an online community for flutists.
Does learning get more difficult with age?
Hi! I'm.....not as young as some of you and took up flute from no experience nearly three years ago.Sheet music looked like chinese to me. I passed ABRSM grade 2 with distinction in the summer, which was delightful, but am I ever going to be so good as all you bright young things? I love it, but it's taking me ages.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joe Kelly on -
I am "older" than most folks here also, I play because I like to,not because I "have to"or because my mommy wants me too, or the teacher says I have to know this piece by this date, so for me it's "ok" to do a little better or a little worse, because it only really matters "to ME"
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Permalink Reply by Malcolm on -
Yes. Its great fun, isn't it? There's no lack of motivation for me either.
I wonder if it takes us longer to make progress, though.
For me it does matter to do a lttle better, and I'll apply myself to be better. If it takes a long time then I'll enjoy the learning experience, I guess. I have even tried doing abdominal exercises to improve my flute tone just incase it works.
Are you having the experience of things taking longer than they used to to learn?
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Permalink Reply by Joe Kelly on
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I am a very goal oriented person, which can be good and bad, I currently have two different music teachers, and I take different things from each one, I played the trumpet in school in the 70's, and messed with the guitar for about 10 yrs, my problem has always been timing, so that is what I am currently working on, a metronome as helped alot, but actually I don't find it harder to learn now,I find it more pleasurable actually, because I have alot of things I want to do "before I die", don't take that negatively, I just enjoy learning, most kids, like my 17y/o son have a natural ability and they excel to a certain point, and then it becomes hard for them (thats where the learning begins) and they loose interest, I kind of know my limitations so when I begin to strugel, I know it's time to take a step back and rethink, and I've learned it's not bad to ask for help.
Also the internet is an amazeing tool for learning to play an instrument, before the net you were limited to what was locally available, I learnred all the fingerings, the embrouchre , and alot of music before I had my 1st lesson, also sites like this where the information and help is limitless, I probably wouldn't have gotten to where I am now without the net.
Whats ABRSM?
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Permalink Reply by Malcolm on
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Yes the internet is amazing. I'm learing mainly by myself now as the teacher I had in the summer is taking time of to do a teacher training. I'm concentrating on my tone, taking time to play the notes of each scale well rather than rushing through them to get up and down in one breath. I'm struggling with the embrochure for the F sharp in G major now, but I'll get there. of course I play pieces I like too.
I love learning too, and that's the most enjoyable thing really, apart from when things go right. Then I'm so pleased that I rush to my girlfriend and say,'Listen to this!'. It'll be fantastic to play for a bigger auduence some time. I set myself goals that are achieveable and realistic, so I'll keep on playing that Fsharp until It's easier for me. I guess it wasn't long ago that that even holding the flute was alien to me.
I guess in learning something there comes a point where we reach a ceiling, and then we have to raise it somehow in order to progress further. I remember taking to things quickly when I was a teenager, especially sports, but losing motivaton after a certain point when I wasn't improving much. Maybe a key to it is your idea of being goal oriented.
Thank you for your replies, Joe. Happy flute playing!
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