I'm 19 years old. I have some previous experience with the bass guitar but little skill. I picked up the guitar and fell in love with it recently. I have been playing none stop, trying to learn notation, and trying to learn the basics of guitar building. I am wondering, as musicians, do you think I should continue to develop skill and attept to get into a music program at a university in a few years or just consider it a hobby? I am going in the direction of classical guitar. Any opinions will be appreciated. Thank you so much.
I am taking lessons and we are working on reading music. He understands that I want to know about music and how it works, not simply how to play it. If I decide to go for it I'm going to get a second teacher that specializes in classical guitar.
I know that a lot of people start very early, thats why Im worried it is too late. You think its possible for somebody my age? Or do you think I should simply wait and see if I sound amazing in a year or two?
I am gradually increasing how much a play daily. Im at 2 hours now. When I have learned to read music I will take your advice and begin to work on the keyboard, I'll also have my sister send me her old violin so I can get the basics down on that instrument.
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First of all, you're 19? Your age means nothing when it comes to music. There's plenty of people that don't pick instruments up until they hit 50 or whatever...
If you wanna get on the right track, then start learning the notes across the entire fretboard of the guitar, on every string.
Follow the dream until there is nothing left to follow. I left music for a some time and it called me back. I now do music that people from ages 18-25 just love and I'm within only a few years of double that maximum age of my average fanbase. Don't let anyone say "It's too late" or "You're too old" Some people will never get it. Some are even mean and they'll raly people against you. You have to surround yourself with people who won't do that. I know there are total lame j/o's on here who are unaware of who I am but I know what I achieved and they can't take that away. You will never know what you can achieve unless you go for it. So go for it. Take those lessons and do what you gotta do to do what you love.
I started guitar age 12 and by 18 I was awesome - many genres and particularlty classical. I then lost interest focussing on electronic music instead. In recent years I came back to love classical guitar. It took me ages to get my skills back. After a few years I'm almost as good as I was at 18. I won't surpass it though as I don't have the time I had then. Plus injuries in between.
So it largely comes down to how much you want it, to be great at this, and then frequent practice, focus and devotion. Some people are amazing in a shorter time than others.
And a great thing with classical music, is it doesn't have the ageism that other music genres suffer. You can be any age and that's cool. Whereas other genres of music, if you're beyond 25 or 30, you're ancient history.
Ironically, I'm also 19 and have just taken an actual interest in working on making my own music.
Since I was 13, I've had an insane love for music; I wanted to learn to play the guitar for years.
I used to worry about the same thing though, because I know most people who get into music usually start as young kids, or on the verge of becoming a teen.
But ya know what? if it's something you really want to do, then go for it. Now that I'm making music, I really could care less how late I got into it. I know what I want to do with my life now. And I'm not letting my age get in the way of that.
There are people who start out much later, and still get somewhere with it. It's never too late :]
I started cello when I was 16 & I play professionally ... it's possible ... takes a *lot* of practice
As to whether or not you should do University ... there's a lot of benefits to it - I'd recommend doing it at a State University or other cheap school with a good program if you do. Odds are you will not make a lot of money doing music as a living, so the less debt you come out of school with the better.
I majored in music in college, and the knowledge & skills I developed there are indisposable ... on the other hand, there's countless examples of people who didn't ... so it's all a question of what's your goal & whether or not university will actually get you there.
19 is nowhere near too late to get started. as long as you're willing to put in the time, effort, and dedication, you'll have many, may years of making music ahead of you.
you also don't have to be a "master" of your instrument in order to write songs either. if you can learn to play 3 chords, then you can write your first song. it may not be the best song ever written, but everybody has to start somewhere. so do it! once you take that first step, the rest will fall into place.
i think the 'starting out young means you'l be amazing' is a myth. although i play metal, would say that its just a learning curve and it all depends on how seriously you take it!
if you want to do it - you can, no matter what age.
this is my solo work btw www.reverbnation.com/allarenone
Hey! Its never to late!!! im at University Doing a Music Degree and im 21 when everyone else is about 17-18. If you go to uni seriously you will have soo much fun and music is the greatest subject there is! well in my opinion. all you really need to learn is scales and if you like, i can help you learn. I taught myself theory including All scales and Modes. If you need help with anything at all you are always welcome to ask!
dont be discouraged. pick it up and have a damn good time!
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I refuse to mourn when your time comes
Don't think I'll be the only one
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It's never too late! I know a girl who started played guitar at your age, she's 22 now and pretty darn good at it! As long as you practice and are dedicated, small things like age don't matter. Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great =)
