Hankon5 - Posted - 05/06/2012:  23:35:35

I seriously started at age 62.  I wanted to for years but was to busy at work.  Retired and decided to take it up and accomplish one of my long time dreams of being a banjo picker.  Being retired gave me all the time I wanted.  I usually practice 2-4 hours per day and love every second of it.  The joy of hearing myself progress and jam with others has been a tremendous satisfaction for me.  It really does give me peace of mind and great confidence in knowing that I will progress further.

Edited by - Hankon5 on 05/06/2012 23:39:19

Gunswinger - Posted - 05/06/2012:  23:57:57

I am 61 and am just starting.  Wife purchased a banjo for me as a christmas present.  On my way to learning, boy I got a long way to go.  One of my bucket list items.  You must be happy doing something that you always wanted to do. Congrats.

Paulf - Posted - 05/07/2012:  00:23:37

Turning 50 in a few days and started learning a few months ago and although I am not practicing as much as I would like too I am just glad I made the decision to start.

Paul 

phb - Posted - 05/07/2012:  01:15:40

How late is late? I started too late in life... :)

Bupahe - Posted - 05/07/2012:  01:24:55

I'm also just a beginner, and older than any of the above, this is my third time of trying over about 20 years and the other twice other things and lack of teacher stopped me. However I now have a super teacher ( lessons via Skype, as he lives 300+ miles away ), have just joined BHO, am a member of classic-banjo.ning and minstrel banjo .ning and spend every spare minute that I have practicing.

Winnieff - Posted - 05/07/2012:  04:10:43

I started in Feb. this year at age 71;  inspired by Steve Martin's "Give me the Banjo" PBS program. My log book shows 123 hours of practice to date. No one in my family plays any musical instrument so I am bound and determined to be the first. I see me instructor once a week and things are going well although someone slow. Wished I could have started much earlier in life since I'm running out of time now. I look forward to my daily 1-2 hours practice and also looking for for my 2nd banjo already.

Andy 

TabMan - Posted - 05/07/2012:  04:14:01

Started about 2 years ago @ age 73. Really enjoy it. It seems that all the really good banjos pluckers have been at it for more years than I''ve got left.

The best compliment I can hope for at this point about my playing is "Oh ...he's not too bad." But at this point I have no plans for a tour.

BanjoFlyboy - Posted - 05/07/2012:  04:27:34

I started at age 58, and haven't been able to break the habit!  

WalterVA - Posted - 05/07/2012:  04:58:15

i started at 50, but looking at most of the other posts, I'm too young to answer the question.  ;-)  My wife tells everyone that every time she comes home, "he's playing that banjo."

Great job, guys.  Keep picking. 

billy vance - Posted - 05/07/2012:  05:00:16

I started at age 74,guessI,d better hurry

kb2dhg - Posted - 05/07/2012:  05:03:38

I just started last year at 53

Unclouie - Posted - 05/07/2012:  05:08:27

Ya'll inspire me, I thought age 43 was late start. 

Phil - MO - Posted - 05/07/2012:  05:20:27

Very interesting post.

I tried in the early 1980's for a short time but with two in college and working two jobs to pay for it I didn't last long.  At 69 and retired to raising beef cattle I started seriously playing 3 to 4 hours a day. A lady that plays on stage and is active in bluegrass activities told me that it will take 5 years and 5,000 hours before a person is stage ready if starting from scratch. I now have about 3 years and over 3,000 hours in and can keep up with the big boys on a lot of songs at jam sessions (not stage ready yet).  I'm going to get there if I don't die first or my wife kills me for making so much noise all hours of the day and night.

OldTimeGal - Posted - 05/07/2012:  05:34:09

I also started later rather than earlier, and will likely never be as good as many of the folks on BHO.  In my mind it doesn't matter a whit, enjoy every picking moment. :-)

tombrien - Posted - 05/07/2012:  05:41:24

In the five years I have been around here at BHO, I have noticed that most of the new members seem to be 50+ years old. I started at age 50 myself.

Edited by - tombrien on 05/07/2012 05:42:56

retiredguy - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:01:49

I started at 72, will be 76 in June. already satisfied with my picking but keep trying to get better.

casinojack - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:17:24

Started last August at age 66. The stiff fingers fight me sometimes but I just keep trying.

LOVE IT 

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:19:28

Started picking in 2008 aged 61. Inspired to take up the banjo after watching video lessons by Murphy Henry and Geoff Hohwald on YouTube... Made a lot of progress since...

Vapor - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:20:43

I too am a late bloomer, starting at 54. I love it.

vernh - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:26:59

I started this time at age 57. I have decided that it is something I will accomplish and am enjoying every minute of it. Like many others, my only regret is not starting earlier. I may never be on stage but I will be good enough for me.

Tatersoup - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:32:38

I've been playing music for a lot of years but just got my frist banjo at the ripe age of 61,

RB4picker - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:38:05

Started last year at 57. Still hanging. I go from flat spots to jumps ahead it seems. The jumps in learning keep me motivated. 

Maybe we need to start an Old Geisers Group. You can only join if you've ridden a dinosaur.

cherbr - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:38:51

I started last year at 52. I don't that's late though, and do think it's the Fountain of Youth. Good for my heart and it keeps my brain cells working.

Treetopper - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:40:54

Went crazy with Banjos when I turned 73.

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:40:59

A lot of my students have started playing banjo in their 40s, 50s, 60s, or even 70s. (One of my best students currently is 72 and has been playing for two years.) Many have some prior musical experience, but not all of them by any means. It's never too late!

lynn1 - Posted - 05/07/2012:  06:59:01

Started at 64. Great way to spend time. Got a long ways to go, but I'm where I'm at right now. No one ever promised me tomorrow. I love it when the Lord gives me another day. Very fun friends I've met on this 4 year journey. That might be the best part, meeting friends.

Banjo Hero - Posted - 05/07/2012:  07:32:48

Wow.  And here I thought picking up a new instrument in my mid-twenties was getting a late start!

A lot of septugenarian newbies!  That's awesome.  I should have that much vim and whatnot _now,_ at half of some of you guys' age!

I've been out of work for too long, and when I was working last, it was nights, so I end up periodically encountering daytime tv.  Most of it appears to be aimed at stay-at-home mothers and retirees.  Honestly, I don't see how people can stand watching most of this garbage, the ads are so insulting.  But, that's a different rant entirely.  I've seen that scary Dr. Oz guy (I have a friend who swears he's a vampire) or one of his ilk (TV doctors, not vampires. Unless...) talking about brain health and aging and stuff like that.  Maybe it was the freakishly energetic guy on PBS.  Don't matter.  The point is, doing mental stuff like games and crosswords and logic puzzles and the like is good, but the top of the list appears to be - doing NEW things - ... Or doing normal things in novel ways.  I was surprised to hear how such simple things as drinking your coffee with the other hand can contribute to elasticity in the whole brain there.  Playing music _has_ to get those neurons, um, doing .. neuron..ey .. stuff.

So, picking up a new instrument and learning it later on in life is not only good for the soul, but for the brain, too!  Keep on pickin': it's theraputic.  We probably always knew that instinctively, but now it seems the docs agree with us!

bkdraft - Posted - 05/07/2012:  07:51:10

Started last November at age of 58, progressing slowly, but family can tell a difference already.

Fendertele - Posted - 05/07/2012:  07:52:14

Hi Guys...I am 61 & started playing seriously about 14 months ago, used to play in the 80's with lots of bad habits so decided to get it right..!

Played guitar all my life really in bands so transition to banjo with the left hand etc...wasn't too bad but still get mixed up now & then with the right hand..!!

Anytime is a good time to start playing music....it "soothes the soul" and make you a patient person...Keep on pickin'..!!

BillSchmelzer - Posted - 05/07/2012:  08:06:29

I have been interested in banjo since the late 60's or 70's, and have had many false starts, with no musical background, a borrowed banjo that went home, one that was diagnosed by two shops as 'uplayable' and a poor teacher, etc.  I came across Patrick Costello on the web a few years ago and have pursued clawhammer, on and off.  For my 70th b-day a few  months ago, my wife found the only clawhammer teacher w/in 100 miles, and I am having fun and making some progress.  Slow internet limits on-line lessons, but I have found help in Costello's and Michael Miles lessons on disk as well.  I know this is a bluegrass forum, and I enjoy listening, but my heart is in frailing.  I agree with  Charlie Brown in Pete Seeger's book: "Every Child Should be issued A Banjo at Birth".  What is really neat is my 11 year old granddaughter is learning violin/fiddle & we are each learning songs to play together!

kmwaters - Posted - 05/07/2012:  08:12:23

I lived with a banjo in the closet for about 30 years and never got past Wildwood Flower and a sloppy Cripple Creek. Then one day I made up my mind I was going to learn how to actually play so I could enjoy the great banjo. I am 68 now and really enjoying it. Cannot look back on wasted years, since that is pointless. The only thing to do now is practice, play, and appreciate it. I have resigned myself to never being Earl, J.D., Mills, Shelton, Ingram, Benson, Wernick, Munde, et al. But I am OK with that. I don't want a day job anyhow.

MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 05/07/2012:  09:24:16

Wanted to start at 10. I just started at 58 and still wish I had started at 10. Sure is fun, with a little bit of frustration ( challenge ) thrown in

Seth_Thomas - Posted - 05/07/2012:  09:25:22

Started about 3 months ago when I was only 63. Found a mid 1920's Sears Supertone 5 string that feels pretty comfortable after getting it into playable condition.  A friend came over the other day that has been playing for about 40 years, she's a Scruggs picker, and I had my first jam.  What a feeling!   Can't wait until next time.   

BanjoRW - Posted - 05/07/2012:  09:27:17

I too started later in life, age 61, and I'm in my 4th month -- learning slower than I'd like -- but the banjo is teaching me patience (certainly not one of my stronger virtues). I hadn't considered the banjo until about a year ago when I found a photo of my grandfather playing banjo with his friends -- I was very close to him later in his life, so I never knew he played. Sure wish I could have heard him play. Anyway, I was recently diagnosed with an eye condition that will make reading or watch TV impossible. I realized that I'd need something to challenge me and provide on-going sources of satisfaction, or I would go crazy. That photo of my grandfather inspired me to pick up the banjo (I LOVE IT!!!!). I'm learning OT on a Goodtime, and BG on a Sullivan Festival. Both banjos are great in their respective genre.

I spend at least a couple hours a day practicing, more when the carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand gets better and at least a couple hours a day in the BHO forums. The knowledge you freely pass-on, the advice, and the inspiration of all of you is fantastic. 

THANK YOU!

feelvon - Posted - 05/07/2012:  09:29:23

I am starting banjo at age 60. As a retired machinist i needed something to keep my fingers and mind busy(.I had a hard time with the fingerpicks hurting my fingers untill i found some plastic coated picks from Ross Knickerson. They make all the difference and now my practice sessions are getting longer each day.This is the end of my first month playing and I am up to Cripple Creek (still slowly)

Crabgrass - Posted - 05/07/2012:  09:30:34

Started young at 46!

edsnyder - Posted - 05/07/2012:  09:40:32

I started a week before my 51st Birthday!  I am now 60 and can play a pretty good banjo.  I get together with a group every Thursday and that hav made a huge difference in my playing.  We are the Nasal Ridge Pickers and do occasional gigs, those that are over by 9ish.  We have played weddings, Memorials, all kind of parties, and a Bluegrass Bar Mitzvah!

I play an Ome Sweetgrass openback and have another Ome on order, one of their new minstral banjos.

I will play until I die.

Ed e

mcate - Posted - 05/07/2012:  09:40:40

I started last August, ( age 60), have wanted to play for a long time. I have played guitar for

45 years and the trumpet, ( comebacker) now for six. Like many, I wish I had begun sooner but

am enjoying my progress so far. I am looking for some people to play with, no luck so far but as

I'm in three bands already will need to get the boss, ( wife), agreeable to spending time with one more.

dennis14 - Posted - 05/07/2012:  09:56:50

This thread is so encouraging.  I started 4 months ago at the age of 48 with no other musical experience.  This is a blast.

Patanio - Posted - 05/07/2012:  10:11:56

I just started Banjo a couple of weeks ago, age 54.  Played guitar for years, also mandolin, but banjo, is fun.

SWCooper - Posted - 05/07/2012:  10:17:53

I started in my twenties, but really only ever just noodled around and picked up bad habits. I'm lazy and I never had much free time or anybody to play with then, so I worked out a bunch of thumping one-legged versions of the Scruggs standards.

I have free time now and I've decided to get serious and learn to play my favorites, at least, for reals. To be honest, I really got the itch when Earl died. I'm 52.

collegiate - Posted - 05/07/2012:  10:36:33

74 !

sorefinger - Posted - 05/07/2012:  11:39:00

First heard 5 string banjo 20 years ago and loved the sound, then forgot all about for whatever. Then January this year dropped on banjo music on youtube, i just new then i had to get one, have been finding myself getting very forgetful these days, but since starting to learn a big improvment, and also getting good coordination in left and right fingers, found the tuning a bit hard to master but the guys on this site soon sorted me out. Have got the jack Hatfield first lesson, and doing well with it, so far on page 23, can now play ( Good night ladies ) pretty respectfully, must agree with a lot of what Banjo Hero says. Good luck to you all, age 62 this year this as got to be the best thing i've done, will never give up however hard it gets.

BlueRanchRider - Posted - 05/07/2012:  12:07:37

My desire to learn Banjo was born more than 20 years ago hearing my uncle and the 'boys' play every Thursday night. After tinkering with the guitar for nearly ten years, I started at the age of 37, about 20 years later than it should have been. But I started..... and that's what matters with my age and all others on this post.

pops - Posted - 05/07/2012:  13:16:25

49!

pickNgrin - Posted - 05/07/2012:  13:56:26

I thought I got a late start at age 36.

-matt

minstrelmike - Posted - 05/07/2012:  14:21:16

I thought I was late at 15

All them Suzuki kids are waaaaay ahead (at least the ones who kept it up--probably same percentage as any other method).

Some lady wrote Dear Abby a long time ago and said she was thinking of going to college to become a doctor but that she was 45 and would be 52 in the 7 years it took to graduate.

Abby asked her old she'd be in seven years if she didn't go to college.

It's never too late until the day it is.

ddale79 - Posted - 05/07/2012:  14:59:29

I just sold a banjo to a gentleman that must have been 80+.   Already played piano.  I thought I was old when I started at 49.

Ron C - Posted - 05/07/2012:  15:11:21

You can't imagine how good these posts make me feel about renewing my banjo playing at 65.

I played for years and considered myself intermediate in skills and even tried my hand (or banjo) at blues, some jazz standards like Caravan and even Nola. I stopped playing in about 2000 when I had to travel internationally quite a bit and it was inconvenient, or even impossible, to take a banjo.

Now, I want to get going again. I likely will sound awful as I relearn and practice. That is something to get over. The fact that some have just begun at an even older age has made me very hopeful and a lot more confident.

Thanks,

Ron