Is it possible for adults to learn to play an instrument?

Question:

Is it possible for adults to learn to play an instrument?

I know that it's easier to learn as a child or teen, but I want to learn to play guitar and I'm almost 30 years old. Is this possible? Are there some older people out there who just learned to play an instrument? Just curious! Thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm 35 and I am learning how to play guitar....actually,
it's much easier than I thought.

ps...i find I learn things far easier than an adult than as
a child. Don't know why. Albert Schweitzer taught himself to play the piano well after he turned 50. It's going to be very difficult but yes you can learn. OF COURSE!
It may be easier to learn younger, but really you can learn to play an instument at ANY age!
As you are older though, you will understand things more easily anyway!
The skys the limit! Guitar is a great instrument to play, also seeing as you are older, you will progess much faster, your teacher wont spend sessions and sessions learning the basic notes, they should know that you want to get on and learn fast.
Thats what happned to me with piano anyway!
Good luck and im sure you'll love it! Of course! You can certainly learn to play an instrument as an adult.

Children tend to learn quicker than adults, mostly because they aren't as intimidated by the instrument as adults sometimes are. They aren't embarrassed at being beginners on their instrument, because they're beginners at a lot of other things already. They're more willing to "play" and experiment and do things "wrong" and have fun with an instrument -- if they don't have that sense of fun and play crushed out of them by an overly strict and rigid music teacher. And they're not encumbered by adult responsibilities like work and family, so they have a lot more free time to practice.

Adults, OTOH, have a much greater sense of discipline about practicing, they're usually more focused and aware of what kind of music they want to learn, and they have a much longer attention span for learning and practicing. Its true that most professional musicians started learning as children, but if you simply want to learn for your own fun and pleasure, there's no reason why you can't.

I started out on guitar as a kid (age 13) but eventually branched out onto several other instruments as an adult: when I was about 31, I bought a mandolin on a spur of the moment whim and took 6 months worth of lessons on it. Then I bought a banjo and taught myself to play that about a year later. Finally, when I was about 34, I bought a fiddle and taught myself to play that by ear. I'm now 49. I have a number of friends who are folk musicians, we get together on a regular basis to play music together for fun. In addition, I play fiddle in a bluegrass band. I sometimes fiddle for square dancing, and have played fiddle and banjo at folk festivals (in 2000 and 2003) in Europe with 2 different bands. I'm not a professional musician but I do LOVE it, and I have no ambition of becoming a fulltime touring musician. I've met people far older than me, who are just now learning to play one instrument or another. yeah! everyone learns! even if they are 30, 40, 50, or even 60! In a word, YES. I am currently teaching two adult gentlemen, one to play banjo,the other to play guitar. I have taught myself basic accordion, bouzouki, Irish tenor banjo, bodhran and I'm just messing around with a sitar. I am 57 and started violin as a kid, guitar, mandolin and 5string banjo as a teenager and the rest, including drums,since I was an adult. I've also picked up lute and folk harp.Go for it !
Your major problem could be finding time to practise! Hope this helps.