Approximately 80% of Piano Learners Admit to Quitting; About 41% Keep Unused Pianos at Home

Investigating the Aftermath: From Starting Piano Lessons to What Happens Afterwards

Many people have taken piano lessons as children.

However, as they grow older, most gradually drift away from playing the piano.

So, what motivates people to start piano lessons? Why do they stop? And what happens to the pianos they no longer use?

To explore these questions, we conducted a joint survey with Japan Piano—a service specializing in buying, selling, and appraising used pianos—surveying 139 men and women across Japan who previously indicated in a preliminary survey that they, their children, or grandchildren had taken piano lessons. The survey focused on "piano lessons and education."

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・ Clearly state the source as "a survey conducted by NEXER Group and Japan Piano, a secondhand piano buyback, sale, and appraisal service."

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・ Include a link to the related article (https://www.e-jps.co.jp/contents/survey_usedpiano)

Survey Overview: "Piano Lessons and Education" Questionnaire

Survey Method: Online questionnaire

Survey Period: June 24, 2026 – July 1, 2026

Respondents: Men and women nationwide who answered "yes" in a preliminary survey to having taken piano lessons themselves, or having children or grandchildren who did

Valid Responses: 139 samples

Survey Questions:

Question 1: What motivated you to start piano lessons? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 2: Are you currently still playing the piano?

Question 3: What were the main reasons you stopped?

Question 4: What is the current status of that piano?

Question 5: How do you feel about the option of "selling and reusing" a piano that has served its purpose?

Question 6: When considering selling a piano that is no longer needed, what conditions would make you feel comfortable entrusting it to a service? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 7: When selling a piano, which of the following do you value most: "free appraisal and shipping," "same-day cash payment," or "no price reduction after appraisal?"

Question 8: Please explain your reason.

※ Percentages are rounded to the nearest second decimal place, so totals may not sum to exactly 100%.

46.8% Started Piano Because They Personally Wanted To

First, we asked about the reasons people started piano lessons.

The most common response was "because I personally wanted to learn," at 46.8%.

This was followed by "for emotional development" at 25.2%, and both "due to encouragement from parents or grandparents" and "to acquire a foundation in music" at 21.6% each.

While the majority began due to personal interest, many also started because parents or grandparents chose piano as an extracurricular activity for emotional development or musical fundamentals. It appears that piano lessons are often initiated by a combination of a child's interest and family expectations.

79.9% Admit to Having Quit Piano

So, do those who started piano lessons continue today?

We asked whether respondents still play the piano.

The results showed that 20.1% continue, while 79.9% have quit.

This means about 80% of people eventually stop playing.

So, why did they stop?

We asked those who quit about their main reasons.

Main reasons for discontinuing piano:

・ Couldn't find the time. (Male, 20s)

・ Felt I lacked talent, so my motivation dropped. (Female, 20s)

・ Didn't get along with the teacher and started disliking playing. (Female, 30s)

・ Tuition is expensive; few piano schools nearby. (Female, 30s)

・ Became a university student and no longer had time to practice. (Female, 30s)

・ Stopped due to advancing to a new school. (Female, 40s)

From the responses, it's clear that many stopped due to life changes like advancing in education or shifting living situations, which made it hard to find practice time. Additionally, concerns about progress, teacher compatibility, high tuition, and limited access to piano schools also contributed to the difficulty of continuing.

41.4% Keep Unused Pianos at Home

After quitting piano, what happened to the instrument?

We asked former piano learners about the current status of their pianos.

The most common response was "not using it, but still keeping it at home," at 41.4%.

This was followed by "sold it" at 20.7%, "still using it at home" at 16.2%, "discarded or disposed of" at 10.8%, "gave it to someone" at 4.5%, and "other" at 6.3%.

Over 40% of respondents continue to keep their unused pianos at home.

This may be due to emotional attachment, making it hard to part with, or uncertainty about how to sell or dispose of the instrument, leaving it unused.

91.3% View Piano Resale and Reuse as a Good Option

Next, we asked how people feel about the option of "selling and reusing" a piano that has served its purpose.

The results showed that 49.6% think it's "a very good option," and 41.7% think it's "somewhat a good option," totaling 91.3% who view piano resale and reuse positively.

Meanwhile, 6.5% said "not very good," and 2.2% said "not good at all."

Over 90% of respondents view selling their unused piano for reuse by someone else as a positive choice. For pianos currently sitting unused at home, resale and reuse appear to be a strong option.

64.7% Say Free Appraisal and Shipping Are Key to Feeling Secure

Next, we asked what conditions would make people feel comfortable when considering selling a used piano.

The most common response was "free appraisal and shipping costs," at 64.7%.

This was followed by "having a clear estimate of the buyback price beforehand" at 54.0%, "no price reduction after appraisal" at 41.7%, and "having trustworthy information such as reviews and track record" at 40.3%.

Additionally, "receiving cash payment on the spot" was selected by 31.7%, and "other" by 3.6%.

When considering a sale, many prioritize not only the buyback price but also the absence of additional fees for appraisal and shipping. Transparency—such as knowing the price estimate in advance and assurance of no post-appraisal reduction—also contributes to a sense of security.

59.0% Most Value Free Appraisal and Shipping

Among the various conditions, which one is most valued?

We asked which of the following is most important when selling a piano: "free appraisal and shipping," "same-day cash payment," or "no price reduction after appraisal."

The most selected option was "free appraisal and shipping," at 59.0%.