Just like you, I am an all-too-busy lawyer and mother with a desire to play the guitar. I bit the bullet and carved out lesson time for about a year, with a wonderful teacher. I was making progress -- certainly not ready for prime time -- but I could play and sing songs to entertain my children and to please myself as long as nobody else could hear. But finding practice time seemed to be getting more and more impossible, and without the practice the lessons were a waste of time and money, so I just stopped. Now I walk by my guitar in the corner and feel sad and a little guilty.

Please keep playing! You love it, it gives you something that makes you feel more complete as a person. It's not about preparing for a recital or being "good enough," it's about stretching our own horizons and experiences. We spend so much time on all the other roles we have to fill in life as parents, as workers, etc. that we often neglect to take time for ourselves. You will be happier, and maybe you and your kids will find a way to share the joys of learning and playing music together.

Now I will try to take my own advice. Best of luck.

It's great that most of the postings here encourage the LW not to give up, as instrument playing can be fun, relaxing, fulfilling. Of course it's not important to be great at it--that's just plain silly. If I like doing crossword puzzles, is it important that I don't enter nationwide competitions? No, I just do it for myself.

But one thing I don't see mentioned (I couldn't scan all the responses, so it may be in there), is that music can play an important role in enhancing one's intellect (no matter how intelligent one already is), analytical ability, and ability to problem-solve. I can't quote anyone on this right now, but I truly believe it.

I really enjoy singing, although I'm not of professional quality (I love George Burns' line: "I love to sing, and I love to drink. Most people would rather hear me drink.") However, when my teenage son was younger, he demanded that I sing him a song every night at bedtime. Best...audience...ever! (He now performs, singing and dancing, in his high school show choir, better than I ever could have done).

LW, enjoy your music, and enjoy what it does for your life, intellect, and emotional well being. It's great to listen to music, but to make music--of any kind, and on any level--is truly admirable!

So don't stop the music!

Thanks so much for this. I've been a drummer and guitar player all my life, but never got really good at either. But I love both so I guess I'll never stop.

Now at 55, I've decided to be in a band again. Met a "young" (35) guitar player who I'm forming a drum set and acoustic guitar duo with. It's a blast. Don't ever stop!

play for enjoyment, but practice to get better. Really focus on what your fingers are doing, one note at a time-if they're not obeying your directives, slow down until you have complete control. Remember, practice does NOT make perfect, practice makes permanent-do not practice mistakes. But do, absolutely continue-guitar is actually a quite difficult instrument-take your time & document your progress.

I'm a teacher and an artist. But I love music most of all, and I've had thoughts like you: I'm not the greatest at this, why pour in the time?

Well, you might not know where it's going. Here's my story: I started playing at 21 (25-odd years ago) and for most of that time was a cowboy chord pedestrian. If it weren't for my husband, I would have sold my guitar because I went long times without playing. Basically I was bored with what I already knew, but had stopped learning. Then 10 years ago I fell in love with Brazilian music, especially bossa nova, and this initially caused despair because when I looked at charts, the chord changes were beyond me and didn't sound right anyway. I couldn't find a teacher locally, and looked at many method books until , 3 years ago, I found one that unlocked everything.

It felt like starting over, but with a lot of time and practice, now I can play jazz chords with names that are longer than mine, play up and down the neck and understand the guitar like never before. Rhythm was a downfall before - now it's a strong point. I bought a new guitar (don't listen to the guy who said get an unplayable guitar - get something that won't work against you as you learn.) Performing is fun but simply playing, practicing, and learning is the best

So why work this hard and spend so much time, especially at 50, when I'm never gonna set the world on fire? It makes me extremely happy, and that makes everything else go better. I truly think there is something about sound and rhythm that has a beneficial physical effect - all the more so if your body is working to produce the sounds. Keep playing!

I should add that I am well past the age where I feel self-conscious about doing something that others might consider so obviously "nerdy" or a waste of time, or about being one of the older students in the class . . . oh, well, they can go back to their TV-watching or whatever . . . I have studying to do . . . studying I WANT to do.

So, LW, keep playing the guitar, even though right now you think you are not "good enough" at it. Yes, it is difficult, but that is part of what makes it so worthwhile.

And it is BEAUTIFUL, which is more than enough reason to pick it up and PLAY at every available opportunity. This is really what life is all about.

Your whole post was beautiful. I really am glad you are posting here. Your insight truly makes me stop and think.

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