Can a 35 year old man learn how to plan an insturment well?

Question

Even if he has no prior musical training.

Answer 1

First of all, yes, it is very possible. I have met so many adults over the years as a music teacher who say they wish they would have taken up this instrument or that instrument. But they sigh and move on because they believe that it's too late for them to learn. How wrong they are?!

It is possible, but there are also some realities about learning a musical instrument that one needs to be aware of.

First, it is a time commitment. The student gets out of it what they put into it. The more you practice, the faster you learn. The less you practice, the slower you learn. If you have a very busy lifestyle, you may want to consider that. But then again, I know from personal experience that a person will make the necessary changes and sacrifices if the goal means enough to them. (If you really want to learn an instrument, you find a way to find the time.)

Second, there is the learning curve to consider. Becoming a musician is a life-long endeavor. Being a musician is a lifestyle choice. When I teach children (whether very young children or teenagers) I have to understand their goals and their reasons for being in a music class (usually - and often in this order - to have fun, hang with their friends and thirdly, to make music). As the saying goes, I have to give them lots of carrots along the way to get them to the final goal of making music. And so it is a slower process, but, provided I give them good guidance, also one that will give them much enjoyment along the way.

With adults it can be a challenging experience for the student. Patience is the biggest obstacle. An adult student must learn to take smaller steps at first, in order to have the bigger pay-off later. Again, from personal experience, I know that adults aren't always the most patient people - mostly because of that time commitment thing.

So you have to take it slow. Work on fundamentals for at least 6 months( maybe even longer). Then gradually start more difficult patterns and songs. Here is what I am talking about:

Step 1) Decide on the instrument and find a qualified teacher in your area to help you learn. They have knowledge that you seek and surely know of the obstacles you will be facing (each instrument has different difficulties) and how to help you through them.

Step 2) Learn to read music - the notes on the staff (including sharps, flats and naturals) and the rhythms (preferably using a number system - ie. 1, 2, 3, 4 for the downbeats or quarter notes, "&" for the upbeats or eighth notes, in this fashion:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & - tapping your toe on the numbers only while you clap and say the whole thing.

Step 3) Learn where the notes are on your instrument - how do you play low notes, and how do you play high notes.

Step 4) Be realistic - it's one thing to want to play the cello like Yo-Yo Ma, it's quite another to get there. set small goals for yourself, ones that will give you satisfaction and keep you on the path of eventually achieving the big goal.

Step 5) Follow these five steps to learn any song:

1 - rhythms: learn how to clap and count (preferably a number system) the rhythms of the music

2 - notes: learn how to clap and say (using the same rhythms as step 1, just substituting letters for the numbers) the pitches of the music.

3 - fingerings/slide positions: every instrument (except the trombone which uses slide positions) has to be fingered in some way to produce the notes. Say the letters as in step 2, substituting the clapping for the actual fingerings (or slide positions) for each note.

4 - play the song! by this time you have prepared enough to actually play what you have been clapping and saying. If you are playing the piano, you already started playing during step 3. congratulations!

5 - make music: in order to fully express an idea through the abstract art of music, the musician manipulates things like volume, speed, attack, release, etc. to convey his or her interpretation of the music. Step 5 is the final goal to achieving the major goal of learning to play an instrument. Congratulations are in order when you reach this step!


A bit long-winded of an answer, but it really is this simple, yet it is also this complex!

Good luck
VT

Answer 2

I learned to play the mandolin at 32... and it was much easier than when I learned to play the guitar at 21....

I think you get better at what you do...

If you start now and pratcie eevrday (essential) you can learn to play quite well in three years... in fact, you will be able to play professionally in some cases....

I play guitar, piano, saxophone, mandolin, dulcimer and bass guitar... for the last two and a half years I have been studying jazz guitar and I am FINALLY making some progress... I am 56 years old...

good luck and rock on!!!

Answer 3

Why not? Practice makes perfect no matter how old you are, and at age 35, you might be a little more disciplined then the average 10 year old! Go for it!!

Answer 4

Anyone at any age can play an instrument well if they have the time and dedication to put in. I am currently teaching piano to a 55 year old and she is progressing extremely quickly.

Answer 5

Yes, but you will have to practice more than you would as a child because the older you get, the worse you remember things. You would have to make sure you put time aside for practicing each day. Good Luck! ^_^

Answer 6

You can if you want to enough. It takes committment to do
anything well. I think when someone learns to play a
musical instrument they are adding joy to the world. Music
is a flowing river of beauty to those that love it. I do!!
Best of Luck.

Answer 7

A thirty five year old man can learn to do anything well. It's only thirty five..you could probably learn that instrument at sixty five but why wait?

Answer 8

If you put your heart to it... yes... it kind of depends on the instrument, but you can do it if you really want. Also... it depends on what kind of music you want to play... but most of all.. you should enjoy the learning process, and don't care what the result will be. If you love the instrument, and if you love playing it.. it will get you where you want to be.

Answer 9

Sure it is not to late to learn

Answer 10

Sure! Never too late!