If you enjoy playing you will enjoy learning no matter what age you are.

I think one big reason children seem to become good easier is that they have more time to practice. They don't have bills to pay! My piano instructor was once told (as an adult) by a Van Cliburne finalist that she, too, could be as good - she just has to practice 16 hours a day.

Another big reason is that children don't have inhibitions. They're not afraid of screwing up in front of others, and are more likely to go at it full-steam without hesitation.

That's what it takes - lots and lots of practice, and not being afraid of failure / embarrassment.

as with anything, when you begin anew, or as I have, started playing again, things are tough. If you keep practicing and doing rudimentary exercises, things only get easier, also a good teacher is essential. I get 1 lesson every 2 weeks, although I would like more. Its true what dmg says that should not be afraid of screwing up. Have you made any progress since your first post.

I had a few fairly bad piano lessons then jumped straight into pipe organ when I was 20. 6 years later I was the organist and choir director at a church.

I am in my 60s and have been playing the violin for only 20 months. I have just taken the ABRSM grade 4 exam and passed with a merit.

I recently started violin lessons. I've only had very few. I hope I can be good at some point.

Barry and Kristina Congrats !!!!!! I too would love to learn the Viola or Cello at the middle age of 49. I do think it's very possible to learn at this age, why not ! ? I took up oil painting at 43 and am satisfied with my progress, I akin Oil Painting to Music, it truly is very,very difficult to learn but with determintation anything is possble. I read the book by John Holt, Never Too Late, and although he had alot of musical experience this book does give one hope. At any age if one works hard and concentrates even if it were to take 4 or 5 years of practice I am sure they would feel accomplished in their playing and thats all that really counts. There are no judges on personal happiness. Hopefully I can gather enough courage to start myself soon.

Keep at it guys and gals !

Tony

I started taking pianoclasses at the age of 16; and I thought even the simplest pieces were hard and nowadays Im doing just fine.
My conclusion is like most people on this thread that it will take a lot of practise.
I wish you all luck.

First it is INSPIRATION, through good listening experiences, Second it is serious ACQUISITION of knowledge of music-both direct and indirect- which results in critical appreciation and true enjoyment, Third, it is MOTIVATION with will to learn and master-hard work/PRESPIRATION-with love and passion, Fourth, it is acquisition of ART of partaking the pleasure/bliss with others, Finally, it is continual improvement for Self actualization. Physical Age is no bar. One has to be Mentally afresh, anew, healthy and energetic-mentally young. Having sown the seed, please do not stop till you enjoy the fruits! Leave aside doubts and anxiety. The great pleasure of favorable and good feedback on your music, is the real tonic.

Steven Pinker, in his excellent book, How the mind works, explains that humans lose a fundamental capacity to learn that children have. Of course, we can learn, but it is far harder. Malcolm Gladwell, in Outliers, estimates it takes 10,000 hours' practice to achieve success.

That 10,000 hours number is supposed to be the amount of practice needed to acheive avirtuoso ability in any given field. Even then it varies from person to person and how well the practice time is utilised. To become decent on an instrument will take far less time.

True. We are talking about the SciAm article on Chess arch masters, right?

30 years old ?

terrible ! ( I'm joking )

Have you heard about pleasure ? The pleasure of music is the first consideration to me.
get this pleasure and everything turns possible... Get also good basics and a daily practicing

bye !

Musiclassroom.com

Thought id throw in an update on my progress. Im closing in on two years now and have loved every minute of it. I can play around 25 fiddle tunes, a dozen christmas songs and a few easy classical pieces. my site reading has improved greatly.

I plan on busking a bit this summer and hope to join the community orchestra by this fall or so.

I got rid of my cheap china fiddle and now own a decent German made violin as well as a couple others Ive collected. nothing real expensive mind you. Ive got around $1200 in my german and a couple hundred in my bow.

I could sit and cry over the fact that i should or wish I'd found the violin earlier, but the truth is, Im making great progress and anyone that wants to start to learn an instrument regardless of age should do it.

My dad always wanted to play guitar but didn't take lessons until he was in his 30s. It's brought him (and others) so much enjoyment.

One of my music profs in college did not start playing piano until he was in his 20s. When I knew him he taught and performed and was quite accomplished.

Go for it. Even if you aren't the next Van Cliburn, you can still find a lot of joy in the attempt. What do you have to lose by trying?