Should an old guy take up the violin?

[dwpc]

I'm going on 55 and would like to learn the violin. I played the guitar as a kid, and later the bagpipes (don't ask!) but my musical abilities were never spectacular. I have my fathers old violin and bow, Chicago-made around 1895, and have been told by a couple professionals that its a pretty good instrument. I'd love to be able to play simple classical pieces. Some of my favorites are the Lanner waltzes as recorded by the Biedermeier Ensemble. I'd love to hear opinions from other "late bloomers" or teachers.

[oldgeezer]

Old? You’re not old. I’m ten years older than you are and I’m not too old yet. Occasionally I’m painfully reminded that guys my age shouldn’t do things like ride skateboards but fiddle playing isn’t in that catagory.

[AJ]

It's never too late 'til you're dead. There are a lot of late-starters on this board, myself included and the only thing standing in your way is not getting started. Now!

[HVS]

If you want to take up the violin, YOU MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD!!!

I'm sure you know all the great qualities of a violin, but there are no such restrictions against "old" people starting the violin...everyone should try if they want to, no matter what age they are

[lynzi]

Okay, so I just turned 18, but I think you should go for it. I love listening to older people play the fiddle ! Whats the harm in staring now? And with your ability to play other instruments you should start to catch on quickly.

Being able to play the fiddle is a wonderful talent and I congratulate anyone who is willing to try it. It is such a beautiful instrument. I wich you tons of luck and hope that you start to play!!!

[crystal]

My friend/teacher just took on two men in their 70's. They are just as serious as a heart attack about learning!

[Desert Rat]

Should an old guy take up the violin?

Yes, he should.

[Guest]

More than anything else!!!!!!!!

Good luck with the fiddle!!!!

nothing is like self motivation

[Pegster]

I'm in the same age bracket. Starting playing violin about a year ago. It is wonderfully rewarding and challenging.

I'm enjoying it even more than I thought I would. I'm also finding it more difficult that I thought I would. I'm finding that just because you are committed and bright doesn't mean you'll be able to play lovely music in a short time. But as I reach each milestone I can really savor the accomplishment.... and each milestone gets me closer and closer to the goal of playing lovely music.

[fiddlin]

Absolutely!! Go for it!!

[picfiddle]

Absolutely. I started two years ago at age 60. Its absolutely wonderful. I wasted 20 years after knowing that I wanted to do this, believing the old wives tale that one has to start as a child. Don't waste any more time start today.

[Elaine]

This question reminds me of a friend of mine in law school. He started law school at age 54, and he had been very concerned about whether or not he should do this. After all, he would be 57 when he graduated. Then, of course he realized, that God willing, he would be 57 in three years whether he went to law school or not.

He is now doing wonderful work with abused and delinquent children.

Elaine

Norman, OK

[Ann]

My thought- if you think you're too old, you probably are. You will notice that none of the people who are posting consider themselves too old, but actually in prime of life, for playing violin or I bet for anything else. You have everything going for you that you need- you have a nice instrument, a strong desire, and the time. You sound like a young buck to me, so go to it!!!

[FiddlinJim]

You have a choice, you can either learn to play (despite your advanced years! ) or you can be one the people who just sit in thier rockers and lament that they never learned to play. Doesnt sound like much of a choice to me! So pick up your fiddle and get started! Dont wait! Start learning today! This is a limited lifetime offer!

A lot of people start playing violin when they are older. My father was in his seventies when he started cello and he plays fairly well. If he can do it so can you! So get going already!!!

FiddlinJim

[Yana]

It's never too late to learn an instrument. It's always a fun and challenging to start learning a new instrument. After learning for a year or so, try joining an orchestra and you should improve dramatically.

[Andrew Victor]

I think you will face a few problems starting at age 55 that are different than a kid would have. But I also think that from age 18 or 20 on, it does not make much difference when you start. If arthritis gets in you way sometimes, well that would still happen if you'd been playing for the past half-century anyway. Shake it out ant take an Aleve.

I think you should try to find a sympathetic teacher (perhaps one bearing a few more years even than you) who can appreciate the reduced flexibility of someone your age. This will help you avoid making painful errors all alone.

One can certainly get the knack of it and continue to improve well past your current age. The only people who don't improve as they get older are the ones who reached their personal peaks early on. For me, my violin dexterity probably peaked 20 years ago or so (in my mid 40s) after about 40 years of steady playing. My cello peak has yet to be reached, after now after about 50 years of on-and-of-again playing. Steady playing the past year is creating real improvement. (A lot of it is due to brain and will power.)

Andy

[Jed]

I started Violin at 55years and have never looked back.I can,t imaging my life with out the pleasure of music.This might sound corney to some but it pulled me out of a tragic loss of a son into a world of joy to share a common interest with other musicians.I have advanced to a level now that I am playing with a Community Orchestra and various other functions.I can only add that you should go for it.Take same quality lessons to get you started.Good luck to you. Bye the way I am now 64 and now have taken on the challenge of learning the Alto Sax and it is know -where as hard to learn as the violin my first love.

Cheers Gerry .

[mrmojo]

Of course!

I think the most important issue is: "what does it mean to you?" If playing the violin means a lot to you, you'll be motivated and find ways to grow--at any age.

[mthss]

Answer the commonly asked question -- "Where do I want to be in five years?"

If you start now you won't have to look back with regret and say: "Why didn't I do it five years ago." or "I lost five years of my life that I could have been playing." or "If only I had started five years ago just think how good I might be today."

Get the picture?

Do it now...you won't have to regret that you did'nt later.

[VirtuosoWannaBe]

This is exactly right! I'm younger than you, but I put off learning the violin for years, even when I had inherited a student violin. It was one of those things I intended to do, but never got around to. I started lessons in October of last year, and I so wish that I had started five years ago (or maybe longer back than that). I love it. It has added a whole new dimension to my life. I am usually excited to go home from work and practice!

I am currently teaching piano lessons to a woman in her mid-fifties. She struggles like crazy with learning the piano, but each week she progresses further than she was the week before (if she practices). Sure, we're not five years old and flying through the methods books as fast as we can, but who cares?

I think adult students of a musical instrument have a unique perspective that younger children do not. First of all, we're paying for it, so we want it to be worth our money. Second of all, it takes time, and time is valuable, so we want to make it worth our time. Third, we usually have a desire from within because no one is setting an egg-timer for us and making us practice! I have to echo the other comments on this post: Go For It!

I wish you much success, and I hope you find that you enjoy learning the violin as much as I have.

Meredith

quote:

---

Originally posted by mthss:

Answer the commonly asked question -- "Where do I want to be in five years?"

If you start now you won't have to look back with regret and say: "Why didn't I do it five years ago." or "I lost five years of my life that I could have been playing." or "If only I had started five years ago just think how good I might be today."

Get the picture?

Do it now...you won't have to regret that you did'nt later.

---

[stephen redrobe]

Dear dwpc,

please let me relate a little story:-

In about 1985 I received a call from a gentleman along the following lines:- Mr Redrobe, your reputation precedes you but are you prepared to help me?. I am 59 years old and would love to learn the violin. I have been playing the clarinet for fifteen years. My ambition is to take early retirement from work at the age of 63 and to spend what years are left to me playing early quartets by Haydn and Mozart with my friends.

He achieved his ambition and did exactlty this (unfortunately, in dear Ralph's case, he died within months of his retirement - a thing which haunts me to this day). However I hope this proves to you that it is NEVER too late.

Your's sincerely,

Stephen Redrobe,

European teaching assistant to Prof. Erick Friedman, Yale University, USA (the only ever protege of Heifetz and disciple of Milstein). www.stephenredrobe.com

[MrWoof]

The answer is yes. Don't wait another minute get thee to some lessons.

Good luck you will do just fine.

Regards,

Don Crandall

[Candace]

My great aunt took up sculpting at 103. She was pretty good, too. She had taken up painting in her 90's and was a passable painter. It was the desire to constantly learn new things and grow that doctors think helped her keep both health and mind intact till she finally did pass away at 107.

[viridian]

Greetings, friends!

At least, you all feel like friends to me because I've been lurking here for about a year, picking up great information about violin set-up, bows, rosin and the like. I began taking violin lessons along with my son, who quit recently. I was fortunate to find a very understanding, encouraging teacher who teaches piano, voice and violin to students of all ages. I am taking a piano lesson with her every week. Yes, I am struggling, but there are advantages that come with age: for one thing, I ask questions! Do it, and don't look back.

Good luck, dwpc!

[bonsai]

Let me join the chorus of encouragement! The musical 'love-of-my-life' has been the piano since age 4. I tried picking up the violin at 27 (10 years ago) in support of my daughter's Suzuki lessons, to no avail; it just didn't 'grab me'. Then last year, it just hit me like a ton of bricks; I had to learn the fiddle. Eight months later (averaging 2-3 hours a day practice), I derive so much joy from my fiddle, it's hard to describe it! Looking back, I have to say, I don't think I was ready to start at 27.

One more quick point, my teacher is a 3 time national junior Cape Breton fiddle champ (at the ripe old age of 17) yet despite astonishing technical savvy, he doesn't play with the emotional depth that will eventually come with more life experiences behind him. You have that already.

-bonsai