I started learning guitar around the age of 14. I’ve picked up a few other instruments over the years, and am currently (age 46) in the process of teaching myself steel guitar in C6 tuning.
I’d like a pedal steel, but I’m not convinced I want to pay for one. Plus, from what I’ve seen, pedal steels are the classic “buy intending to learn but leave gathering dust because playing steel is much harder than it looks” instrument. I figure if I can play an inexpensive lap steel well enough to get paid gigs with it - and I’ve done a couple - then I can consider buying a pedal steel.
Another bassoonist here. Played during my student years. Took a 40-year break. Started back up about 1.5 years ago. Took some lessons and had a great time.
This guy points out one more annoyance you should be aware of if you take up the cello: you’ll have to play Pachelbel’s Canon. Pachelbel Rant - YouTube
Bagpiper here here! I started about 12 years ago, after finishing college. I had to drive almost an hour for lessons (apparently bagpiping isn’t so common in Texas) for a little over 3 years.
Its an awesome, and difficult, instrument to play. But I’m glad I took the time and effort to learn it.
I started playing guitar at age 15 to meet girls and look cool; it was effective at helping me with neither, but I am still playing 33 years later ;). Never really stopped playing and have been in a band or some other performing situtation on and off since I was 17 or 18…
Observation - Having music in my life has turned out to have very little to do with music. Meaning: I still love music, being able to pick out songs, being a guitar gear geek, etc., but what I really appreciate is the “time inside the music” - where I am playing and the world falls away and I can do a form of meditation. In that respect, the quality of the music I am playing is not just an end unto itself; it also provides feedback to me about how deeply I am getting “into the zone” if that makes sense. Keeps me sane, it does.
To that end, yes, please, do yourself a favor and pick up any instrument you think you might stick with. You will thank yourself.
Piano dude here. We always had one in the house growing up (even though nobody could play it) and I was the only one who showed any interest. I’ve never had a lesson, but I’ve been playing as long as I can remember.
And I still love it, would play every day if I had the time. In fact, I just finished playing less than an hour ago.
If the cello - or whatever - interests you, Just Do It!
I took guitar lessons as a kid (8 to 10 years old), rarely practiced, and never got particularly good at it. We moved on my 10th birthday, and I never expressed any interest to my parents in finding a new guitar teacher in our new home town, and so, I stopped playing.
But, I always regretted giving it up. About 4 years ago, I started playing Guitar Hero on the Playstation, and got interested again. I got an electric guitar 2 1/2 years ago (at age 44), and started taking lessons. I still don’t practice enough, but I do practice, and I’m slowly getting to the point where I’m halfway decent at it.
So, my advice is, if it interests you, go for it! Progress may be slow, especially at first, and having the right teacher is going to be important, but I certainly think it can work.
Guitarist and off-and-on pianist here. I learned piano fairly young, taking lessons from about 9 to 11 years old or so before losing interest. Then I took up the guitar around 15 and played that for a fairly long time (15 years? something in that range) before also losing interest. I took up piano again in my late 30’s and played it for years because I fell in love with the sound again. Until I once again got interested in guitar, and I’ve been playing that again for about 6-ish years or so. I’m 49.
You should definitely pick up cello if it speaks to you. Adoring the sound of an instrument is what keeps you playing and learning. As WordMan said, there’s a “zone” when you’re playing that’s just a wonderful place to be, basking in your tone.
Back in my school days, I played virtually every instrument that you can hit with a stick. Mostly drums, xylophones, and such. I’ve done very little of it since high school, but can still muddle through if I sit down in front of a drum kit. I can also noodle around on a piano half-assedly and occasionally plink away on the piano we have sitting in our living room.
I play bass fiddle, electric bass and tuba at a professional level. It’s my living. Not a great one ;), but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I also teach those instruments. I have a few adult students. They tend to not have much time to practice and they gain skill slowly, but they really enjoy learning. Some of them I refer to as my “therapy patients”. Their lesson time is their escape time.
One thing about taking lessons- most adults seem to question things too much. Kids just absorb things. I would recommend you try that; just accept the advice from your teacher without asking why. Usually they can tell you, you just don’t have enough information to understand the answer yet.