There is such a thing as a mid-life cellist

Having retired, the question is not why learn to play the cello, but rather why not at all? The excuse of time is no longer possible. Maybe someone could ask instead if there is enough time to really learn to play, but they would be missing the point.

Playing an instrument because it is a joy is probably the best motivator. Is it a difficult instrument - probably amongst the most of all classical music instruments. How hard would it be to play a fretless guitar? You get the idea. As an adult and in later years as well, doing something simple feels a let down. The cello provides a robust challenge with wonderful satisfaction. Undoubtedly learning to play for one's personal satisfaction allow requires a healthy tension for focus, determination, and discipline, rather that the unhealthy stress of needing to meet examinations, competing to advance, and to ultimately be recognized by others. None of that. Just the cello and me and whatever suits my fancy.

It's a journey with many way points. The journey has no traditional destination. It can go quickly, it can be slow, it can stop for shorter or longer spots. Yes, it is possibly to decompose the fundamentals of cello playing into a number of elements, but each element or technique has a seemingly infinite number of possibilities as well as granularity of what can be learned, practiced, and perfected.

Not surprisingly there is a facebook group called "mid-life cellist" and it is one of the better groups I have found. Most members participate responsibly and try to help others out with valuable information and suggestions. Learning to play cello as an adult is unlike that of a child (prodigies excluded) since we want to understand the difficulties we encounter and our physical bodies are not as pliable. To our advantage is we can appreciate how our minds are equally important in supporting and partnering with our physical side to do the things cello technique requires of us.

Pictured is my cello that I am fortunate enough to have and that is instrumental, no pun intended, to advance my learning. As an introduction, it is hand made from select wood under the direction of Edgar Russ, a distinguished luthier in Cremona, Italy, the historical center of violin making with Antonio Stradivari. This is known as a Scala Perfetta violoncello based on Montagnana type created in 2022 and fitted with Larsen strings.