Why bother, but why not?

[Carl Hillman]

A few days ago, I thought to myself, “why am I making an effort studying music?” I am old and I will never be great. A little while later, I was reading something and it occurred to me that I am still learning. I am still gaining knowledge. I am getting better with computers and other digital things. I am working out, I am watching my weight. Why not continue to improve as a musician as long as I can too? Tomorrow has never been promised to me at any age, it’s the same now as an old man as it was for me as a younger man. Given that, it is stupid not to keep learning and improving. So I will!

With apologies to Dylan Thomas:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should thump and slap at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I had a similar thought today. I'm in a place where music has little to no interest for me. Recently, I started listening to music that used to inspire me and realized I have never been good at those styles, but I found what I was good at and rolled with it.

A massive anxiety I had was that I felt I needed to be on par or "competitive" with those greats to be viable. From my drummer perspective, I always wanted to be Dave Weckl or Simon Phillips, and the modern greats like Luke Holland and Matt Halpern, and putting that expectation on myself lead me to be dissatisfied and miserable in every facet of life.

People wanted me for CCW and pop gigs. Perhaps there was untapped potential inside of me that I won't/can't accomplish, but I think I'm ok with that. It's ok to be inspired by the greats and still play four chord "easy" music. Maybe down the road some things will change. Life is quite unpredictable. It's chaotic and beautiful at the same time. Thanks for the post Doc I was wanting someone to discuss this with but had nowhere to turn locally.

I’m happy you got something from this post.

 

[Bass Momma]

I’m 70. On Wednesday I’m going to play at a local jazz jam for the first time ever. I’ve played blues jams, and done small jazz gigs, but there are really good players (eg one was a Berkeley prof for 20 years) showing up to this jam. I am terrified. But I really feel alive!

 

[Jogobass]

In my twenties I had a mental breakdown and stopped playing. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression, and probably also borderline personality. I spent the next 15 years or so working on that. Every time I picked up the bass I was reminded of that bad period in my life, I couldn't even listen to music that I liked in that period in my life. It would bring me back in memories of that time and I would get depressed about losing my reputation and musical friends I had. I had a lot to work on mentally to fix that.

Fast forward to last year, I had saved up some money and was able to buy myself a Gary Willis signature bass. The sunburst one, which was just recently released. I was like, why not? It will be the best bass I ever owned and I love that sound. Been a big Willis fan for as long as I remember. So I started playing again, and I noticed that a new bass was what I needed. I had lost most of my technique so it was like starting over again, but with musical knowledge already in my head. I still get sad sometimes about losing those relationships and I need to build my reputation back up. But other than that I'm glad I picked the instrument up again. Back in the day I was too young and driven by the need to be like my idols. I also wanted to become a professional so there was a lot of pressure on me to become the best that I could become. Now I just play and practice because I like to do it. Without any pressure. Just for fun really. Best decision ever. Just making nice sounds with my new instrument.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I just came from rehearsal and it is much easier to play and figure out songs than it used to be. My command of the fingerboard is so much better. Practice hasn’t made me perfect, but I am a whole lot better.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Soon to be the BIG.60.
I decided last year to finally learn the bass as if I was a completely new to the instrument. Found a teacher online it was.going well. But both our jobs and 2500 miles and time zone differences got in the way. So now I'm looking for a local teacher and started using all the books I've accumulated over years to try and improve while looking for a teacher. I'll never be as good as I hoped as a teenager but I damn sure can give it all I can until I can't and enjoy the journey along the way.

 

[kmon]

52 yo

Mastering new skills has become profoundly satisfying at this point in my life, I’ve connected really deeply with the experience of intellectual pleasure, much more so than ever before. In my youth learning was a hoop to jump through, a means to and end. At this point it’s an end in itself, and I love it.

No need to tap the brakes, ignore the stereotypes about age, these can be the best years of your life.

 

[NobodyImportant]

Having a sharp mind requires sharpening, i.e. learning. Left unsharpened the mind, just like anything, goes dull. Stay sharp Doc!

 

[ebo]

Why do we practice and play our instruments so much? There is so much TV to watch and not enough time to do both! Whenever I feel the crushing urge to sit down and zone out at the TV I force myself to my bass instead. Once I get going I’m so much happier that I did it. If I played as much music in my life as TV I have watched, OMG! I’d be as good as _______ fill in the blank.

 

[Low Commotion]

I’m 67 and I’m still taking music lessons. I’ve taken them on and off over the years, but more off…Two years ago I started with a new teacher. He’s great! We meet every other week via FaceTime and go over what I’ve been working on, and new stuff. We cover a lot of ground in one hour. I wish I found him years ago.

I often get asked why I’m taking lessons. Like Pablo Casals says - because I’m making progress.

I'll never be great, but I’m better than I was before.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

I didn't start till after I was 40. For more than a year, some time earlier, Virus (Neil Worthington), the drummer from Disorder and Amebix, loaned me Amebix's old Westone bass, and I couldn't bring myself to play it, to make it mine. Neil joked on one visit that I was 'born to play bass' when he saw it gathering dust...

I think what changed me was a Status Graphite in the window of a second hand shop on Gloucester Road, Bristol. It sat there front and centre. and it looked perfect, old walnut wood, and high-tech graphite, an amazing combination. I liked that woven graphite in the neck, I knew this was a very nice (if long-used) guitar, but I walked past it a few times over more than a week, until I knew if I didn't make it mine, I'd regret it when someone else with more initiative made it theirs, so I bought it.

It eventually died a death that was infinitely more sad than it was rock and roll, it was already well worn, and I ended up using it to learn to play like JJ Burnell, and that thrashes the hell out of a bass, but it was a terrible moment of disillusionment that caused the eventual death of that bass, at my own hand. I put all other kit I had outside on the street, thinking someone better than me should have that. It all vanished within an hour, except for one folorn plastic knob that I found under the bed months later.

The disillusionment didn't last, I still had recordings of what I'd done, and liked them, I'd come too far, and the bass bug never lets go. I got my own Westone Thunder 1-A (and a backup), same as the Amebix bass, refretted, put Rotosound strings on it, etc, and at 56 years old I can now rip through Nice and Sleazy and several other early Stranglers songs, and a few of my own. Trying to sound like JJ in his pomp is probably foolish ambition, but it works for me, I can deliver it well enough. I'm going to be punishing a few ears at a party tomorrow night, but it's a second invite so the first must have gone ok last time.

If nothing else, playing with that kind of effort and focus is good for the brain and body. It should keep me going a lot longer than not doing it would.

People have said old rockers never die, and I'll be damned if I don't put that to the test.

 

[rashrader]

The more you learn about the “language” of music, the better equipped you’ll be to express your ideas to others, Doc. Don’t ever put a limit on that, my friend. And, as always, enjoy.

 

[Manticore]

Aging myself I go by the motto: if you rest you rust.

 

[Johnny StingRay]

Keeps your brain sharp so you don’t end up sitting all day in a recliner watching “Two And A Half Men” reruns and drooling on yourself. Gives you the smarts to spend your money on a trip to Vegas and play “Press Your Luck” slots while checking out the honeys as you drool on yourself……more fun than being at home!!!!

 

[6-3-2]

I've been lucky to study with people who are leading researching on how the brain learns things. Even though many people say younger people learn "better," it's just not true. Our brains learn things the same at every age, it's just that young people and children have more or less all day to learn, whereas adults usually have to carve out a few hours here and there.

All that to say, age shouldn't stop anyone from learning and improving. We can learn it all just the same, it just make take a little more time.

 

[HardNHeavy]

we enjoy it, we dont have to be perfect, just have fun..It's true that some old dogs are able to learn new tricks....atleast we can say we did it and tried our best.

 

[LBS-bass]

I ask myself that same question all the time, and it keeps me from doing things that I might otherwise do. Lately I've gotten back to sightreading studies. There's no practical reason for it at this stage in my life, but I just want to do it anyway. Maybe I'll change my mind, but it's something I can work on and improve, and I think that's important at any age.

 

[Ostie]

I learn something every time I pick up a guitar, bass or mandolin. I’m a very inquisitive person. It’s in my nature to learn things. I was a historian for 31 years. I’m still a historian, I just don’t make my living at it anymore. You’re never too old to learn something new. Even for us old dogs.

Edit: I didn’t pick up the mandolin until I was in my mid-fifties.

 

[Neil Folkard]

I didn't start my bass journey until I hit 50. I wished I had started sooner, but the point is that I did start, got better, joined bands, played gigs, recorded material and am still playing away. I'm so happy that I'm taking this journey and am loving every moment of it.

It was quite awhile before I could actually consider myself resembling a vaguely competent bassist, but I have joined a prog rock band (never thought that would happen) and have yet to be booted out of a band, so practicing and improving even now, has proven rewarding, for sure. Never stop learning, I say.

 

[nonohmic]

At 52 years old, I felt prompted to get my bass out from under the bed and practice. A mere dozen years later, I find myself on stage on a pretty regular basis with musicians who can flat out play, and singers who's voices are nothing short of phenomenal. I'm not entirely sure how all that happened, but it's definitely worth all the practice.

In my many years as a musician, every time I've run into someone who I thought was "naturally gifted", if I asked them, they would admit to practicing A LOT. So I decided this time around, I'd try that approach. I don't know exactly what people really think of my talents, but I do know that the harder I work, the "luckier" I get.

I did the same at 40. Glad to hear I've still got a chance to play with some cats - given enough practice of course!