Thinking of learning to play - is it too late?

Question:I'm err 46, when I was at school I played violin for a few years but gave up to concentrate on my academic studies. One of the worst decisions of my life! I've longed to play ever since. I decided I was going to give it another shot and started looking at local lessons - which are abortively expensive for me, and also I can't find a local amateur orchestra where I could play in a group etc. Then I started to look at other options if not violin then perhaps frenchhorn - there is a local band that has a very good reputation and does beginner classes every year. They meet once a week for 2 hours and membership includes the loan of an instrument and music - it' very reasonable at too! I've been advised to start with trumpet then move onto the horn - what do you think if you have experience of either.
I'm carer with several disabled members of the family, will I have time to practise or am I setting myself up to fail?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm err 46, when I was at school I played violin for a few years but gave up to concentrate on my academic studies. One of the worst decisions of my life! I've longed to play ever since. I decided I was going to give it another shot and started looking at local lessons - which are abortively expensive for me, and also I can't find a local amateur orchestra where I could play in a group etc. Then I started to look at other options if not violin then perhaps frenchhorn - there is a local band that has a very good reputation and does beginner classes every year. They meet once a week for 2 hours and membership includes the loan of an instrument and music - it' very reasonable at too! I've been advised to start with trumpet then move onto the horn - what do you think if you have experience of either.
I'm carer with several disabled members of the family, will I have time to practise or am I setting myself up to fail?

If it was my choice, I would take the rock route and learn guitar, bass or drums - then join a pub rock band - tremendous fun.
It's not too late for anything in life, particularly taking up something as pleasurable as learning a new musical instrument.

As a semi-professional musician, I can attest that it is NEVER too late to pick up an instrument. The only reason that they say you should learn to play young is that the information retention rate is much higher in younger people, making it easier for them to learn more information in a shorter amount of time. It won't be easy, it's not easy for me, and I've been playing for years.

If you want to play french horn, I would definitely recommend that you start on trumpet and switch over later. It is easier to get the embouchure correct on a trumpet, and there are slightly fewer technical things to worry about, such as hand positions inside the bell of the french horn, tuning slides, cleaning the instrument, etc. Plus, a trumpet will cost you less than a french horn would, and you can find them at any music shop, they normally stock quite a few student model Yamaha trumpets.

Whatever you decide to do, remember that although it may be frustrating, music is one of the most expressive art forms out there.

On the last part of your question, asking if you will have enough time to practice, you are the only person who knows that. If you can set aside just 30 minutes each and every day, you will make great strides in your musical ability. More time would be better still, but I would recommend 30 minutes a day at least to start out.

I hope that helps!

It's never to late to start an instrument. Go for what you want =]

it's never too late and I think it's a great idea. if you don't now, you will still be wishing about it when you are 80, and it will not be too late then either, though you would have missed out on all the playing you could do in the next few years.

if you want to find the time to practice, you can do it. it's up to you.

I think the local orchestra is a good start. it will help you get the feel of what you are getting into without spending a lot of money. you can meet other like-minded people, and you will find yourself making music in no time.

have fun!

Go for it, I know that it's probably getting old hearing this, but it's never too late to do whatever you want to do, art, music, academics, singing. !!!!! You can make time for anything that you really want to do....I have a family and I studied classical guitar for years....I always found time for studying......a couple of months ago I watched a women on TV who got her college degree, and she was in her ninety's !!!!!! Don't let anything stop you if this is something that you want to do......I don't care if your seventy five.......go for it, you may not become the worlds greatest musician but I bet you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of learning it, years ago when I was helping the musicians in church a lot of the other people got interested and they wanted to play guitar also.....they loved the getting together at each others house, learning the music together, and all the fun and friendships that they made !!!!!!!!

Get your violin out again - I did at about your age, and within a month I was fine. You've got the basics stored in your long term memory (a back cupboard somewhere); and it's amazing how much a mature attitude helps with skill progress!

Visit http://www.musicroom.com/ and find violin music you like with backing track CD included. It will help you keep good time (more fun than a metronome) and provide a better musical experience.

And if you want to try another instrument, the site also has tuition DVDs.

You could try Amazon Marketplace or eBay too, if price is an issue; but Musicroom has a vast range (though eBay is a good source of instruments).

I think that your teacher from the lessons should be able to let you know when you are able to join an ensemble. Also, my local ensemble graciously gives out the copies of their music to perspective members so they can see where they are and to work on it with no pressure.