--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started studying music at the age of…" description: "\"I started studying music at the age of five and a half. My older sister was taking piano lessons. When her teacher left our apartment, I would get up o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/marvin-hamlisch-24521_age_i-started-studying-music-at-the-age-of-f_976001.jpg" --- # I started studying music at the age of five and a half. My… ![“I started studying music at the age of five and a half. My older sister was taking piano lessons. When her teacher left our apartment, I would get up on the piano bench and start picking out the notes that were part of my sister's lessons” quote by Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/marvin-hamlisch-24521_age_i-started-studying-music-at-the-age-of-f_976001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/marvin-hamlisch-24521_age_i-started-studying-music-at-the-age-of-f_976001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/marvin-hamlisch-24521_age_i-started-studying-music-at-the-age-of-f_976001.jpg) > “I started studying music at the age of five and a half. My older sister was taking piano lessons. When her teacher left our apartment, I would get up on the piano bench and start picking out the notes that were part of my sister's lessons” [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The musician began exploring piano by copying his sister’s lessons, showing early self‑directed learning. **In simple terms:** He learned piano by copying sister’s lessons. Key Takeaway Start learning by observing others. Themes music learning family influence Mood inspirational educational Type biographical musical When to use this quote - music education - family dynamics - creative development - practice habits Key Concepts self‑directed learning early exposure Questions to Reflect On - How can observation accelerate skill acquisition? - What role does family play in early talent? A Different Perspective Limited to piano context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Apartment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartment/) [Benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [My sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-sister/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Older sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-sister/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Piano lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-lesson/) [Piano lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-lessons/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Started Studying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-studying-512236/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Studying music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying-music/) [Taking Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-piano-1409178/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [I was coerced into taking piano lessons in the early '50s. It was a quite unpleasant experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-quine/i-was-coerced-into-taking-piano-lessons-in-the-early-50s-it-was-a/) [Robert Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-quine/) > [I was taking piano lessons with a very good piano instructor in Toronto, and I'm afraid due to my schedule and discipline, it kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geddy-lee/i-was-taking-piano-lessons-with-a-very-good-piano-instructor-in/) [Geddy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geddy-lee/) > [I started taking piano lessons when I was about four years old. My parents were both musicians. So I took piano lessons. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-started-taking-piano-lessons-when-i-was-about-four-years-old-my/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I come from a musical family. Mom was a piano teacher for a large portion of her life, and Dad is a saxophone hobbyist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-cox/i-come-from-a-musical-family-mom-was-a-piano-teacher-for-a-large/) [Gerard Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-cox/) > [However, I began composing as soon as I started taking piano lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyorgy-ligeti/however-i-began-composing-as-soon-as-i-started-taking-piano-lessons/) [Gyorgy Ligeti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyorgy-ligeti/) > [I started taking piano lessons when I was 8 and I wrote my first song shortly after. Music was really important in my family.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hutchinson/i-started-taking-piano-lessons-when-i-was-8-and-i-wrote-my-first-song/) [Eric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hutchinson/) > [I grew up painting and playing piano so when I was a little kid I thought I was going to be an artist or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shinoda/i-grew-up-painting-and-playing-piano-so-when-i-was-a-little-kid-i/) [Mike Shinoda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-shinoda/) > [It was in Shizuoka, where my home was. I first attended this school when I was five years old. I also attended a regular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromi/it-was-in-shizuoka-where-my-home-was-i-first-attended-this-school/) [Hiromi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromi/) > [I became really creative around the time I started understanding that people could be creative with music and that that was allowed. I stated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-angelakos/i-became-really-creative-around-the-time-i-started-understanding-that/) [Michael Angelakos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-angelakos/) > [I've always been involved in music. Whether it be taking piano lessons or something, I always have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juice-wrld/i-ve-always-been-involved-in-music-whether-it-be-taking-piano-lessons/) [Juice Wrld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juice-wrld/) > [I started taking piano lessons from the age of six years old. It's such an essential part of what I do in the production…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kygo/i-started-taking-piano-lessons-from-the-age-of-six-years-old-it-s/) [Kygo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kygo/) > [I ended up taking piano lessons at a really young age, I took, like, years of piano lessons, and I always loved to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-martel/i-ended-up-taking-piano-lessons-at-a-really-young-age-i-took-like/) [Marc Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-martel/) > [Kylie and I were both taking piano lessons at the time and didn't think of acting. A friend rang mum up and said, 'How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannii-minogue/kylie-and-i-were-both-taking-piano-lessons-at-the-time-and-didn-t/) [Dannii Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannii-minogue/) > [I'm very glad my mother didn't let me quit piano lessons at age 10. She said I wasn't old enough or good enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-glad-my-mother-didn-t-let-me-quit-piano-lessons-at-age-10/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I want to take piano lessons, I want to study at university, I want to travel, I want to do other parts, make another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-want-to-take-piano-lessons-i-want-to-study-at-university-i-want-to/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) ## More by Marvin Hamlisch > [I think that when NASA works on a moon shot, they know too well that all of the people working on it must do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/i-think-that-when-nasa-works-on-a-moon-shot-they-know-too-well-that/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [If I'm within reach and can be helpful, I have a tendency to say 'Yes.' It's hard to say 'No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/if-i-m-within-reach-and-can-be-helpful-i-have-a-tendency-to-say-yes/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [Music can make a difference. There is a global nature to music, which has the potential to bring all people together. Music is truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/music-can-make-a-difference-there-is-a-global-nature-to-music-which/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [From the time I could play the piano, I remember trying to write tunes. They were in my head, and I would just sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/from-the-time-i-could-play-the-piano-i-remember-trying-to-write-tunes/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [I still have great faith in what is good and right in all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/i-still-have-great-faith-in-what-is-good-and-right-in-all-of-us/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [As I get older, I'm slowing down and, yes, calming down in my desire to be taken seriously. That I can be entertaining and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/as-i-get-older-i-m-slowing-down-and-yes-calming-down-in-my-desire-to/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [You mustn't underestimate an audience's intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/you-mustn-t-underestimate-an-audience-s-intelligence/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [I can make a song up about anything: garbage, the weather, things in the news,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/i-can-make-a-song-up-about-anything-garbage-the-weather-things-in-the/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [Let's say music is needed for only 43 seconds of film. You have to score it so it is an entity, so it won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/let-s-say-music-is-needed-for-only-43-seconds-of-film-you-have-to/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [There have been studies that clearly state that children who are exposed to arts education at a young age will in fact do markedly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/there-have-been-studies-that-clearly-state-that-children-who-are/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [You know, anyone who invites me to do something makes me feel special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/you-know-anyone-who-invites-me-to-do-something-makes-me-feel-special/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [I have always thought of music as a highway with many lanes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/i-have-always-thought-of-music-as-a-highway-with-many-lanes/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [I don't think they understand it's as important as math and science. It rounds you out as a person. I think it gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/i-don-t-think-they-understand-it-s-as-important-as-math-and-science/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [My show business career doesn't mean I can't write a symphony. It just means I was never asked to write one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/my-show-business-career-doesn-t-mean-i-can-t-write-a-symphony-it-just/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [Barbra Streisand is without a doubt one of the most honest people I have ever known. There is no doubt in my mind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/barbra-streisand-is-without-a-doubt-one-of-the-most-honest-people-i/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) [Explore all 24 Marvin Hamlisch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. 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Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started studying music at the age of five and a half. My older sister was taking piano lessons. 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