Follow your dreams

As the saying goes, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Learning is both harder and easier when you're an adult so I don't agree, unless I'm trying to teach our aged spaniel to lie down!

Taking up an instrument in adulthood is daunting for anyone - there's the innate fear of ridicule at making mistakes - of being seen as 'too old' to make errors, or competing with kids who are fractions of your age and effortlessly better! Then there's life - finding time to practise around work/home/family/sport/garden and the myriad other things that get in the way of making music.

If you truly want to take up a new instrument - do it! If it's fear of people hearing follow some of the lessons available on YouTube in the comfort of your own home - music teachers want their students of all ages to enjoy playing and to get the most out of the experience so they're used to changing techniques for adult learners. Join a group if you can - making crashing errors alongside 8 and 9 year olds was life affirming and deeply reassuring - everyone was progressing together.

Take away message - make music, somehow, anyhow, anywhere. It will change your life.

Here's a snippet which might do the same:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCjBXTN6a_o