Is it too late?

[anna]

Hey all,

I'm sure most of the musicians here have been playing some instrument for a really long time, which is GREAT!

That's exactly the reason why I'm looking for some advice here, if possible.

Unfortunately, we're not always so lucky in childhood - I had this major financial difficulty as a kid and as a teenager as well, so I really didn't get the opportunity to start an instrument at an early age (even though I was really eager to start it).

I have started to play the guitar at the age of 24 (been 1 year and a half now).

Do you guys, musicians, consider that it is still possible for me to really play well the guitar? And by that I mean to perform some difficult solos in the future and maybe to compose something?

It normally takes how long, about 20 years of practice? (i know there's no strict formula, I'm just looking for some insights on this matter)

I've started alone, but after a while (around 5 months playing by myself and learning the basics) I took classes for 6 months. Now, I had to quit classes but I'm practicing every day, as much as I can (normally 3 hours/day, sometimes less, sometimes a little more). I started this week a more focused training, instead of just trying to play a song, I really got into the exercises - alternate picking, scales, chords, arpeggios, reading sheet music.

Any advices on how to improve practice time will be greatly appreciated, as well some insights on what I should actually expect from the guitar considering the age I've started playing it.

Thank you all,

Anna.


(I'm sorry for my bad english)

[djangoblackbird]

The thing about playing music as a kid is that, yes, you pick up things more quickly as you develop as a person (the same way you do with language). But here's the other thing: I know a lot of people who were talented kids who went NOWHERE, because they never developed their talents or couldn't get past a stage of immaturity to really get their playing off the ground. 24 year old musicians are generally much smarter than 13 year old musicians. They can more easily understand what they need to work on and oftentimes level out their own ego.

I'm 23. I started trombone officially when I was about 14 but didn't really start getting serious about it until I was in late high school (I hadn't really taken private lessons until then or even really practiced very seriously). I went to a decent jazz school, practiced a ton, then transferred to a very good jazz school. Now, I'm not anything to drop a jaw over, and there are many other trombonists here in the city who would rip me apart in a jam session and are called for gigs way before I am, but I'm pretty good for NYC-level kids my age. I can be hired for a number of styles. This is because I'm constantly trying to work my everlasting butt off to keep up. I can envision myself at this stage in the game eventually being one of the "on-call" cats in the city, if I keep my head straight (of course, that relies on how many gigs actually EXIST, but that's a whole other story).

What I'm saying is that dedication, practicing SMART rather than necessarily HARD and being conscious of your own development, it's not "too late". Like anything, it gets harder when you get older, but you're not brain-dead at 24. Joe Pass, one of the best jazz guitarists ever, honed his skills and emerged during his 30's.

[edrowland]

Recent research suggests it takes ten years to master a subject, regardless of how old you are when you start. The ten year rule was originally discovered while studying chess players; but has since been found to apply to a wide variety of disciplines. Children don't actually have an advantage. An alternate rule: 10,000 hours. Which works out to about the same thing, since the ten year rule assumes you're studying pretty seriously already. So, no age is not an impediment.

The nice thing about music is that you produce music of varying degrees of marvelousness at all points along the way to mastery. The first year or two are the most difficult though, I think. If you can make it past the absolute beginner stage, the rewards of practice begin to take off exponentially.

[duane massey]

As long as you are breathing, and still have control of the appendages needed to play your chosen instrument, it is not too late if you have the talent and the desire. For some without talent, starting at age 3 is too late.

[engelbach]

I started playing the piano at 15 and even worked gigs for the next few years. But I didn't really start to understand functional harmony until I was about 20 because I was self-taught.

If you have a good teacher and keep at it, you're far from too old to learn.

[tornado]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Montgomery


Discussion over. He was the greatest jazz guitarist in the land, pre-George Benson, and he didn't start until he was 20. If you really want it, you'll be ok. The best student I ever had was a girl in her mid-20's, and she excelled greatly, by merely doing exactly what I told her, and practicing, at least a small amount, every day.

[anna]

Originally Posted by djangoblackbird

The thing about playing music as a kid is that, yes, you pick up things more quickly as you develop as a person (the same way you do with language). But here's the other thing: I know a lot of people who were talented kids who went NOWHERE, because they never developed their talents or couldn't get past a stage of immaturity to really get their playing off the ground. 24 year old musicians are generally much smarter than 13 year old musicians. They can more easily understand what they need to work on and oftentimes level out their own ego.

I'm 23. I started trombone officially when I was about 14 but didn't really start getting serious about it until I was in late high school (I hadn't really taken private lessons until then or even really practiced very seriously). I went to a decent jazz school, practiced a ton, then transferred to a very good jazz school. Now, I'm not anything to drop a jaw over, and there are many other trombonists here in the city who would rip me apart in a jam session and are called for gigs way before I am, but I'm pretty good for NYC-level kids my age. I can be hired for a number of styles. This is because I'm constantly trying to work my everlasting butt off to keep up. I can envision myself at this stage in the game eventually being one of the "on-call" cats in the city, if I keep my head straight (of course, that relies on how many gigs actually EXIST, but that's a whole other story).

What I'm saying is that dedication, practicing SMART rather than necessarily HARD and being conscious of your own development, it's not "too late". Like anything, it gets harder when you get older, but you're not brain-dead at 24. Joe Pass, one of the best jazz guitarists ever, honed his skills and emerged during his 30's.

Thank you so much for your reply. Must be really nice to be such a good player at the age of 23 :-)

So, I'm really tring to practice "SMART" now, as you said. I used to try songs and do little exercises, but right now I'm doing the opposite, I'm making as many exercises as I can!

Thank you, again.

[anna]

Originally Posted by tornado

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Montgomery


Discussion over. He was the greatest jazz guitarist in the land, pre-George Benson, and he didn't tart until he was 20. If you really want it, you'll be ok. The best student I ever had was a girl in her mid-20's, and she excelled greatly, by merely doing exactly what I told her, and practicing, at least a small amount, every day.

WES started that late?!

Nice!

Your comment really really helped me, thank you so much!

[anna]

Originally Posted by edrowland

Recent research suggests it takes ten years to master a subject, regardless of how old you are when you start. The ten year rule was originally discovered while studying chess players; but has since been found to apply to a wide variety of disciplines. Children don't actually have an advantage. An alternate rule: 10,000 hours. Which works out to about the same thing, since the ten year rule assumes you're studying pretty seriously already. So, no age is not an impediment.

The nice thing about music is that you produce music of varying degrees of marvelousness at all points along the way to mastery. The first year or two are the most difficult though, I think. If you can make it past the absolute beginner stage, the rewards of practice begin to take off exponentially.

Yes, I'll try to get to the 10,000 hours bar as fast as I can

[jazz oud]

Originally Posted by tornado

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Montgomery


Discussion over. He was the greatest jazz guitarist in the land, pre-George Benson, and he didn't tart until he was 20. If you really want it, you'll be ok. The best student I ever had was a girl in her mid-20's, and she excelled greatly, by merely doing exactly what I told her, and practicing, at least a small amount, every day.

C'mon, Tornado! That's a little misleading. I agree that it's not too late for the OP, but Wes didn't start playing music when he was 20. He'd been playing tenor guitar since he was twelve at least, and he came from a very musical family, surrounded by brothers and other family members playing music and singing his whole life.

You're right, though . . . steady practice and a good teacher can work wonders at any age.

[RevWrona]

I think at your age you'll do just fine on the guitar. I didn't start playing drums till I was 22. Didn't take it serious until I was 30. Now I am a local jazz drummer in the metro Detroit area. I'm not nor ever will be a Max Roach or Art Blakey but I know how to handle the drums to get gigs, complement the band and I enjoy it immensely.
It sounds like you are taking it much more serious then I did at that age and your obviously much more focus then I was. Practice smart and you'll be fine.

[krooner]

Originally Posted by duane massey

As long as you are breathing, and still have control of the appendages needed to play your chosen instrument, it is not too late if you have the talent and the desire. For some without talent, starting at age 3 is too late.

I'm with you there, Duane.
An ex voc, a few years ago I decided to learn jazz piano. I'm 67. Not surprisingly, my main aim is to enjoy each practice session.

Cheers!

[kingfisher]

I certainlyhope you're not too old. I just started studying jazz piano in late August, and I'm 54 years old.

[engelbach]

krooner and kingfisher,

Bravo!

[krooner]

Thanks Jerry.