Comments on: Just because you’re old, say over 25, doesn’t mean you can’t learn new stuff

By: Joe Lance

Joe Lance — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:46:45 +0000

My great-grandmother decided to learn piano when she was 75. She never became a concert pianist, but she did accompany a church congregation (on organ, sometimes) — for some twenty years.

By: Rex Hammock

Rex Hammock — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:03:33 +0000

Speaking of wonder and excitement. Thanks for commenting, Roy. Or should a spell it Roi? Merci.

By: roy hammock

roy hammock — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:45:38 +0000

Good one, bro. A reintroduction to French at 58-59 has been quite rewarding as I can now afford to go where its actually spoken and befriend those who will actually tolerate and appreciate my efforts. Same with fly fishing (yep, I gave up the bait) and bow hunting (no more smoke pole), and photography and Photoshop and on and on…….. Isn’t education/enlightenment the essence of “growing” older with at least a little grace? I thank God for the wonder and excitement I feel with every new tidbit I learn.

By: Hudge

Hudge — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:58:10 +0000

I learned ballroom dancing after turning 55. I wasn’t all that great, but I mastered steps and timing and so on. It’s like anything else – some people will be better than others. You have to manage your expectations, at any age.

By: Rex Hammock

Rex Hammock — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:22:16 +0000

Thanks for adding that Matt. “I’m just not good at ______” is a universal crutch. I recently read Gladwell’s Outliers which echos the line Dizzy Gillespie is sometimes credited with: All it takes to master something is spending 10,000 practicing. Being “inclined” or “gifted” may help people learn something more easily or naturally than others, but it is not why some people are great at something, while others are not. Hard work is the primary difference.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:43:15 +0000

From the NPR summary:

“But those who do try to learn the piano, the trumpet or violin later in life discover that the biggest obstacles have nothing to do with innate ability or IQ.”

Another obstacle for people picking up a violin, or a second language, or basic Internet know-how, is to say, “I’m just not musically inclined,” or “Languages just don’t come easy to me.”

What they don’t realize is that it’s not easy for anyone. I learned a second language, and at no point did I find it easy. Often people hear a good musician and they think that person just sort of “gets it” whereas others don’t have a chance. Not the case…