Complex sentence: She commenced piano lessons at age 5, and preferring to learn by ear rather than by conventional sight reading, she pursued the ABRSM Jazz Piano syllabus, obtaining her grade 5 qualification when she was 14.
Split into simpler sentences: She commenced piano lessons at age 5 when it soon became apparent she preferred to learn by ear rather than conventional sight reading. As a result she persued the ABRSM Jazz Piano syllabus and obtained her grade 5 qualification when she was 14.