Too Old To Start???

[burns_isaac]

First off, Im 25 years old. That being said, Im an electric player and a trombonist. I'm in school studying both instruments which is a very tuff juggle on its own. I cannot advance with a Jazz studies degree in Bass unless I become proficient at Double Bass Playing. I started playing Elec. 3 years ago studying under a private instructor and I'm at a level now where I can read Charts well, sight read decently, and am very familiar with my instrument. MY question is this: Do I have the time to begin learning the double bass and be prioficient at playing by the age of lets say 30? I do not want to be a hacker. If i do this thing I'm going to do it right and if anyone thinks I dont really have a chance at being as good as say someone who started playing upon entering college then I will take all advice. Please leave all comments. I have a teacher lined up who is a rediculous upright player hes no neils henning orsted peterson but hes good. Thanks for your time

[bigtiny]

Originally Posted by burns_isaac

First off, Im 25 years old. That being said, Im an electric player and a trombonist. I'm in school studying both instruments which is a very tuff juggle on its own. I cannot advance with a Jazz studies degree in Bass unless I become proficient at Double Bass Playing. I started playing Elec. 3 years ago studying under a private instructor and I'm at a level now where I can read Charts well, sight read decently, and am very familiar with my instrument. MY question is this: Do I have the time to begin learning the double bass and be prioficient at playing by the age of lets say 30? I do not want to be a hacker. If i do this thing I'm going to do it right and if anyone thinks I dont really have a chance at being as good as say someone who started playing upon entering college then I will take all advice. Please leave all comments. I have a teacher lined up who is a rediculous upright player hes no neils henning orsted peterson but hes good. Thanks for your time

Arbitrary time limits are meaningless when studying any art form, but I will say that there's no reason that starting at your age should have anything to do with you not being able to learn to play well by the time you reach a reasonable age.

Having said that, I will say that it requires talent, patience, hard work, tec. etc. etc.

bigtiny

[burns_isaac]

Yes time limits are meaningless. Sometimes i just feel that there is a certain age one must reach a level of ability to be successful but really who cares? I went back to school at the age of 24! Most people thought that was a crazy idea but I was already gigging around dallas with various jazz and latin groups playing trombone and electric so i figured why not give a formal education a go! I know I have the talent and most importantly an ear for intonation that drives me crazy sometimes. I guess I enjoy playing the trombone also and Ive been told that I need to devote 6 hours a day to the Upright to be successful. Well i devote 6 to 8 hrs a day to the electric and 2 to 3 to the trombone now so I guess there isnt a problem. Thanks man for the advice. I do appreciate it!

[OmnitzGarima]

I started playing bass seriously when I was 57.

My goal is to be better tomorrow than I am today.

[longfinger]

When I saw the title of the thread, I was prepared to read a story like this..

"So I'm 65 years old, and just retired. I've always wanted to play double bass, my story is ............. Am I too old?"

To which I would have said "No way, start now, and by the time you're 70 ..."

25 years old? I laugh at thee.
IMHO, the difference between 18 years old and 25 is irrelevant for music, and for double bass playing. It's not even significant to mention.

Since you already seem to know music, if you start physical DB playing now, and work smart, and hard, you could be proficient by the time your 26 or 27 and pretty darn good by the time your 30. Maybe quite better than that by then 23 year old you now worry about, though perhaps not quite as good as that by then 70 year you did not even consider. Though such comparisons to others are also essentially useless. :-)

The harder part is training the mind not the body.
You just have to make the time to do it. If in the next 5 years you plan to get married, have 3 kids and work full time at a money job, well, then it will be very hard to learn a new musical instrument. If however, in the next 5 years you plan to just study music, then you can become pretty darn amazing if you work smart and hard.

[BigOldHarry]

I'm 49 and I fully intend to get proficient at upright before I cash my check (I've owned one, had two and can hold my own - just not *good* at it!)

You can do it - 25! You're a freakin' kid!

good luck

[burns_isaac]

Wow thankyou guys so much for the advice. I seriously needed that encouragement. The music community needs more guys like you instead of these egotistical guys saying"Good luck learning now, you should just stick to one instrument and hope you make a living doing that." I whole heartedly appreciate all of your advice. Goodluck to you all in your journey to Greater Musicanship.

[Mesa]

When I was in my teens, I too played both the electric bass and the trombone. I laid off both instruments for a long time and came back to the electric a few years ago. Now, I've been studying the upright under the tutelage of an excellent teacher (note good players do not always make good teachers), and I can say that while I am a while from feeling gig-ready, my musical experience has made learning a new instrument much easier than I thought.
If your goal is to be a better musician, that might mean a different timeline than if your goal is to be out on gigs. Although I'm primarily interested in jazz on the upright, my teacher (a jazz player) has me working through the Simandl with the bow. I feel my musicianship growing weekly, but I'm moving toward performance readiness at a different pace than if I were looking to thump roots and fifths at my local blues jam.
I stated the primary goal of increased musicianship at the outset of my lessons, and my teacher is making sure I get there.

You already likely know the musical aspects of playing. You'll need help with the technique, and with the diligence you seem to possess, I can't see why you shouldn't be able to reach your goal.

[Thomas Stone]

I know you don't have 6 hours a day to play upright, but even if you did I would strongly discourage you from starting out that way.

by all means spend 6 hours studying all aspects of the bass, but I would keep the physical aspect on limited time to begin with.
Too much too soon is not the best policy. The muscles need to be conditioned and developed progressively rather than suddenly.

My other bit of advice in regards to starting is Do It!!

[atheos]

25? Don't make me laugh. I'm 26 and the only thing I'm too old for is Adam Lambert.

[waleross]

You have to center yourself around an established String Bass Teacher in your area. It is the only way .. Currently I don't play the instrument and don't even have one in my house only electric bass equipment. I started at age 25 after playing in rock bands on electric bass. My first teacher started me off the correct way so as not to develop bad habits. I am getting ready to purchase another String Bass and then go back to another Bass Teacher.....Good luck...

[hdiddy]

I started at age 30 and could barely play jazz as it were on other instruments. 6 years later I am finally enjoying what I produce.

Getting proficient is a function of putting X amount of time in, but it's also important to be smart about how you put that time in. If you focus and put the "intention" behind your practicing it will be alot more meaningful. Also if you're able to analyze and find out what etudes and learning styles work for you, that will help accelerate things.

Also, get a copy of Victor Wooten's "The Music Lesson" and read it. Highly recommended.

And yeah, can't repeat it enough: get a teacher!

[bigtiny]

Originally Posted by atheos

25? Don't make me laugh. I'm 26 and the only thing I'm too old for is Adam Lambert.

yeah, I wanted to give some constructive advice (which I did above) but hey, 25?!?!? I've got UNDERWEAR older than that! =:-)

bigtiny

[Marcus Johnson]

There are guys in this forum that have strings older than you.

Go git it.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by burns_isaac

Wow thankyou guys so much for the advice. I seriously needed that encouragement. The music community needs more guys like you instead of these egotistical guys saying"Good luck learning now, you should just stick to one instrument and hope you make a living doing that." I whole heartedly appreciate all of your advice. Goodluck to you all in your journey to Greater Musicanship.

burns isaac, I am by no means an expert on upright bass or music, but I have been playing EB for 27 years, have been a musician for 38 yrs, and just getting back into DB which I played on and off for only 2 yrs. I am 51 yrs old but I do not consider age to be what determines a persons ability to learn or achieve their hearts calling regardless of what anyone says. Those that would have you believe that you are to old are wrong, and those that like to view music as a competition are ignorant IMHO. Music is about conveying joy, love, and emotional feelings to other people. IMHO it is a higher form of communication that conveys all these emotions, and when done by those that possess that ability it is a powerful force. It is NOT a competition nor is there an age limit other than the lack of physical ability that everyone eventually faces at some point in their lives. Those people that think that anyone is too old to play music or become good or even great are usually brainwashed by the media to think life is over at 40. I assure you it is not. Do not worry or be concerned with your age. Trust me when I say you are what you believe in your heart. If you have God given talent you will develop it too its full potential provided you do the work at any age. I started flight training, college, and worked full time when I was 41. Today I am a flight instructor that has flown cargo planes,and have a B.S. in aeronautics so as you can see its all in your mind. Never ever let anyone tell you that your to old!

[lowdown_billy]

I started with the bass when I was 45. I'm... uh... older than that now and happily playing in two local bands. Had I not started playing when I was 45, I'd still be older anyway, but wouldn't have had the years of music-making fun with folks who are now my best friends.

You're never too old to fall in love. Go for it!

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Thomas Stone

Too much too soon is not the best policy.

Glad nobody told Scott LaFaro that.

[Thunderthumbs73]

Originally Posted by burns_isaac

First off, Im 25 years old. That being said, Im an electric player and a trombonist. I'm in school studying both instruments which is a very tuff juggle on its own. I cannot advance with a Jazz studies degree in Bass unless I become proficient at Double Bass Playing. I started playing Elec. 3 years ago studying under a private instructor and I'm at a level now where I can read Charts well, sight read decently, and am very familiar with my instrument. MY question is this: Do I have the time to begin learning the double bass and be prioficient at playing by the age of lets say 30? I do not want to be a hacker. If i do this thing I'm going to do it right and if anyone thinks I dont really have a chance at being as good as say someone who started playing upon entering college then I will take all advice. Please leave all comments. I have a teacher lined up who is a rediculous upright player hes no neils henning orsted peterson but hes good. Thanks for your time

You could be a decent upright bass player in 5 years time. Your current electric experience points to it. Whether you could become proficient? Who knows?


Don't come to the instrument (or any instrument or pursuit, actually) with the the expectation that I'm going to be X good or described by anyone I ask as X good by the time Y number of years have passed. Do it for the love. Or trust me, you WILL get burnt out of music school. Trust me on this one. Do the best you can. Let it be. Give it a year, honestly pursuing upright. See where it goes. Re-assess in a year. See if you actually enjoy whatever it is (say double bass) that you have to focus on to get the degree. If so, start year two. If not, there's your answer... And if you "lost" a year, then you lost a year.

[Thomas Stone]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Glad nobody told Scott LaFaro that.

Ha Yeah, but you know what I mean.

[dvh]

I started on upright 2 years ago (at 48 - played electric - and still do - since I was 19). I'm FAR from proficient, but I play it in a band that is popular locally, and I have fun.

Proficiency is a matter of degree and a life's work. Go forth fearlessly...