Learning the cello (or any other string instrument) as an adult

[Mary Ann]

Just for the record, if you are worried about that stick thing with the hair on it, I can teach you how to get out of that instrument what it is capable of sound-wise, in about five minutes. That won't teach you "bow technique" or left hand technique, but it will teach you how to make the instrument resonate, which is the combination of location, pressure, and speed, based entirely on aural feedback. I'm always astonished at the amateur string players I see who never were taught this basically simple thing and they sound airy, scritchy, whatever-y instead of what the instrument can easily do; it wants to sing and can easily be enticed to do so.

[greenbean]

It's not a terrible idea at all.

The stark reality: Life is short, and it's chock full of disappointment and pain. When you have an opportunity to enjoy something, and possibly share that joy with others, you're a damned fool not to do it. Work as little or as hard as you want at it, but enjoy it thoroughly. Take lessons if you want. You may not be Yo Yo Ma by next week, but you may very well be able to play in that community orchestra with some direction, practice, and a little excitement and inspiration. And there is this: what if you listen to naysayers and throw in the towel...? You'll always wonder what it would have been like if you had tried it and given your best effort. You'll wonder what you missed out on. You'll wonder just how much you could have accomplished, if even for your own entertainment.

Stop wondering. Start living. Invite us to your first concert. We promise to only throw tomatoes at the other sections.

^ This right here. I started on upright bass a few months ago. Am I good yet? No. Is it a blast? Yep.