Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Nov 26 2011, 05:39 PM

Hey guys!

I was just thinking in bewilderment the other day, about how often I encountered senior people at GMC introducing themselves and telling us their age. It sounds pretty crazy when in countries like mine, senior citizens are usually concerned with how poor they are and how cruel life has been treating them. It makes me really happy to see that there's still hope out there and we could enjoy learning something when we're way past our school days

check out this cool grandma! And... she's playing a PRS hehehe



Do you think age can be a problem when learning something new? Or do you see age as a benefit from the perspective of discipline, rigor and logical approach?

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 26 2011, 07:56 PM

Heheh, that is very cool indeed, nice blues playing, cool tone I don't think there's a problem with age - anybody can do it!

BB King started his career as a singer with a backing band, he didn't play at all! Then he started to introduce his playing on the records, and played simple phrases only, that's the only way he could do it. And BB King is world famous by his style of playing, one of the legends.

Posted by: Frederik Nov 26 2011, 08:27 PM

Im gonna find another you by John Mayer

Posted by: rokchik Nov 26 2011, 08:30 PM

I decided I wanted to learn how to play the guitar before I was 30. I always wanted to play but my parents would never buy me a guitar when I was growing up and I was busy with dance and sports back then too. I was 29 when I started and am now 34.

I found my biggest obstacle about picking up the guitar at an "older' age, not that 29 is old but most start playing when they are kids, was time! Having a household to run, job, dogs and just life in general I found it hard, and still do, to find time to practice regularly. I do have a greater determination to learn, and I tend to pick things up quickly so I don't think my age is a hinderance in that regard. For me it's a time thing...

rok

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 26 2011, 09:41 PM

wou! that grandma really can play the blues!! I think that it depends on every person... when you become an adult person you start to have lots of responsibilities but I think that everything is possible with discipline.

Posted by: SirJamsalot Nov 26 2011, 09:46 PM

YUP!! *ditto*

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Nov 26 2011, 10:56 PM

She's fantastic ! Age has nothing with it, just love and will !!

Posted by: Fran Nov 27 2011, 05:05 PM

Age obviously doesn't help learning faster, but any time is good to start doing something new as long as it makes us happy

Posted by: jawilco Nov 27 2011, 11:14 PM

Growing old is no picnic, but it beats the alternative.
Remember, this isn't a dress rehearsal.
We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time,
and once you take the long dirt nap there ain't no coming back for seconds so make it count.

Posted by: Michael AC Nov 28 2011, 12:03 AM

The fingers hurt more at times (but that is because I practice more now), but the determination is greater now than when I was younger. I also think I have a greater appreciation of musicianship versus listening to someone who just plays, jams or whatever, even if they sound good.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Nov 28 2011, 09:56 AM

I think it's actually about Time VS Discipline in my opinion

When we're young, time is never a problem in the majority of cases but discipline sure is I remember that when I was 13-14, the first thing when I woke up was: 'Hmmm, let's go outside and see who's hanging around!' But when you are older you start thinking: 'Hmmm, I need to get this done so I can be ok onstage' for instance.

Well, now the motivation is another important thing when we are kids the ONLY motivation is sheer curiosity and dreaming about making it big, when we grow up, we tend to do things because they are necessary - of course we like to do those things, but I think that at some particular moment along the way, many people lose that sheer enthusiasm which only kids are capable of.

Too much philosophy?

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 28 2011, 10:10 AM

Yeah I don't think age is a hindrance at all. As Rok says, time would be a factor but on the plus side of age is wisdom (well, it should be in theory !) Life experience gained in other things can contribute to learning and applying oneself to another thing. Also, picking it up at a later age means the goals may not be so obsessive and competitive as a younger persons, so they're free to progress at a natural rate rather than stifle their progression with obsessing that they have to be faster than X or as good as Y.

There's never too much philosphy C-Maestro

I totally agree with you, very good points... I've only recently re-discovered what discipline really means. I think a lot of my earlier progress in my youth was just that enthusiasm, trial and error approach, determination. Now though, I'm very conscious of discipline.. we all have lives which are multi faceted and we can't just sit around all day, devoting hours of child like innocence to the guitar.. so our approach changes I guess. I suppose this is where the wisdom of age comes in as well. Knowing about quality versus quantity, knowing ourself - when we're in a good frame of mind to learn and when we're not, letting go of the end goal and just practising in the here and now (letting go can be difficult, because it's something you actually want !). Age can fill in a lot of blanks which our naive younger selves previously wouldn't have considered.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Nov 28 2011, 05:49 PM

I knew that the right words would lure you into continuing this interesting discussion Ben

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 28 2011, 06:35 PM

What's the purpose of humans if not to leave a trace, or discover new ground? Can we all say we are capable of this? Aren't we all trying to do this until we fall asleep for the last time?

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 28 2011, 06:42 PM

Hahaha, that was only a step away from leaving a trail of donuts for me to follow !!

Posted by: Tangomouse Nov 28 2011, 07:15 PM

I was 32 when i started playing am now 40, 41 in Jan, I had mixed group lessons with a range of age's, I wasn't the oldest in the group and the youngest was 12, the oldest was in there 50's

Just goes to show you your never told old to start learning!!!

Oh and I'm a granddad too

Posted by: Todd Simpson Nov 28 2011, 09:26 PM

That's a killer vid I hope to be playing my fingers off until I fall over and they find me a headstone. Seriously, I think folks can learn at any age and that learning actually helps the brain age more slowly and sometimes seem to age backwards! We can actually grow NEW NEURONS well in to old age. Learning is central to proper neural function. When we stop learning WE START DYING. here is a great article from one of our most prominent research universities here in the stages on Aging and The Brain. Our parents get older every day, (so do we but they will hit "older" first) so knowing this kind of stuff can help you help them as make their journey.



http://www.usc.edu/hsc/info/pr/hmm/01spring/brain.html

Todd

So age gracefully and play speedily!

Posted by: mguimaraes777 Nov 28 2011, 09:35 PM

I started at 17, but then stopped at all for job, studies, carrier and so on. Now I am 42, one kid + wife, living my proffession and since one year trying to learn guitar from scratch... Wow... I feel mainly some dificulties in terms of finding time regularly for practicing. However, my development was not bad. I believe in all postings here stated, age is not the issue. Orientation, discipline, dedication, and much, much practing is the secret. And more, that's not only for music, but almost for everything you want to be good somehow.

Cheers !

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 29 2011, 09:41 AM

Yes, exactly.. if we take away the deman for our bodies to work, they believe they don't need to work and respond appropriately.



Yes, exactly right. I've started looking at how I spend all the time during my day. I identify any time where I'm being idle or not using it usefully and I think 'what can I be doing here instead ?'

For example, waiting for a kettle to boil and then a cup of tea to brew could take up to 4 mins.. instead of standing around waiting for it I could send an important email. When I turn my computer on, instead of just sitting there waiting for it to boot up, I grab my guitar and run through some perfect reps of a lick that I'm working on. Little things like that add up

As for TV, it's totally replaceable

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Nov 29 2011, 10:22 AM

I gave up TV 10-11 years ago in here, they only play futile stuff, so, anyway, if I need something, I can watch it online! All hail the internet! I will get a big plasma, soon enough hopefully, so I can watch DVDs

Posted by: Alex Feather Nov 30 2011, 08:32 PM

Wow! she is good! I am impressed!
I found this one she is 73 years old!


And also this one! She is using a lightbulb

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 30 2011, 11:19 PM

Man, those are some crazy examples! Slide Russian blues with a light bulb is epic

Posted by: Ben Higgins Dec 1 2011, 11:08 AM

Bless her !! That is dedication and overcoming circumstances !

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 1 2011, 05:12 PM

+1

Posted by: Todd Simpson Dec 1 2011, 07:25 PM

+2! She RAWKS! Not once does she say, "I'm Too old!", or "Darn this is hard!" and she is playing with a freaking light bulb!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 3 2011, 05:38 PM

Well, the guitar is an endless river of possibilities isn't it? We're just too fascinated with learning the things which others have mastered, rather than trying to master something which we can come up with, I think. Difficult task either way

Posted by: Alex Feather Dec 17 2011, 04:59 AM

Yeah, I tried playing with a lightbulb too. It sounded better when she did it.

Posted by: MonkeyDAthos Dec 17 2011, 05:13 AM

Age doesn't stress people, society does.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 17 2011, 09:09 AM

Oh man, you are so right