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Is there a time when it IS too late to learn ?

#45
"Too late to learn" probably not, but much much harder to learn and maybe even to the point of not making it worth while to learn, yes.

Case in point, my eyesight. I decided to pick up bass playing as a hobby too late in life. My eyesight now requires fairly strong trifocal lenses to correct. Trying to learn to read sheet music was beyond difficult and I finally gave up on it. I still play but its mostly by ear and occasional tabs. Really wish I had learned to read sheet music earlier in life while I still had excellent vision.
 
#46
Timmah said:
Now, take this and apply it to music- does it happen the same way? Take Victor Wooten's approach to music as an example- he believes it to be a language just like any other system of human communication. Wooten hypothesizes that we should learn music and spoken word in the same way- by 'jamming' with people who are better than us. People don't put babies into a 'beginners class' and isolate them from other speakers. (WARNING: from hereon out I'm putting out nothing but conjecture) So according to Wooten's logic, music has a critical period. And why not? Other things- cats' eyesight and even birdsong have been scientifically proven to have critical periods.
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I attended Vic's camp in 2001. I came away from it with this. The only thing about Vic I enjoy more than listening to him play.... is listening to him TALK. That man is wise beyond his years. I have met and spent a little bit of time with his mother so I know where he got it from. (What an incredible spirit.) Vic also told me that he has learned some heavy metal and country music (as well as lots of other genres). Why? "Because I learn more from music that is NOT my favorite than from musical styles I have been playing for 20 years." I'm telling you, just about everything Victor Wooten says is something cool that I WISH I had thought of.

Sorry. I hope that wasn't a derail. But his thoughts on learning music just sparked me to weigh in on his overall "wisdom" towards things like this.
 
#47
You and Stevie Wonder should not regret having taken up music; sheet music is but one tool among many available.

GBassNorth said:
"Too late to learn" probably not, but much much harder to learn and maybe even to the point of not making it worth while to learn, yes.

Case in point, my eyesight. I decided to pick up bass playing as a hobby too late in life. My eyesight now requires fairly strong trifocal lenses to correct. Trying to learn to read sheet music was beyond difficult and I finally gave up on it. I still play but its mostly by ear and occasional tabs. Really wish I had learned to read sheet music earlier in life while I still had excellent vision.
Click to expand...
 
#48
Guitar player in my band started playing guitar 5 years ago for fun. He's pretty good now. He practices every day. Some people take to instruments faster than others.. regardless of age. But most young beginners take a while to get good as well.. I think as an adult we are not used to doing things we don't know, or are bad at.. we have less time to practice. If you do anytihng for 10,000 hours you'll become an expert at it.. Look up the book Outliers.. here is a quick article talking about it. Invalid Link Removed

From what I've seen, take a 57 year old man, have him practice 1-2 hours a day for 5 years, and you have the start of a pretty good guitar player. Tweens-teens can jam in way more hours than adults, and will get better faster because they play for more hours. Play Play Play Play Play and you will get better. It's a very good rule of thumb that almost always works.
 
#55
I spent the better part of my Navy career educating adults and just completed my MS in Education at the ripe "old age" of 45. Having read studies, written papers and completed courses about learning and education in general, I can tell you unequivocally that there is a "best" age range to learn as well as an "ok" age to learn but you are never to old to learn barring a physical limitation or mental limitation of some sort.

We all learn new information and remember/recall information easier when we are young but we also tend to lack a bit of drive and discipline that we develop during life and, hopefully, have when we are more mature. This drive and discipline can, but not necessarily will, make up for the difference in our learning ability.

Are you ever to old to learn? Not on your life! Studies are beginning to assert and show that keeping your brain healthy can, but not necessarily will, keep away brain related aging issues. How do you keep your brain healthy? Eat right, exercise and learn new "things". Language and music are learned in differing parts of the human brain. When we use the new or different parts of our minds, it helps keep the mind healthier as a whole. In addition, it links new areas of our brains to each other making our mind stronger and sharper.
 
#56
No, due to the fact that your mind and body need to stay active, so ANYTHING that keeps you active is good. Also just because you start later in life to play doesn't mean you can't be any good. Who cares what others may think, if you have fun AND can put the time into it, then it is NEVER too late.
 
#58
Age brings a whole different attitude and mindset.
At 58 I'm playing better (might be a touch of bias here!) and more than I have in 35 years of playing.
Quit school as a kid - went back, got HS and honors diploma at 35,found it interesting, couldn't sit still for that stuff as a kid.
Quit karate at 17 after 3 months (too much work, didn't feel like I "measured up"). Started Kung fu 2 1/2 years ago, have my blue, should have my black by the time I'm 60 - 61. Doesn't matter to me anymore whether I "measure up" or not, important thing is to do it!
Too old to learn? Not when you do it for the love or enjoyment of it!
 
#60
yes


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