Some hope for us older guys yet??

[Dingo40]

 

[debra]

For us old folks with 50 years of experience playing the accordion there is certainly hope of being able to continue playing at a reasonable level for another 10 or 20 years...
For older people thinking they can start with music lessons for the first time, get an accordion and reach this level... I hate to say it and people won't like me for saying it, but "it's not going to happen"!

 

[Dingo40]

"...but "it's not going to happen"!"
I know, I know, just stirring a little, Paul ?
Still, we can all daydream ?

 

[Tom]

Yeah, I agree with Paul, I started late and will never reach this point. But, fortunately, there is much fun to be had in listening, volunteering, playing with friends, tinkering, and talking about it to make it all worthwhile, even at a much "lower" level. Even if you can't remember a tune you haven't played in 3 days because you don't have 40 years of muscle memory in your hands.

 

[Ventura]

we have different problems... like i can play a million songs from memory,
but i can't remember which songs so i have used lists all my life

first note, first chord, key of and the title... little pieces of paper have
followed me around the world

and some of these songs are like old and dear friends now... playin them
for 50 or 60 years... i probably played and sang "Route 66" more times than Bobby Troupe

and i still choose songs to learn and play because i am a FAN

would give anything to play "San Francisco" for Tony

and i learned "Heidi" because of Hanne Haller... heard her
on Radio Regenbogen and i even memorized her Yodelling
with my fingers and liberal amounts of Echo on my first FR7

 

[Tom]

That's very cool, Ventura! I try to maintain a (small) list of songs that I can play. Interestingly enough, I called my accordion playing partner this morning. (I moved 5 hours away) He's 80 years old and I'm going to try to get him on Zoom tomorrow. We used to try to play once a week before I moved.

 

[Scuromondo]

Yes, I’m fairly sure that I will not get much beyond the intermediate amateur level. Still, I’m motivated by the challenge of it, as well as the fun and satisfaction associated with making incremental improvements. ...Funny thing is that, as mediocre as I know that I am, when I play for friends and family (especially those who are not musicians ?) they are so appreciative that they really give me the illusion that I’m pretty good after all—if only for a moment.

 

[Tom]

True enough, Dark! Just getting to be able to play a few tunes is more effort than the average person wants to take upon themselves. Plus, as we know, playing for someone can actually be seen as respect for THEM, if done accordingly. I try to approach with this attitude when playing for the old or disabled (Alzheimer's).

 

[Ventura]

at the Maryland acc club meetings (pre-covid) one thing
ALWAYS
everyone clapped for every performance
period
whether rank beginner sedlon book 2 lesson 3
or a fancy section of Pinball Wizard

and we even were patient with some long winded pre-quel
explanation to some obscure Rossini piece about to be attempted

i typically batted "Cleanup" simply because i never wanted to set the bar
and because sometimes we ran out of hours and i prefer those hard
working and practicing everyday players to have their moment

 

[Scuromondo]

at the Maryland acc club meetings (pre-covid) one thing
ALWAYS
everyone clapped for every performance
period
whether rank beginner sedlon book 2 lesson 3
or a fancy section of Pinball Wizard

and we even were patient with some long winded pre-quel
explanation to some obscure Rossini piece about to be attempted

i typically batted "Cleanup" simply because i never wanted to set the bar
and because sometimes we ran out of hours and i prefer those hard
working and practicing everyday players to have their moment

Once Covid ends, I will have to check your club out, if it’s not too far away. I’m in the Maryland/DC area.

 

[Corinto]

For older people thinking they can start with music lessons for the first time, get an accordion and reach this level... I hate to say it and people won't like me for saying it, but "it's not going to happen"!

Yes Paul, I understand this and agree with you, it's not going to happen, however, once retired it is important for me to learn something new as to delay as much as possible the alzheimer and other brain destruction/decay ... here, two very close neighbours, about same age as me, have already lost contact with the real world, and it's scary, very scary, and seems even more so when it happens with people one has known for half a lifetime.

And yes, sometimes I'm quite ashamed about the low quality of my musical output, and learning new tunes goes very slow, so I had converted a little Hohner Lucia from the 1930's to a reedless midi accordion as to be able to learn without annoying the whole house (with a headphone); and yes, my little grandkids learn faster on the piano than me on the accordion, lots faster, but that's OK, that's life, and as long as my body stays healthy (average healthy) I would like to try to keep my brain as (average) healthy as can be.

Thanks for all your very interesting posts!

 

[Pipemajor]

Yes Paul, I understand this and agree with you, it's not going to happen, however, once retired it is important for me to learn something new as to delay as much as possible the alzheimer and other brain destruction/decay ... here, two very close neighbours, about same age as me, have already lost contact with the real world, and it's scary, very scary, and seems even more so when it happens with people one has known for half a lifetime.

And yes, sometimes I'm quite ashamed about the low quality of my musical output, and learning new tunes goes very slow, so I had converted a little Hohner Lucia from the 1930's to a reedless midi accordion as to be able to learn without annoying the whole house (with a headphone); and yes, my little grandkids learn faster on the piano than me on the accordion, lots faster, but that's OK, that's life, and as long as my body stays healthy (average healthy) I would like to try to keep my brain as (average) healthy as can be.

Thanks for all your very interesting posts!

Well said Corinto ? . Surely playing music, any music by any means is not about being the best or playing the most complex, no matter how boring or un-musical sounding piece possible. It is about pleasing yourself and playing the music you like, no matter how simple or "silly".
Most of us are Amateurs in the true sense of the word, ie we play for the love of the music.
The professionals out there must play to please others and not themselves and, as such, need a higher standard of proficiency than we lower mortals may aspire to.
In the Scottish piping world, we have deliberately chosen not to follow the competition route as this involves playing the same 4 or 4 tunes ad nauseam for months on end in the hope that you get it perfect on the day of the competition. This is not music for the love of it . It is for Prestige for the sponsors of the top bands, and if they don't make the top ranks, the band will often split up and the so called best players will transfer to the bands they think have a better chance next year. I have been with the same group for over 50 years and we play for Enjoyment.
End of rant.

 

[Tom]

Thanks, Pipe, for saying it's ok to play the simple and silly music.... Sometimes it's these simple melodies that you can get a good groove going, and just have big fun. I would add that the other half is playing with some one else, even at a "low" level. As I've stated, I played for a monthly Alzheimer's group for years and if playing simple songs keeps me on this side of the table, bring 'em on!