At the age of 26 I have decided to learn how to play the cello. I have been wanting to learn how to play a classical string instrument for a very long time, but now I decided to make it happen. It is without a doubt going to be a life long journey. As of right now I am self taught in guitar as well as some piano with simple understanding of music theory – although I can’t read music very easily. I understand feeling and writing more than any aspect of music.
One of the most inspiring and comforting facts I have found about this new ambition is that I am one of many people that wish to learn how to play the cello as an adult. The most encouraging case that I discovered was the cello story of Ethan Winer. He did not start playing cello until the age of 43 in 1992. Before that he had a long history with building electronics hardware, computer software and even experimenting with synthesizers.
He was very successful with his cello efforts and by 2006, at the age of 56 he had played in orchestral groups, helped build cello instructional videos with his teachers, and even has millions of views of his songs on youtube. One of them here. That is something anyone would be proud of.
In his bio he states,
At that time I practiced the cello for three to five hours every day, playing regularly in three area orchestras, plus a string quartet, a piano trio, and in a duo with a pianist. But after creating my Cello Rondo video in 2006 it became clear I was too old to ever become a great player no matter how much I practiced. So currently I play only occasionally, and practice only when working on a new piece.
If you watch any of his videos you do realize that he is a very skilled musician. He is not the best cellist, but he does know how to play the cello well. Which is my first goal with cello.
I am not looking to become some great cellist that everyone knows. I simply want to enjoy the cello for myself and those around me. I hope to write and record my own music with it and hopefully some day accompany a close friend of mine that plays violin. Nathan is wickedly talented! Check out his performance below. I was actually at that performance in Madison, WI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICMWHoD718g
While I would love to pursue cello with intensity I still need to make sure I can pay the bills and spend time working on other things. If I can commit at least 30-60 minutes 5 days per week I feel that my progress will be successful to my goal of learning to play well. 10 years from now I feel that I will very happy with where it takes me. Not only musically, but spiritually and through opportunity. I am hoping the cello is a great new door in my life.
My first step has been researching the instrument itself as well as finding a local instructor – harder than it sounds – that I can grow and develop with. While the internet is a great resource. The cello is an instrument that needs great attention and having a physical instructor will help me progress much faster than a digital one. Not to mention, someone to play with!
I will be updating my progress, things I learn, struggles I face and exercises I will practice in hope to some day help others with this same new journey.
