Is Age an Issue
Hi Everyone
I have just joined having purchased a C harmonica following a lot of You Tube reviews. But that's ok as the C lesson on here is ideal to get me going as a new starter. I'm UK based.
Does anyone think age is an issue to learning the harmonica? I'm getting on, approaching 64, and wondering if my aspirations will fast outrun my capabilities and I will give up through frustration.
Be interested to know your views and if there are any other "older" beginners out there.
Does age matter ? It depends on what you mean I am 77 in July and have managed to progress through the levels of achievemen. I suspect I get as much enjoyment in learning and playing as a youngster. Playing will rely on muscle memory being developed so as we get older I expect it takes more commitment to achieve sustainable results. I never like to think of how many months or years it takes to learn. Learning never stops. It's more about how many hours you commit to learning to achieve what you would like. One hour a day is lot better than five minutes a day. If you are enjoying what you are doing why not make the enjoyment last over a longer period of practice. Have fun and make it a broader hobby than just practic.
for the record I went through a 6 month frustration period when I started and I'm 36. I don't think age will change your capacity for learning the harp. Just carry it in your pocket and play it as often as you can even if you're just practicing your tone or bends !! If you're frustrated the magic thing to do is multiple little sessions of 5-10 minutes instead of big sessions of 1 hour+ filled with frustration.
Print some of the material from this site and stuff it in your pocket. Just play and try to have fun with it !
P.S: get an A harp, those really are the best to practice on IMO.
Started studying with Dave when i was 68 and had zero musical baxckground. I am now 74 and finished LOA #8. It's the journey. Enjoy every day.
James, that's something to be proud of and something for others to aspire to...
I know it has insired me. (LOA 8 !)
I've made one or two attempts at learning this in the past, being younger didn't help. Since then I learned acoustic guitar and a modicum of focus and patience, and I think LOA 1 is doable in the next month or so depending on the distraction factor.
I got distracted for a few weeks with Joe Filisko's "Henry's Lament" study song, but that was good tongue blocking practice anyway.
I am 66. Started at the age of 15.
I had a heart attack some years ago and a cancer two years ago and I still smoke although less and less BUT...
When a blow it ot draw it, I still can last close to a minute on a single note.
All is about controlling the air flow
Harpopa
Not really an older beginner here. This kind of question comes up with some frequency when folks discuss learning a musical instrument. It's probably not a very useful question to worry about. Just continue with David's lessons, get an A harmonica, and see where the journey takes you. You'll just have to find out for yourself.
But, if you really want an opinion: Yes, it's better to learn at 14 than at 64. But, it's better to learn at 64 than at 74 or never. If you put the time and energy into David's program, you can become a fine blues harp player.
I think age is a real advantage younger than say 21 as the brain is much more pliable. After this age, the brain sort of solidifies and it can be a bit more difficult to learn something than at younger age, but this applies as much to someone who is 35 as 55 as 75. Besides, who are you trying to impress? If you want to do this for yourself, what does it matter? Enjoy the ride.
I'm sure age makes a difference. I mean I can see how I have slowed down, I see how much harder it is to focus on things. I am easily distracted, not so easily when I was younger.
It seems strange to be able to say, I can't do what I could do when I was 50, or when I was 60, or when I was 70, or even when I was 75. I am 83 presently, and I can definitely say I can't do what I useta could.
I was much impressed by the post of James Micarelli who started at age 68 and at age 74 has completed LOA #8. Now that is impressive. He obviously comprehends how to proceed.
I have been a member since August, 2020 and have yet to complete LOA #1; can't see the forest for the trees.
When I was working for my Bachelor's degee in my early 20's, I was able to carry heavy course work with little trouble, but now I am overwhelmed by the material in LOA #1.
So, age is a factor for me in the diminishing of my ability see my way through.
I would like to complete this first level by the end of February, 2021. I have a plan of sorts; to complete the Walk With Me Study Song first and then do the Solo Study after that. I have been trying to do the whole thing at once and not being very successful at it.
I think just writing this response to your forum post: Is Age An Issue?, has been helpful for me, Dave. And it looks like you got a lot of inspiring responses. I hope to add to that inspiration at the end of February, 2021.
You wrote your post in June of 2020. So how are you doing now?
Hank H.
Hi Hank,
Level 1 is challenging, but very doable. The main thing is don’t expect perfection. I think for level 1 good enough is good enough. Watch the student videos of Sharron and Hob and you will get a good idea of what David looks for to complete level 1. There are also very helpful hints in the videos with Sharron and Hob that are not in the main lesson videos.
If you get frustrated it’s time to stop for the day or move on to something else. I found it very helpful in the beginning to do short session 2 or 3 times a day than to do a long session. Keep the harmonica on you everywhere you go and print and cut out one solo harmonica exercise or one chorus from the study song and carry that with you everywhere. Whenever you find your somewhere waiting on someone else pull out your harmonica and go to work. Anyway, that has been working for me.
Good luck and enjoy the learning.
Brian in Tennessee
Thanks for the encouragement, Brian.
You know, I've seen this same advice from many different people; time to pay attention I think.
The one that I have heard the most is the suggestion to carry my harp around with me, in my pocket, (along with some printed material). I've done that very rarely but I see how beneficial that would be.
I printed and saved your advice to my laptop. Thanks again.
Hank
Age doesn't stop you having fun. Enjoy the journey.
Ultraman Orb was a big influence of taking it up again.
For those of you who subscribe to The New Yorker (or are stuck waiting an hour in your dentist's waiting room, and she puts hers out there): See p. 56 of the latest, Jan. 18, 2021, issue, where book critic Margaret Talbot writes about recent books concerning aging and the learning process, with the subtitle, "The value of learning to do things you'll never do well."
One benefit of aging, at least for me, is that less and less do I feel that I'm competing against someone, be it another person, or against myself. The smallest "accomplishment" is fun, and when I can't do something new, I find myself at least enjoying the attempt.
It may be a blessing or a curse: While I had a long non-musical career, I also have a lifetime musical background, mainly in stringed instruments and voice, and even have a college degree in music. But I didn't take up harmonica, my first wind instrument, until I was 65 (six years ago). For me, progressing on harp is a very slow (and sometimes frustrating) process, and while I have the benefit of theoretically understanding what I'm learning, I also have the dubious benefit of knowing just how awful I sound!
Who knows? If you're just starting out in your 60s, 70s, or even 80s, you just might be the next Aki Kumar! It's more likely, though, that progress will be slow, and even limited. But that day whan all of a sudden you can bend in a way so that your 2 half-step draw is actually distinguishable from your 2 full-step draw, you can smile with the knowledge that you've just learned to do something that millions, if perhaps not billions, of other people in the world will never do, in largest part because none of them have ever even tried to learn harmonica.
I think I've stated elsewhere on this board that I "played" the harmonica as a kid. Back then, I just put the right hole up to my mouth, and away I went. I had no clue that the idea was to blow or draw with a single hole. What might have happened had I decided to learn how to properly play? Who knows?
Some 30 years later, I've made a return to the harmonica. The learning process has been slow. Developing the proper embouchure is a bit of a struggle. Producing a single note with tongue blocking is something I've yet been unable to do with even mediocre results. I recognize that I don't learn as quickly as I did in my youth, but I have gained considerable wisdom in that time. I shall persevere and learn to play to the best of my ability.
Do I feel age makes a difference in the learning process? Yes. Is it something one needs to worry about excessively? No. Determination to learn will triumph over the slightly diminished capacity for learning new things in the end.
As a final aside, I also like the idea of three or four short practice sessions a day, versus one long one. One of my vows for 2021 was to play every waking day, and I've kept that vow so far...just a little every day until I can get a little better.
At 71 the fun has just begun!
At 78 I am still loving it after 5 years of learning and practice. I see it as a lifelong endeavour that I enjoy. The only impediment to learning to play at an older age is our brain getting in the way of our other senses by telling us we can't. Go for it as if you were a youngster.
The 2 best ways to prevent brain aging and to grow new connections in the brain are:
1 - learning a new language
2 - Learning how to play a new instrument
I'm 64. Played clarinet for almost 40 years. Had to give it up because of chronic neck problems.
Been seriously frustrated about not playing for more than 10 years. Starting the harmonica has cured that.
Also moved to live in Thailand and learning Thai. Now that's a real challenge.
I don't expect to ever be fluent in Thai or to outplay any harpmaster.
But I'll keep on trying.
I began at age 68.5.
We just have to remember that mastering harmonica is not like mastering alcohol and/or other drugs of our youth - there is no instant mastery.
At 5 months into the journey, I am ashamed to submit my Study Song to David for evaluation, but I am getting incrementally better.
Yes, frustration with the pace of my progress is an issue for me, but then I ask myself how much my playing would have improved if I had not even tried?