| When people hear that after retiring from my | | | | for being less skillful than professionals. All that |
| job, I began studying and playing the cello, they | | | | matters is that they play well enough for their |
| often say, "Oh, I love the sound of a cello! I wish | | | | own pleasure. |
| I could do that. But I KNOW I can't." | | | | "Well enough." What does that mean? People |
| Listening to their sad voices, I feel both sorry for | | | | should decide that for themselves. For example, |
| them and very frustrated. Why are people so | | | | Noah Adams, a commentator for NPR radio, |
| afraid of trying to play music? So sure that they | | | | decided that he would be a successful musician if |
| can't that they deny themselves this opportunity? | | | | he could play Schumann's "Traumerie" well enough |
| Sometimes it's because they never had any | | | | to perform it privately for his wife. His book, |
| musical instruction in childhood and simply assume | | | | Piano Lessons, describes his experiences achieving |
| that playing music is too hard. Unfortunately, | | | | that goal. |
| many music teachers and self-styled experts | | | | I won't claim that learning to play music is easy. It |
| spread this myth. They warn away potential | | | | does require dedication and resolute practice. |
| students, telling them that studying music is very | | | | However, I have met other amateur musicians |
| difficult and takes hours of practice every day. | | | | who first started playing in retirement and have |
| They add that the cello is among the most | | | | learned to play well enough to bring real pleasure |
| difficult instruments of all. | | | | to themselves and fellow amateur players in their |
| This school of music teachers works on the | | | | musical circles. |
| assumption that every student wants to be a | | | | The Amateur Chamber Music Society lists 5400 |
| professional, to play perfectly. Every deviation | | | | players (by instrument, location and level of skill). |
| from the highest standard earns a reprimand. But | | | | It brings thousands of music lovers together. By |
| I believe that there is room for another viewpoint. | | | | now, despite my 47 year layoff, I've been playing |
| People can learn to play instruments for their own | | | | in amateur chamber music groups for the last |
| pleasure. Perhaps they sound amateurish. So | | | | sixteen years. I feel blessed and happy. |
| what? As long as they have the modesty to stay | | | | Why is that? First of all, you can't be "retired" |
| away from public performances, from forcing | | | | when you're playing a musical instrument. You are |
| others to listen to them, why shouldn't people | | | | as physically involved as an athlete during a game. |
| have this pleasure? | | | | Your heart is pumping hard, your juices are |
| Playing music is one of life's most glorious | | | | flowing. Second, you are not using language, that |
| experiences. Nobody should be deprived of it, | | | | deceptive, tarnished medium, to communicate |
| especially through an unwarranted fear of any | | | | with your fellow players. You are passing musical |
| personal inadequacies or music's difficulties. | | | | lines of dialog back and forth among you, and |
| I was lucky enough not to be afraid to try the | | | | your lines were written by geniuses. The |
| cello in retirement. That's because I studied the | | | | conversation is irresistible. |
| piano for four years in childhood. Then, during my | | | | Be brave enough to get started. Go to a local |
| four years at the High School of Music and Art, I | | | | music school or college to find an instructor. If |
| received a wonderful gift: a cello scholarship from | | | | that's not possible for you, look among the many |
| an incredibly generous professional cellist, Janos | | | | available self-teaching books. Anyone who has |
| Scholz. However, along with the lessons came the | | | | been able to learn to use a computer and some |
| unspoken directive that studying music was a | | | | of our current technological gadgets has followed |
| sacred obligation, something like becoming a nun: | | | | directions that are at least as difficult as those for |
| all or nothing. So once in college, studying hard for | | | | learning an instrument. |
| other subjects, I quit both the cello lessons and | | | | Music has the ability to speak directly to our |
| my playing. All or nothing? It had to be nothing. | | | | emotions. If you were fortunate enough to play |
| I dropped music completely from my life. Instead, | | | | music when you were a child, returning to it can |
| I taught literature and raised my family. I said I | | | | help you recapture that expressive quality that |
| had no time for music making. What I really | | | | you may have lost. However, it's no less joyful |
| meant was, "Since I don't have enough time to | | | | for beginners. I can imagine someone who learns |
| practice as I should, and can't play really | | | | merely how to move the bow back and forth |
| beautifully, I have to quit the pleasures of music | | | | across the cello's four strings to unleash its |
| totally." | | | | gorgeous sound, and is happy achieving that goal |
| It took me forty-seven years of being away | | | | alone. |
| from music making to realize how wrong that | | | | So let me encourage you to participate in this |
| notion was. Amateurs who play bridge, golf, | | | | extraordinary world. |
| contact sports or even the guitar are not scorned | | | | |