[mwheeler]

I'm 57, have played the guitar since I was 15, but only started playing fingerstyle guitar 15 years ago, and flamenco about 12 years ago.

Here's the thing: I want to improve my playing, and I believe I can. Why? Because I'm pretty certain I'm a better player today than I was, say, five years ago.

I know some of the posters on this forum are my age or older, so my question to them is: have you improved as players, or do you believe that, with practice, an older player can actually progress in terms of technical ability? Or is there a point or age at which such progress simply stops?

It seems to be the conventional wisdom that younger players tend to progress more rapidly because of their muscle development. But my own belief is that younger players are simply more inclined to practice for hours per day, and older ones are not, and that this is the critical difference.

Any comments, especially from the more "senior" players?

[johnguitar]

I am the same. Sometimes I think I am slow and getting senile as it takes me so long to memorize a piece like Variaciones de Alegrias by Sabicas but hey, it's a tough piece. I seem to be able to memorize something on that order and play it reasonably well in about a month which I think is good. (at least I am improving all the time and not losing ground). I have only been into flamenco for about 3 years. I have played classical since I was about 17 (started playing at 15). I am 57 and better than I ever was and improving every day.

[Ten Thumbs]

I am 51 and only started playing about six years ago. I already loved flamenco so soon started trying to develop flamenco skills.

I know I am not one of those talented players who pick things up with ease. I have worked steadily, sometimes practising more, sometimes less.

I am certain of one thing: I am better now than I ever was before!! My development is slow, but it is there. When I go back to some early pieces I play them better after a few minutes practice than I could after hours of practice back then.

And with a range of two, three and four finger rasgueados I can feel the slow - almost painful - development. But perhaps because the development comes after so much practice, I find it is both rewarding and motivating.

[Estanislao]

I'm 55,

I first started playing the guitar about five years ago with the goal of playing flamenco guitar. I keep in mind Sabicas, who played practically up to his death in 1990 in his late seventies. I have a copy of the album he did with Enrique Morente, within months of his death, and it is among the best work he did. So, yes, improvement is something you can look forward to.

In my case I started this journey not even knowing whether I had a talent for the guitar and not even caring. For me it was, and continues to be, about learning to play passable Flamenco for my own private joy. That would've been enough for me. Although I can't really brag, it is no longer enough. I seem to have a small talent after all and plan on taking it where ever it will take me.

Estanislao

[luckisup]

Hi, your questio is touching me. So I decided to write an honest answer. Hopefully I can bring light in the dark

I am 49 and play guitar since a long while. I studied jazz (instrumental and composition) when I was 20 and worked as a pro. Most of the time I worked as studio musician. Since the best money to make came from the film industrials I ended up with this subject. As a musician for this field I had to learn many many styles and also, since I was hired as composer, I had to learn to say something new and fresh in all this styles. So permanent improovement is actually the base of my existance, kept me alive and I can say now, that I became an expert in this matter.
Currently I am out of job and have so much time I can spend with my guitar and work on new tunes. Just my own stuff which is actually a mix of all my music history. For my own tunes/works I use a healthy mix of things I can play easily and stary in new things which have to learn. To keep things intersting for myself I started to study flamenco guitar acouple of years ago. Actually I learned all the technics you flamenco peolpe use. Rasgeos, Alzapua, picado and the typical harmonic structure. All things I learned I only learned to enrich my own music. My intension is not to become a bad copy of Paco or Vicente Amigo. I listen and study them to be inspired for my own stuff. What came out of this is a style I call Flamingo. Beside the music I express myself by painting and sketching and I do it the same like I do with music. I study masters for my own ideas, never copy them but learn technics they use and create my own stuff. The same cooking and other subjectss.
So my answer to your questions as a pro in the field of permanent improovement is obviuos. Stop thinking and analysing yourself. Be createtive, go your own way and avoid competition by telling your own stories on your instrument (or what ever matter you wanna improove). Every moment you sepnd with istrument ( and anything else!) should be a joy for you and you should feel, that what you do increases your health. Life is short and there is no time left to spend with things that make yourself unhappy.

[johnguitar]

Today is my 58th birthday. I have been into flamenco for 5 years now and classical and other forms for 43 years. I have two damaged hands and arthritis but I can still play and I am progressing. Perhaps memory is the thing as these falsetas and transcriptions are long and intricate. But, I am having fun so who cares? I sure do not. I am getting better all the time and overcoming my shortcomings. Life is good as it is short and sweet.