Am I too old to start learning a new instrument?

Mrs_Arcanum

cwc100 wrote: »

I'm in my mid 20's and for the best part of my life I have wanted to learn to play violin. I am wondering whether at my age whether it will be too steep a learning curve to start learning now. I have no knowledge on sheet music. With tuition I have learned to play the guitar with tab music which I imagine is totally different, but I did find this difficult.

At the end of the day it does cost money to start learning a new instrument but I'm worried that I will get despondent if I find that Im struggling with the sheet music etc and thus will have wasted a lot of money.

I have looked at private tuition, but I'm wondering if there are other avenues such as group tuition or music groups run by local communities which are willing to take on an adult student. And as a beginner would I need the full hour tuition?

Try something like group keyboard lessons. The lady who used to teach my DD had clients ranging in age from 8 to 80.

Amanda2114

You're never too old.

I played the drums for years before deciding to take up the guitar.

niss_2

My sister just started to learn piano at the same age of you. That is just for entertaining, not to be a great pianoist. So, if you like violin, just go for it, and never give up so easily.

Venusflytrap

lynzpower wrote: »

Im 33 and I have in the last 6 months started to learn the guitar

1 year younger and started learning acoustic guitar 3 weeks ago at a college. It's challenging but I love the rush of new info and sensations, also the pleasure and contentment seeing myself progress in lil steps. Meeting new faces is a bonus too!

As a singer it is somewhat beneficial to support one's self with another instrument so i'm hoping that, with daily practice and determination, I will be accompanying myself (in public!) in about one year.

Strum on!

kyleleonard

When Sting first formed Police, he was 27 never too late.

Conrad

Never too old for sure. I took the decision to take up full music production seriously about 5 years ago and have recently had a couple of trakcs signed, one to a big label - anything is possible. Had been losely dabling since my teens though.

I love synthesizers and piano myself - can only play by ear though, just never got around to learning to read music. Synths have a spellbinding effect on me - from the very first time I heard one.

Guitar seems incredibly hard to learn for me - I've only dabled but so far I have this feeling you are either born to play or not, and I deffo do not seem to posses the right orientation for guitar.

If anyone ever has any production / mixing / technical studio type questions, always glad to answer.

nsbarker

I don't think anyone is ever too old to learn anything. Sure it might take you longer to master an instrument as 60 year old versus a 10 year old, but it's not a competition or race. It's about patience, determination and enjoying your new hobby. I say go for it!

McKneff

Ive just retired at 62 and I'm seriously thinking about learning guitar, once I get rid of this feeling that Im still on holiday.:D

Voyager2002

I agree with all the encouragement, and I don't think you should worry about learning how to read music. Once you start using sheet music it all seems very natural.

However: someone who starts learning the violin at a relatively advanced age is unlikely to reach the most advanced stages. This is because an enormous number of different little muscles are involved things like controlling the bow so that you make exactly the sound that you want to make, and the other ways in which a really advanced violinist expresses their feelings about the music they are playing. Training these little muscles is something that usually has to be done in childhood.

Another point: you mentioned that you played the guitar. Doing so toughens your fingers and makes your finger-tips lose sensitivity, which would reduce your ability to play the violin to a high standard.

These remarks apply equally to other string instruments (viola, 'cello, double bass). However, there is absolutely no reason why someone with sufficient talent could not start learning another instrument as an adult and achieve the very highest standards. The brass and woodwind instruments would be suitable for this, and I'm sure that there are others.

temba

Hello - I am a professional musician and wanted to encourage you to have a go! You aren't too late ever, and I know plenty of people who teach adult beginners violin. As Voyager2002 rightly said though, you are unlikely to ever get to a really advanced standard because you didn't start when you were little. The reason for this is that playing the violin is actually quite a physical thing. Just try standing with your left arm raised for 45 minutes (an average symphony) and you'll see how tiring it is! However, this really shouldn't put you off. There is no reason whatsoever why you can't make good progress. My advice to you would be to get the best teacher you can afford though, even if it means that you only have a lesson once every other week, or only half an hour. Yes, you probably can join a group lesson, or buy a DVD, but if you actually want to play rather than dabble then get private lessons! As a complete beginner and as an adult I doubt if you really need more than half an hour every week anyway, maybe even every other week. It is different for children, because they don't have the same focus. Also - I usually record my lessons - you get twice as much out of them that way because you forget so much between lessons.

As for forking out for music/instruments etc - just get a cheapo violin for now (you can progress onto the better ones when you know if you want to carry on) - there are some great brand new starter sets (violin bow and case), or go on freecycle (you never know) or ebay, and you don't really need to buy any music - there are so many free music sites on the internet, and any library with a music section will have the beginner books.

My strongest piece of advice to you is to get comfortable physically. No matter what anyone tells you, playing the violin should not be an awkward uncomfortable trauma position! You should try to be as relaxed as possible and everyone is different. You can learn alot when you are not actually holding it, just look in the mirror and mime, and see how relaxed you can be, then when you add the violin try to maintain this relaxed position.

Also check out https://www.violinist.com

Good luck!