Tomorrow is not promised.

[Deleted member 165050]

From time to time, I have questioned why I am making a serious effort to study Bass as an older person. Today, however, a thought came to my mind: Jimmy Blanton; Scott Lafaro; Jaco Pastorius; Oscar Pettiford; Doug Rauch; did not know their lives would be short. They just got the most out of the time they had. That should be my approach, whether I have ten days or twenty-five years left to play.

I was over 50 when I took up cello and got from nothing to passing classical grade 5 in under 2 years - I put that down to being more disciplined about learning now I'm older. My dad's vicar took up violin when he retired at 70 and got to grade 8! I'm going to do bass guitar grades sooner or later (even though I've been playing self-taught since age 13), already got the books. There's no point to this kind of study when you're older except it keeps your mind active and gives you goals and that's enough for me.

 

[40Hz]

They're the cards we're dealt.

They are indeed. And it’s the only game in town. You play the hand you’re dealt - or you fold and leave the table. And it seems neither one of us is about to fold, or quit the game.

 

[oldandbold]

Like many here, I'm a cancer survivor, but for me, it was two times. In late 2018, at 68 I picked up my first bass. I learned and practiced hard all of 2019, expecting 2020 to be my break out year. Join a band, have some fun, hopefully, play some gigs. then Life took a twist, and we know how the year went.
Did I quit? Did I say I'm too old? No, I kept right on playing, mostly by myself to Chordify songs, occasionally jamming with a guitar player, and waiting for things to lighten up. Playing music is one of the things that can make you feel young inside, no matter your age, and I won't stop 'til I drop.

 

[retslock]

From time to time, I have questioned why I am making a serious effort to study Bass as an older person. Today, however, a thought came to my mind: Jimmy Blanton; Scott Lafaro; Jaco Pastorius; Oscar Pettiford; Doug Rauch; did not know their lives would be short. They just got the most out of the time they had. That should be my approach, whether I have ten days or twenty-five years left to play.

I had a time in my 60s when I thought there wasn’t much point to investing money into gear anymore, I won’t be around much longer. I had a heart scare for a while and was really worried for year or so wondering if I was going to drop dead anytime. It was no way to live. A successful operation has set me right and I’ve since tossed that old attitude aside. I bought a new amp and I’m building myself a new bass. Whatever time I have left will be lived as well as possible. The truth is, you could get hit by a bus anytime young or old so just go for it and do the things you want to do.

 

[Outbush]

I say if it gives you pleasure just do it, many of us are not destined to be great but it doesn’t matter, the joy of playing is for everyone.

When you're with your band and everyone is grooving away, even better when you're playing out and people are up and dancing; then you are great and the band is great and the shared human spirit is great too. That's what we do and it is no more and no less important if the audience numbers one (an audient) or a thousand

 

[BassChuck]

Why give up on anything that could be taken away?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Why give up on anything that could be taken away?

A case in point, maybe?

Man builds guitar out of his dead uncle’s skeleton, uses it to play black metal | Guitar World

Tomorrow is not promised.
Neither is a peaceful rest, apparently.
:Ol

 

[glocke1]

From time to time, I have questioned why I am making a serious effort to study Bass as an older person. Today, however, a thought came to my mind: Jimmy Blanton; Scott Lafaro; Jaco Pastorius; Oscar Pettiford; Doug Rauch; did not know their lives would be short. They just got the most out of the time they had. That should be my approach, whether I have ten days or twenty-five years left to play.

I've been playing and studying off and on for more years than I care to mention, but Im probably around your age. If Im being honest with myself, for most of that time I was really just a glorified hack. Yeah, I had gigs and bands and some of those were actually pretty cool but at the end of the day I wasn't really doing anything but faking it.

Than roughly 2-3 years ago I enrolled in some jazz workshops at NYJA and really had an eye opening experience as to where my ability level was or rather wasn't.

Long story short, I am lucky that I had a thick enough skin to withstand the criticisms of the instructors there as well as the more advanced players which was at times brutally honest. It motivated me enough to seek out private instruction once more and I lucked out and got turned onto a great teacher via this forum and as a result I've improved more in a year and a half of working with that person compared to the decades of previous playing.

Progress is slow, and often times I have to break up the lesson I am assigned that week into smaller segments due to my work schedules and the fact that I am just a slow learner, but I am still making progress. Honestly at this point, I am doing this just for myself. At this point reality has set in for me and I have no delusions about where my bass playing will take me. It's an entirely personal growth thing. I'd be good staying in the living room playing along to albums at this point in my music "career".

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I've been playing and studying off and on for more years than I care to mention, but Im probably around your age. If Im being honest with myself, for most of that time I was really just a glorified hack. Yeah, I had gigs and bands and some of those were actually pretty cool but at the end of the day I wasn't really doing anything but faking it.

Than roughly 2-3 years ago I enrolled in some jazz workshops at NYJA and really had an eye opening experience as to where my ability level was or rather wasn't.

Long story short, I am lucky that I had a thick enough skin to withstand the criticisms of the instructors there as well as the more advanced players which was at times brutally honest. It motivated me enough to seek out private instruction once more and I lucked out and got turned onto a great teacher via this forum and as a result I've improved more in a year and a half of working with that person compared to the decades of previous playing.

Progress is slow, and often times I have to break up the lesson I am assigned that week into smaller segments due to my work schedules and the fact that I am just a slow learner, but I am still making progress. Honestly at this point, I am doing this just for myself. At this point reality has set in for me and I have no delusions about where my bass playing will take me. It's an entirely personal growth thing. I'd be good staying in the living room playing along to albums at this point in my music "career".

Congrats on your progress because learning is truly fulfilling.