The study by music technology company ROLI also showed, over one in 10 (11%) say the infamous Freddy Krueger was less frightening than their childhood music teacher.
The research, which surveyed 1,500 UK adults found that over three-quarters (77%) of people felt anxious when preparing for performances or being examined on something they had learned at school.
Just under a quarter (24%) feared making mistakes, while 16% were intimidated by strict or intimidating teachers as children.
Over a third (35%) of people who took piano lessons as children admit they didn’t love them.
With this in mind, ROLI is turning childhood music lessons from a nightmare into a treat.
Using clever AI technology built into its piano system, ROLI can listen and watch as you play and respond in real time, offering guidance, encouragement, and personalised challenges, like having a friendly teacher who never shouts.
Traditional lessons can feel scary or uninspiring: 20% of adults described them as “boring” or “unmotivating,” and 11% found them intimidating.
With ROLI, piano practice becomes a fun, stress-free experience, tailored to each learner’s pace, helping people rediscover the joy of making music without the pressure.
When asked about the noises that trigger anxiety, Brits named childhood experiences as among the most distressing: An out-of-tune recorder (15%) ranked alongside some of the most unsettling sounds from their youth, along with nails on a chalkboard (33%) and a teacher shouting their name across a classroom (26%). In fact, nearly half (45%) of adults claimed that hearing these sounds today would still make them feel anxious or tense.
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Commenting on the findings, music psychologist Dr. Claire Renfrew said: “Traditional music education often creates lasting anxiety by linking creativity with judgment and pressure.
“Early learning environments can condition negative emotional responses that persist into adulthood.
“To foster healthier engagement, music education should be individualised, supportive, and intrinsically motivating, replacing fear with expression.
“Positive musical experiences enhance creativity, discipline, emotional well-being, and confidence, helping individuals sustain a lifelong, joyful relationship with music.”
37% of Brits also admitted to not feeling confident learning a new instrument as an adult.
But despite this, almost half (43%) agreed that learning an instrument as an adult would be more enjoyable if they were able to learn at home, at their own pace, in addition to having fun, familiar music pieces to practice (30%).
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The brand-new ROLI Piano & Airwave system, when integrated with the ROLI Learn App, allows people to learn from the comfort of their own homes, featuring a wide range of familiar songs to choose from, as well interactive lessons, exercises and games.
What’s more, to celebrate the spooky season, ROLI has unveiled a brand-new content series, created with animator Alex Benson – featuring real-life stories from people who have endured music lessons in their youth. You can watch the full series on ROLI’s YouTube channel.
ROLI spokesperson, Tom Ford commented: “The ROLI Piano & Airwave system redefines how people learn music.
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“Illuminated keys guide your playing, and Airwave’s ROLI Vision technology gives real-time feedback on posture and fingering, helping learners build good habits from the start — like having a teacher by your side.
“Practice becomes playful, personal, and confidence-boosting.”
With traditional instruments and teaching methods still haunting people decades later, ROLI is banishing fear from music once and for all, unlocking the joy of creativity for everyone.
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