Forums > Is It Too Late For Me?

Quincy

Jan 28 2006, 12:39 AM

Hi! I'm new here

When I was a kid, I was at a dance and music school and had piano lessons for a little while. I wasn't very good but then again I didn't have lessons for very long. I left the school when I was about 13 and that was the last I ever saw of musical instruments.

I do remember how to read music though.

In the last few months I've started feeling regret that I never learned an instrument properly and I'm wondering if it's too late to start now. I'm 27 years old.

I wasn't very good at the piano so I don't really want to try and learn that again. I am more interested in woodwind instruments, particularly the clarinet.

So I was just wondering, an adult might have more motivation, patience and perseverance than a child so ... is it possilbe to start learning and be any good at my age? I just wanna learn for myself and be able to play well.

Is it possible?

Euphonium

Jan 28 2006, 03:05 AM

QUOTE(Quincy @ Jan 28 2006, 08:39 AM)

Hi! I'm new here

When I was a kid, I was at a dance and music school and had piano lessons for a little while. I wasn't very good but then again I didn't have lessons for very long. I left the school when I was about 13 and that was the last I ever saw of musical instruments.

I do remember how to read music though.

In the last few months I've started feeling regret that I never learned an instrument properly and I'm wondering if it's too late to start now. I'm 27 years old.

I wasn't very good at the piano so I don't really want to try and learn that again. I am more interested in woodwind instruments, particularly the clarinet.

So I was just wondering, an adult might have more motivation, patience and perseverance than a child so ... is it possilbe to start learning and be any good at my age? I just wanna learn for myself and be able to play well.

Is it possible?

Hi Quincy, welcome to the forum!

Yes of course you can do it!

I used to be in the band.. not playing clarinet though.. In terms of reading the scores.. I think it's much easier than the piano's.. so you just have to concentrate more on the blowing techniques.. n of course the fingering..

Lotsa squeaking sounds at first but you'll get pass that

Good luck!

benjaminja

Jan 28 2006, 09:05 AM

There are lots of threads on here on this subject and the bottom line is: YES! GO FOR IT!

(At 27 you are, in my opinion, still young anyway!)

snuglivixen

Jan 28 2006, 09:18 AM

I echo 'Go for it!'

I started flute last march (2005) at the age of 46. I'm now in an amateur orchestra and loving every minute of it.

chocolatedog

Jan 28 2006, 09:59 AM

I have a piano pupil who started completely from scratch round about age 50 18 months ago and she's really enjoying it and coming along well. And I've got another adult who must be very early sixties I think, who's roundabout grade 5 - she did up to grade 1 when she was a child and then nothing until she came to me about 5 years ago, I think it was.....

Alto

Jan 28 2006, 12:12 PM

QUOTE(Quincy @ Jan 28 2006, 12:39 AM)

Hi! I'm new here :)

When I was a kid, I was at a dance and music school and had piano lessons for a little while. I wasn't very good but then again I didn't have lessons for very long. I left the school when I was about 13 and that was the last I ever saw of musical instruments.

I do remember how to read music though.

In the last few months I've started feeling regret that I never learned an instrument properly and I'm wondering if it's too late to start now. I'm 27 years old.

I wasn't very good at the piano so I don't really want to try and learn that again. I am more interested in woodwind instruments, particularly the clarinet.

So I was just wondering, an adult might have more motivation, patience and perseverance than a child so ... is it possilbe to start learning and be any good at my age? I just wanna learn for myself and be able to play well.

Is it possible?

Alto January 28 12.10 pm

If I can start learning violin and getting Grade 5 at piano at the age of 51 you are certainly not old at 27. Go for it. My violin teaching was apprehensive at first at me being so old but she says I am doing well and encourages me. I am struggling a bit with G5 theory but I am not going to give up - I may have to take G4 first but of course I have to do G5 theory before going onto G6 practical. I took my first G1 at age 7 and then had a gap of 40 odd years before starting on G2 though I never gave up playing my music. I think the main thing is that you "want" to do it and the determination spurs you on. Good luck.

barry-clari

Jan 28 2006, 12:14 PM

It certainly isn't too late. You'll find a lot of useful info in this forum about clarinet playing (some of it written by yours truly, if I'm allowed a bit of self publicity!). Go for it, I guarantee you'll regret it otherwise. Life is too short for 'what ifs'.......

sarah-flute

Jan 28 2006, 12:17 PM

Repeat after me:

"It's never too late, never too late, never too late, never too late..."

The Old Lady

Jan 28 2006, 12:44 PM

I started the flute at 42 after a 25 year gap 2 years ago, and last week started the piano, so.....GO FOR IT!

Quincy

Jan 28 2006, 12:44 PM

Thanks for all your replies!

You're right: I guess at 27, I have at least 50 years (hopefully) to live. I'm sure it wont take me 50 years to get good at the clarinet

I want to learn the clarinet as I LOVE how it sounds and some of my favuorite music involves the clarinet. Mozart's clarinet concerto is one of my all time favourites!

I'm not gonna buy a clarinet to start with in case I don't like it, so does anyone know the cheapest place to hire?

Also I was going to try by myself at home first of all and if I like it, go and take lessons. What's the best book for kind of learnnig the basics by yourself?

shelton

Jan 28 2006, 07:51 PM

Can i just add...

I didn't touch a piano until I was in my late 20's which was 5 years ago and I am doing grade 8 at the moment. Okay, I could go on about wishing I'd had the opportunity when I was a child but that would be a waste of time.

So long as you enjoy practicing then go for it. I believe that learning an instrument is a great way to invest time and effort.

Good luck,

Shelton

meerkat

Jan 28 2006, 10:30 PM

At 27, you're still pretty young to be worrying about being too old to do stuff! Make me feel like a granny....

You say you can still read music - I think that's a huge help in re-starting instruments, and my guess is that you'll be amazed at how quickly you get back to at least the level you were at when you were a child.

Have fun and enjoy it. I'm never so happy as when I'm playing music.

Jen W

Jan 29 2006, 08:05 AM

Hi Quincy - I started clarinet at age 41! (I didn't take exams but could play up to grade 6 pieces - my teacher even invited me to join her band, so I can't have been that bad!) I don't play any longer but started piano from scratch aged 51, am now 56 and about to sit grade 5! So, as you can see, you've probably many years of successful playing ahead of you.

Good luck

Jen

barry-clari

Jan 29 2006, 02:44 PM

There's lots of decent places to go to hire a clarinet. Your profile suggests you are in the UK, may I ask what part? (I can recommend places in London and the immediate Home Counties.....)

Barry (clari)

Quincy

Jan 29 2006, 07:07 PM

QUOTE(barry-clari @ Jan 29 2006, 02:44 PM)

There's lots of decent places to go to hire a clarinet. Your profile suggests you are in the UK, may I ask what part? (I can recommend places in London and the immediate Home Counties.....)

Barry (clari)

I live in south west London, right on the border with Surrey.

barry-clari

Jan 30 2006, 07:48 PM

Try Jonathan Myall in South End, Croydon. (www.justflutes.com) I've always found them to be really helpful, for clarinets as well as flutes.

Good luck!

Barry (clari)

immy

Feb 5 2006, 03:24 PM

QUOTE(Quincy @ Jan 28 2006, 12:44 PM)

Thanks for all your replies!

You're right: I guess at 27, I have at least 50 years (hopefully) to live. I'm sure it wont take me 50 years to get good at the clarinet

I want to learn the clarinet as I LOVE how it sounds and some of my favuorite music involves the clarinet. Mozart's clarinet concerto is one of my all time favourites!

I'm not gonna buy a clarinet to start with in case I don't like it, so does anyone know the cheapest place to hire?

Also I was going to try by myself at home first of all and if I like it, go and take lessons. What's the best book for kind of learnnig the basics by yourself?

Hi Quincy,

I guess plenty of people a good deal older than yourself have already replied so I won't need to give you more encouragement. Just wanted to add: I wouldn't practise by yourself for too long because you'll pick up bad habits. Unless you are unusually talented you won't be able to teach yourself to play well, and you might just get frustrated. Finding a good teacher will really set you up for enjoyment and progress.

diapason

Feb 5 2006, 04:57 PM

I am about to start teaching an Adult Education class for beginners in Keyboard. None of them are under 58 years old, some are in their 70's. All they have is a keyboard (each!) and enthusiasm.

I have a 64 year old piano student who is just about to take Grade 8 and an 83 year old who makes a 58 mile round trip each week for an organ lesson.

27 is still pretty young, wouldn't you say.

Go for it - good luck

clari kath

Feb 8 2006, 02:29 PM

The alternative to hiring is to check your local paper and ebay for the cost of hiring one for a few months you can pick up a second hand one at areasonable price. If you don't like it you can always re sell it.

remember it won't all happen at once unless you are a genius. go for it and enjoy it.