Picking up an Instrument Later in Life

December 16, 2007 11:34am CST
Do you think you have to learn to play a musical instrument while you're a kid, or is it possible to pick it up later? I've always wanted to learn to play the piano but my parents never encouraged me to play anything whilst I was a kid so I never learned. Do you think it will be harder as an adult to start from the beginning?
2 people like this
15 responses
@teison2 (5921)
• Norway
16 Dec 07
I think it is harder to learn as an adult, but I do not think it is impossible. If you really want to learn how to play the piano - go for it. You have nothing to loose. Good luck
1 person likes this
17 Dec 07
Thank you for the encouragement! My partner has a piano, but it's at his mother's house. When we own a home of our own and if there's room, we'll get it moved in. I think it's an opportune time if I want to learn. My partner plays beautifully, but I don't think it's a good idea for him to teach me. He has little patience!
@teison2 (5921)
• Norway
17 Dec 07
I agree that it would probably be best if someone other than your partner teaches you. I would go to a professional teacher at least for a few lessons when you first start to learn. If you just learns the proper technique and the basics it will be much easier to get to be a pretty good player. :-)
1 person likes this
@Ambitiouz (200)
• United States
12 Jul 08
I realize this discussion was started awhile ago but I will respond anyways. I have a strong desire to learn to play piano. I started taking lessons when I was in middle school and then quit because I felt like the cost of the lessons was a burdern for my parents. I think I started up again in high school and quit for the same reason. I didn't even practice much, so I eventually stopped. I regret it now, because if I had stuff with it even after the second start, I would be a decent player by now. I do feel discouraged about trying to learn again now that I am almost 24. But learning to play is one of my life goals, simply for the enjoyment and satisfaction of being able to play. Now I am in college and dnt have the time to dedicate to lessons, but my goal is to teach myself as much as I can and then when the time allows, sign up for lessons again.
1 person likes this
12 Jul 08
Well I certainly hope you get the chance to pick up your lessons again. Good luck and thanks for responding!
@lbinkley (1075)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I think it is harder to learn anything new as an adult, but it definitely isnt' impossible. If you really put your mind to it, you can learn. It won't come natrually and you will probably have to work at it, but you can learn! You just never know what you are capable of until you do it. I myself want to learn how to play the guitar. We'll see if it ever happens! lol!
1 person likes this
5 Jan 08
My housemate plays the guitar and it looks so hard that I've never thought of giving it a go myself. I'm sure people don't always play from children though, so it must be possible to learn. I hope you manage it! In 6 months time, if my partner and I manage to get our own home, he'll be moving his old piano from his mother's house to our home. With it right there I suppose I don't have any excuse not to learn. I won't let him teach me though. I think that might damage our relationship! *lol*
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
17 Jul 08
Well of course kids pick new things up much easier than adults. Their brains are cleaner slates than grown ups. Don't let that stop you. Anyone can learn anything at any age. It may be a little harder but if you have a passion for it, you will be able to do it. Nothing works better than practise. Practise makes perfect is one of the most overused sayings but that is because it is true. I say go for it!
1 person likes this
@raydene (9871)
• United States
16 Dec 07
That old saying ' can't teach an old dog new tricks' is WRONG... We are never too old to learn new things and if we keep learning daily our brain works better..Use it or you loose it..like many other things! xoxoxo
1 person likes this
18 Dec 07
I do Sudoku and logic puzzles to try and keep my brain ticking over. I also read a lot, but an instrument would certainly provide a great new challenge! I've always wondered how you can train your hands to do two different things at the same time! I've never been good at multi-tasking!
• United States
17 Jul 08
I believe it is all about your mind set. If you want to learn you will learn. I think people doubt themselves and that makes it harder to learn. I have learned so much as an adult, that I belive anything is possible.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan 08
I think with music either you have the talent or you don't, as a child I remember the awful music lessons we had and how the teacher used to laugh at me because I couldn't play the recorder. I was put off music at a very young age, I would have loved to have played the piano or any musical instrument, but I didn't have the acumen and we didn't have the money then. I don't think even as an adult I could learn, I guess I am not musically minded. It depends on the individual rather than being an adult.
@spoiled311 (5500)
• Philippines
12 Jan 08
hi there! well i will share my story. when i was in grade school, i think grade 2, i was tutored in piano by a neighbor who was a music teacher. she said i caught on well. however, i had to stop after a few sessions because my father lost his job and we could no longer afford to pay her fee. although it wasn't much, it was already an unecessary expense for a family whose father became jobless. anyway, when i became a professional and could affor tutorial, i enrolled in keyboard lessons. sadly, despite a year of training, i could not really identify the melodies by ear and even with a copy, i still make mistakes keying in the chords. sigh...i guess i am not into music after all. so i guess that answers your question...it is indeed harder when you are older. God bless and take care! :-)
1 person likes this
@h_gaurd9 (986)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Nope, its never to late to learn a play an instrument, just as long as you show some dedication, commitment, and most importantly, enjoy playing and love what you're doing! It will have to be FUN or it simply won't be done. It won't make it easier or harder to learn an instrument whether you're 8 or 80 years old. Most people especially need to dismiss the idea in order to play music, you must start really young. It couldn't be further from truth. Many kids take piano lessons, but 90% end up hating it and quit! I've been involved in music most of my life, starting at age 5 from playing the piano keyboard then taking on chorus, playing the trumpet, and guitar when I was 9(loved it!). Cool right? Well, I never really had any lessons, but I was the keyboard player of the band that my dad started along with my 3 sisters(a vocalist, guitarist, & bassist) and my brother who was the drummer. Well, it wasn't successful and we stopped! I'm what some people call gifted in playing music by ear. I didn't like chorus, but I stayed with band up until 8th grade. I moved to a different state as well, from New York to Florida and I started school 4 weeks later than everyone else did. Well, needless to say, I stopped playing the piano when I was in middle school, didn't continue music in high school, and my main interest at that time was more on computers(plan on majoring in Information Technology). I was when I was 16 years that I discovered music in a new way and took on the interest of playing the piano again. So that same year from 2006-2007, I decided I wanted to become a music producer and started to learn the piano. I don't know how for whatever reason, but one day back in 11th grade I was sitting in algebra class and decided to take out my agenda book and started sketching out what my studio would like in the future. It had a piano, two speakers, and a mixer all sitting on my desk. It made me want to get started playing again! Well, thanks to my solid musical background, I'm now able to play the keyboard on level 5(that being the highest?) and I'll be 18 soon. My family is utterly amazed at how well I can play! Bottom line is, if you're passionate about it, age won't make a difference. After all, you're only 24. It's still possible for this age group to become concert-level pianists! Just practice, practice, practice, and make it FUN! Good luck and God bless!
5 Jan 08
Thanks, that's really encouraging. I really enjoy singing so I can't be all that music deficient. I'd quite like to take singing lessons as well. I think I'll look into it now.
@h_gaurd9 (986)
• United States
6 Jan 08
Thank you for rating me the best response! You will become a great vocalist! Good luck on your journey!
• United States
12 Jul 08
Personally what ever you set your mind too you can do, even as an adult. I know that's a really cheesy and silly statement but it's true. I think it's easier to learn a new instrument when you are younger and your brain is still developing (when it is acting more like a sponge, soaking in all of the knowledge). Most of all it takes discipline and how much you really want to learn how to play. I play the trumpet and violin, which I learned both when I was a kid. I would like to at some point learn how to play the tenor saxaphone, piano, bass, drums, and guitar. I only played the violin for a year, so it's unfair to say that I actually learned it, so I would like to learn how to play the violin better.
1 person likes this
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
17 Dec 07
I think it's great to be able to play an instrument and, most important, acquire a musical education. When i was about 14 years old I had to choose what i wanted to do after class. Options were playing Badminton and going to guitar classes. Sports won, and i don't repent..i ended up going to the National Championships and sports are healthy, but I wish i had learned to play the guitar too. Anyway, one can't have it all hehe.
18 Dec 07
Would you consider learning now? It's more difficult to find time, but would you give it a shot?
@shakeroo (3986)
• Malaysia
16 Dec 07
I have always wanted to play the guitar when I was a kid but never got the chance since my parents could not afford to send me to a music class. Now, I can afford a music class but I simply do not have the time to attend one. LOL!
17 Dec 07
Oh that's a shame. I hope things clear up soon so that you have the time you want to get started.
• Estonia
13 Jan 08
I started to learn guitar seriously only when I was 17, and many kept telling me that it is too late, but I did not give up, and after some years I even managed to start my own band. So, it is never late to learn playing. I even remember that somebody told me about a man who took a guitar in his hands in his 40s, and now he plays gigs and earns money from this...do not remember his name.
• United States
4 Jan 08
It's harder to learn as you get older, but, it can be done. I know a lady who started learning the piano in her 50's and she is very good now. I am in my 40s and I just started singing lessons. I can play guitar and some piano, but, my singing always sucked. So, I go once a week. I also see people my age at the same place learning guitar. It comes down to desire. If you want to learn and are prepared to practice, then go for it.
5 Jan 08
Thank you. I think I will! I really enjoy singing too and I'd like to take lessons to improve myself. Have the lessons helped you so far?
7 Jan 08
I'd really like to learn all that. The main problem is that singing lessons seem to be so very expensive. Maybe this year things will pick up for us enough financially that I can get lessons.
• United States
7 Jan 08
Yes they have. I wouldn't say I am a good singer, but, I am better than when I started. The big thing for me was that I learned when and how to breath correctly, singing in the correct key for me and shaping my mouth so that the words coming out sound correct.
@trinale (1479)
• United States
16 Dec 07
Most defintely!! About a year ago, I had a strong desire to learn to play the guitar. I bought an acoustics and electric guitar to play around with. Both are sitting on display now. For some things, it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks! Ed