At the age of 52, Ms Winnie Tong finally fulfilled her childhood dream of learning to play the piano when she signed up for classes at MacPherson Community Club.

As a child, she did not get the chance to learn as 'my parents were quite poor back then'.

When she grew up, the desire remained, but life intervened. 'After I got married, I was very busy raising my three children and juggling a full- time job, so I never really had a chance to learn the piano.'

In December last year, she finally took steps to realise her life-long desire to tinkle the ivories. The former legal secretary is also taking classes at the HMI Institute of Health Sciences.

Adults in Singapore are picking up beginner courses in such intricate skills as playing the piano and violin as well as ballet - lessons that are normally started during the formative years of childhood.

Ms Jacinta Lim, director of the lifeskills and lifestyle division at the People's Association (PA), could not give figures but says that 'increasingly, adults are signing up for such courses as they provide a wonderful avenue for physical and mental wellness and the opportunity to widen their social networks'.

The division oversees arts and learning courses in community clubs in Singapore.

Music schools Cristofori Music School and Yamaha Music School have also seen a steady increase in the number of adult students who are picking up piano for the first time.

Cristofori's general manager Koh Lee Ching says there has been a steady 3 to 5 per cent annual increase in the number of adult students in the past decade.

She says: 'Three years ago, we had an 80-year-old piano student, one of the oldest beginner students we have had so far. His learning attitude and commitment was a very positive influence on our other younger adult students - they hailed him as a role model.'

Yamaha's oldest piano student to date was an 86-year-old senior citizen.

Over at Singapore Dance Theatre, its dance school has seen a 30 per cent increase in the number of adults above 20 signing up for beginner ballet classes, while at dance company Jitterbugs Swingapore, 40per cent of its beginner ballet students are adults.

This is despite the fact that it can be difficult for adults to master some of the more nimble moves, which are easier to learn as a child.

Says Ms Lyana Wang, a public relations executive in the education and outreach department of the Singapore Dance Theatre: 'The biggest drawback is that adult students can no longer go 'en pointe', or tip toe, which brings out the essence of ballet. The most suitable age to go 'en pointe' would be from 12 to 14 years.'

Violin teacher Yan Yin Wing, a music director with the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra, says there are pros and cons to teaching adult students compared to his younger wards.

'While a mature student is adept at reading the music, learning, understanding and knowing the technique of playing the violin, there is a little struggle with finger dexterity that younger students overcome easily.'

Dr John Sharpley, a composer and pianist who has been teaching piano for 23 years, says more adults are turning to piano lessons because it engages their mind, body and soul.

'It's a very holistic activity. For people who discover this, it can be profoundly meaningful.

'It's quite a phenomenon. They don't necessarily perform for others and it's not about taking exams. It's purely personal.'

And while others might hit the gym, 32-year-old Anita Pearson finds that her beginner ballet classes do more than just help her realise her childhood ambition of being a ballerina.

'It's a good way of exercising. It makes my posture better and I am enjoying the sweat. I'm using muscles that I don't even know exist.'

This article was first published in The Sunday Times.