[Bionic]

I'm a bit like RUSTYME. A car accident spoilt my singing voice when a vocal chord stopped working. The chord is ok now but the voice has never been the same.
 
I would love to learn to play the piano and my sister who was 60 in March has just passed her first piano exam so there is hope for me yet as I am 2 years younger.
 
My main worry is buying a piano (cost and finding somewhere to put it) and then not taking to it.
Sally

[VSS]

I play lots of things a bit but nothing particularly well. I have dabbled with the piano (can play the maple leaf rag), played the bugle and cornet for years in a marching band, button melodeon, penny whistle and banjo.

Music should be fun! My mother is a piano teacher and I spent much if my childhood sitting listening to her pupils grinding out all the usual favourites (which means I know hate The Snowman, Memory from Cats, and Fur Elise with a passion!) and wathced kids with no talent being made by their parent to practise exam peices for months on end just to get a certificate. It was enough to drain the will to live from a child and certainly to remove any enthusiam for music.

So many children have music lessons and then give up in their teens, never to play an instrument again. That is so sad.

All three of my kids play insturments - and not one of them has ever felt the need to take an exam. They play and learn because they enjoy it. I hope they will continue to do so.My son is an accomplished folk fiddler and plays with a large folk goup of, mainly adults. It is very gratifying to see him and all the others in the group, enjoying themselves so much y glerorfa yn y Bala
It is what it is all about!

[Bionic]

VSS, what an interesting bunch. They sound lovely too.
Sally

[goosepimple]

That was really great, I hope my kids end up doing something interesting like that, I do try to open them up to all sorts of things creative.  I teach at university and it's one of the first things I tell the students - if you play an instrument then join the orchestra or get a band together - its always a great thing for escapism, they need something else besides their coursework and music is often very helpful.

[tizaala]

Gabi plays the piano and has a guitar for it's decorative effect in her library.
 
 

[deepinthewoods]

haha my guitars a bit like that....

[Ina]

My main worry is buying a piano (cost and finding somewhere to put it) and then not taking to it.
Sally

Sally, get yourself a cheapo electric keyboard for a start. I've just been given one for free from somebody who started with it and has now upgraded to a real piano... That way he didn't have the expense while he was starting out, and now I have something to get started with again. And hopefully, some day, I'll have a proper one, too. (I did have a larger electric piano a few years ago, which I couldn't take with me at some point when I moved house, and passed on to somebody else, who then passed it on... There seems to be a constant recycling and upgrading of pianos going on! Try freecycle!)

[Bionic]

Thanks Ina,
I am a member of the local freecycle I will keep my eyes open and perhaps post a wanted add if I can sort out a space.
Sally

[jaykay]

Sounds like a good plan 

I bought myself a Yamaha Clavinova in the end (some time ago, when I still had money  ) Takes up a lot less space than a proper piano, was cheaper but importantly, the keys have 'piano action' so is pleasant to play.

Now if only I had time........

[ecohun]

A friend gave me a guitar and of course it stood in the corner for ages, Tried to learn from books but in the end did an internet course (Jam Play). Now at the age of 62 I'm as blue as can be, its taken me ages though and I'll need a long life to get good.

Alan

[jaykay]

And you're enjoying yourself in the process - what could be better 

[deepinthewoods]

. Now at the age of 62 I'm as blue as can be

Alan

 

[Ina]

Now if only I had time........

They never offer that on freecycle, do they!

[VSS]

Definately give freecycle a go - I got my daughter's flute from Freecycle.

[Lesley Silvester]

You're never too old.  I'm not interested in taking exams or getting qualifications.  I just want to be able to knock out a tune and now I can.  I paid (well, TBH OH paid £60 for my piano.  It's absolutely ancient but it works.  I've never had it tuned, desite moving it from where I bought it home and when we moved house.  It's slightly out but not much and I can't tell the difference anyway.