Does this comment from my 'friend' actually have ANY merit?

Fassa Albrecht · #1 05-24-2009, 08:25 PM

He claimed that "unless you join a band in your 20s, you'll never be a musician".

I thought this comment rather ignorant at the time but as time went on I don't know what to think....

Anyone care to venture their opinion?

Pilgrim · #2 05-24-2009, 10:30 PM

It's not RATHER ignorant, it's ABSOLUTELY ignorant. He's probably fortified by the vast assurance of youth - that he is a great authority on things he actually knows nothing about. Age is not material, and people realize ambitions (and form new ones) at all ages.

But you knew this, Fassa, so thanks for posting it to give us a laugh!

paul_wolfe · #3 05-25-2009, 12:49 AM

IMO there's only one way to 'become a musician,' and that involves thousands of hours of study and the self discipline to keep doing it.

Age is irrelevant- you can start on this path at any age.

Joining a band is mostly irrelevant - most of the bands that I've played with have had little or no impact on developing my musicianship - they only impacted the application of my musicianship.

rcarraher · #4 05-25-2009, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

He claimed that "unless you join a band in your 20s, you'll never be a musician".

I thought this comment rather ignorant at the time but as time went on I don't know what to think....

Anyone care to venture their opinion?

No offense to your friend, but, yeah, ignorant says it pretty well.

basste · #5 05-25-2009, 01:03 AM

How old is he ?
- he's in his 20's, he joined a band so consider himself as a musician ?
- he's older, never joined a band so consider than if he didn't make it, nobody can ?

5StringBlues · #6 05-25-2009, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

He claimed that "unless you join a band in your 20s, you'll never be a musician".

I thought this comment rather ignorant at the time but as time went on I don't know what to think....

Anyone care to venture their opinion?

By this logic,all solo artists are not musicians..............

GeoffByrne · #7 05-25-2009, 02:44 AM

Nah - he's completely wrong - you need to join a band about 12......................

Deacon_Blues · #8 05-25-2009, 03:53 AM

In some ways I can see his point, but I agree it's a hugely ignorant/arrogant thing to say. It's definitely rewarding to play in a band / play with other musicians on regular basis (edit: as many as possible). Perhaps you won't learn very much about playing technique and such, but I think there is a lot to learn from playing with others that you likely won't learn on your own, things that distinct the average bedroom noodlers from the pros and semi-pros with years of experience. I'd hesitate to call that first group of people "musicians", but such a generalization is very hard to do. The term "musician" means at least to me someone with a broader musical knowledge, good playing skills, and some years of experience.

The age does not have much to do with it. With enough willpower and dedication, you can become a musician at any age, I believe. It only gets harder - not impossible - to learn when you're older.

i_got_a_mohawk · #9 05-25-2009, 05:18 AM

I joined a band in my teens, that explains why I suck

dave64o · #10 05-25-2009, 07:58 AM

I was in a band in my 20's. I sucked then and I still suck now.

So not only is he ignorant - he's wrong!

bggeezer · #11 05-25-2009, 09:44 AM

it doesnt matter how old you are. but it is important to join the right band , for personal development. You need to push yourself, and without a band one tends to play within oneself and not push the envelope. I used to use a pick exclusively, till I joined a band where i needed to develope finger style. I recently joined a sabbath covers band. My chops have improved about 300%... because they HAD to.

Fassa Albrecht · #12 05-25-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

It's not RATHER ignorant, it's ABSOLUTELY ignorant. He's probably fortified by the vast assurance of youth - that he is a great authority on things he actually knows nothing about. Age is not material, and people realize ambitions (and form new ones) at all ages.

But you knew this, Fassa, so thanks for posting it to give us a laugh!

He's actually older than me and supposedly a 'more experienced' musician.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul_wolfe

IMO there's only one way to 'become a musician,' and that involves thousands of hours of study and the self discipline to keep doing it.

Age is irrelevant- you can start on this path at any age.

Joining a band is mostly irrelevant - most of the bands that I've played with have had little or no impact on developing my musicianship - they only impacted the application of my musicianship.

Well this guy who said this is supposedly classically trained, and has a lot more experience. He's still mouthing off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcarraher

No offense to your friend, but, yeah, ignorant says it pretty well.

Yep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by basste

How old is he ?
- he's in his 20's, he joined a band so consider himself as a musician ?
- he's older, never joined a band so consider than if he didn't make it, nobody can ?

He's 27 (not that much older than me) and he's a 'solo musician'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5StringBlues

By this logic,all solo artists are not musicians..............

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffByrne

Nah - he's completely wrong - you need to join a band about 12......................

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

In some ways I can see his point, but I agree it's a hugely ignorant/arrogant thing to say. It's definitely rewarding to play in a band / play with other musicians on regular basis (edit: as many as possible). Perhaps you won't learn very much about playing technique and such, but I think there is a lot to learn from playing with others that you likely won't learn on your own, things that distinct the average bedroom noodlers from the pros and semi-pros with years of experience. I'd hesitate to call that first group of people "musicians", but such a generalization is very hard to do. The term "musician" means at least to me someone with a broader musical knowledge, good playing skills, and some years of experience.

The age does not have much to do with it. With enough willpower and dedication, you can become a musician at any age, I believe. It only gets harder - not impossible - to learn when you're older.

This is my point exactly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I joined a band in my teens, that explains why I suck

I'm sure that's not true...!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave64o

I was in a band in my 20's. I sucked then and I still suck now.
So not only is he ignorant - he's wrong!

LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by bggeezer

it doesnt matter how old you are. but it is important to join the right band , for personal development. You need to push yourself, and without a band one tends to play within oneself and not push the envelope. I used to use a pick exclusively, till I joined a band where i needed to develope finger style. I recently joined a sabbath covers band. My chops have improved about 300%... because they HAD to.

This is pretty much what happened to me. Playing in a worship band meant I went on a STEEP learning curve- I had to learn a lot of theory which I'd never bothered with before, plus stuff like improvisation, transposition and reading sheet music

ggunn · #13 05-25-2009, 11:17 AM

What is a "musician", anyway? It's a continuum from anyone who picks up an instrument to the likes of Perlman, Segovia, and Casals. Sure, getting into a band will speed up your development along some lines, but so will going to a conservatory, getting a virtuoso to mentor you, or just spending a lot time woodshedding with your instrument. Musicianship is a direction, not a destination, and there are many paths to choose from. My dad was a fairly decent banjo player, and he didn't start playing until he was in his 40's.

Stumbo · #14 05-25-2009, 11:48 AM

Don't let others define you. For some reason your friend takes pleasure in putting down others to make himself feel good.

If you enjoy playing basketball (at whatever level) are you a basketball player?

Just have fun, keep playing and have a nice life.

Maybe you need to change friends?

megadan · #15 05-25-2009, 01:07 PM

If you want to be a successful, famous rock star (something 96% of us will never achieve), then yes, you have to start a band in your 20's.

If you just want to play in a band, then obviously you can start at any age you want! I've lot's of people come on Talkbass to say "I'm 54 years old and I just picked up the bass." Power to ya!

Fassa Albrecht · #16 05-25-2009, 01:37 PM

I need new friends...

dave64o · #17 05-25-2009, 02:10 PM

Now you're thinking clearly. Seriously, who needs friends like that?!

Fassa Albrecht · #18 05-25-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave64o

Now you're thinking clearly. Seriously, who needs friends like that?!

Seriously, I feel an inch small now...

COOL AND DEADLY · #19 05-25-2009, 02:24 PM

I have a friend that asked why I would try to pick up an instrument at 32. Six years later it's the best thing I ever did. I don't think I'll ever "make it", but I do think I may someday just play and teach bass for a living.

ggunn · #20 05-25-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadan

If you want to be a successful, famous rock star (something 96% of us will never achieve), then yes, you have to start a band in your 20's.

You think that 4% of us will become famous rock stars? I think you are overstating it by at least three orders of magnitude.

I was in my first band at 18, 16 if you count the folk singing duo. That was 36 bands ago and I'm still not a rock star. What went wrong?