at the pros and cons to help you decide whether they are for you.
The Benefits of Taking Piano Exams
Clear Goals & Structure
Exams provide milestones. Knowing you’ll be preparing pieces for a Grade 1, 2, and beyond gives you something concrete to aim for. As an adult, it’s easy to drift without direction, and by setting an exam as a goal, you’ll have something set in stone to keep you moving forward.
Motivation & Accountability
Deadlines have power. Signing up for an exam gives you a reason to practice even when life gets busy. The knowledge that you will be assessed can help push through phases when playing just seems impossible, or procrastination.
Skill-Development
Most graded exam systems don’t only test repertoire: there are scales, technical work, sight reading, and aural tests. This ensures a well-rounded development, motivating you to master every aspect of playing your instrument.
Recognition & Confidence
Having a certificate or grade validates your progress. It’s tangible proof of what you’ve achieved. It can give a boost to confidence, especially when looking back at where you started, and realising how far you’ve gone.
Performance Experience
Even though the exam isn’t a public concert, the process of preparing and performing under exam conditions helps build confidence and reduce nerves. For many, that’s a benefit in itself!
The Downsides of Taking Piano Exams
Pressure & Stress
Having deadlines can be motivating, but it can also bring in some stress. Working towards an exam can make playing feel more like an obligation than a pleasure. For someone balancing work, family, or other commitments, this pressure can add up.
Time Commitment & Cost
Exams cost money, from the fees for the exams to the extra lessons to prepare for them. Equally, it takes time. Working on exam repertoire may mean sacrificing time you might prefer to spend exploring other styles, improvisation, or simply playing for fun.
Potential for Disappointment
Sometimes you don’t get the result you hoped for, despite the hard work. That can be disheartening. It’s important to know how to push through even if you end up not getting the grade you were aiming for.
For many adult learners, the sweet spot is using exams as tools, not as the sole focus. If you’re up for giving exams a go, make sure you only take exams when you feel ready rather than when you feel like you ‘should’. Maintain some “play for fun” time, learning pieces outside the syllabus, improvising, or just messing around.
Use the exam structure to build technical skills, but don’t let expression suffer. Remember that technique supports musicality, not the other way around. Reflect on why you want the exam: is it to mark progress? To challenge yourself? Making this clear will help you decide whether the benefits outweigh the costs at each stage.
Ultimately, if you go in with awareness, and keep the enjoyment of playing front and centre, exams can be a powerful stepping stone rather than a burden.
