OK. I'm 67. Started with a keyboard, somewhat late in life, three years ago or so.

Been playing stringed instruments, guitar, mandolin, bass and you name it since I was 12 or so.

Like many of you, I've played in all types of groups.

So, at 67, I don't know how much more to invest? Had a number of arrangers(and a couple of 88 key electric pianos)with the latest the PA 4X.

The last couple of days I had the chance o play around with a Hammond SK1. Our band from the late 60's has been doing old rock n roll...the keyboard player has one.

That SK1 was a blast...even though I struggled to play it....what fun.

So, of course, I toy with the idea of getting one.

Rather than planning my next keyboard...I should be looking at having enough for a nursing home right?

Thing is, all this music makes me feel young again.

At 67 I'm probably kidding myself right? Trying to learn new keyboards?

Rog L

We should never be too old to learn - a new keyboard, a new song, a new anything ... especially, how to bring pleasure to someone else ...

Definatly keep trying new things . Ever study about aging recommends it and if it makes you happy why not. Like Donny I say get the SK1 if you want it. It will make you learn a new style of playing and who knows what that will lead too. It's a very popular board so if you don't like it you can sell it for a good price.
Have fun and make music. I do it every day.

Age don't matter, and as long as we are alive and our brain still work, it's never too late to learn.
But, the learning curve probably will be a bit longer the older we get .....

when a bunch of folks are looking down at you and saying "Don't he look good - just like he was asleep!" At that point, it's too late. I'll be 76 in October, still learning new songs from Don Mason.

Gary

Hi,mi
my piango teacher told me I was too old to learn at age 21.
4 decades later , might still not be much good at it, but had a hell of a lot of fun learning.

I'll never forget what that fellow said to me 40 years ago. I told him I was getting tired of playing music (at the time). He replied: "Have you been learning new songs lately?" Sometimes life's answers are very simple.

Never to late to learn..

But expect a different learning curve at higher ages...

Rog L, my opinion:

When people stop learning, they on their way out of this world. I have an IPad, two computers, three keyboards, and lots of guitars. My day is filled with learning and excitement. My 91 year old guitar playing friend and I share something precious; we are never bored. Never stop living and learning. Sitting around a table talking small talk that goes nowhere is a no, no for us.

My 81 year old sax playing friend found that he cannot play his sax more than 15 minutes without tiring – so no more gigs. But—he is now collecting recorded music and putting them on CDs – he is preparing to be a DJ. He may never get there but so what; he is not bored, and he still filled with life.

John C.

I am 75, have 8 keyboards and 4 computers. I play out 3 days a week and spent hours everyday learning new vocals and instrumentals on my three main boards.

The good thing is that I don't have to do any of this, but when you are doing something you love, there are not enough hours in a day.

When your 6’ under, in an urn, or your remains have been scattered.

If none of the above, just get stuck in and enjoy yourself.

Bill

Wow what a fantastic schedule, and what stuff.

Bernie would you mind explaining your number of keyboard and computers to my wife it might help. (grin)

John C.

I am 87 and I believe that "Age is ust a number" I play each
and everyday. I have a Pa4X, a Ketron SD7 and will own the
next Yamaha keyboard when it's available. It keeps my brain
workin and my fingers nimble. Enjoy your music, Lloyd

I must be dying because I'm tired of learning stuff.
I play only two or three nights a week now, and learn a new song only when a customer requests one I don't know and that I think I can do o.k. Most weeks I don't take the kb out of the bag from Saturday night to Friday evening.
Weekdays I have to decide whether to play golf or go fishing.
I have four or five guitars that I don't play. One, thanks to Captain Russ, I keep handy so that if I feel inspired about something or the grandson wants to jam a little, it's right there.
There are hundreds of things my PA4X will do that I don't get into. I mainly just play styles and sing songs, and play whatever my right hand decides to do. Main mistake is that I tend to overplay sometimes. I suppose that is for my own enjoyment.
Life is good! I'm not complaining.

Tx all. Great responses.

Guess when I sit down to a keyboard, I feel like a kid again. Even my wife says it's good for my grey haired brain.

I have several guitars that don't get played anymore. But I played them pretty regularly for 50 years...just don't have the drive anymore.

Don't know that I'll take the plunge on the SK1. I've already got three keyboards and the SK1 wouldn't work live for me unless I got into some sort of combo.

This is an interesting thread to read.

I have heard that when the brain stops working, so does the rest of you.

About 20 years ago I moved to North Florida to a nice lakefront home with beautiful natural surroundings. I spent the first year improving my property, but then what. I had almost no place to play, and became tired of practicing for what. I was in a slump. My wife really preferred civilization, so we sold the house and moved back to South Florida. Being new to the area, I lined up a nursing home, and built clientell from there.

For me, I have to anticipate playing someplace, however simple. I begin to get my songs together that are appropriate, and tell myself that my image is worth putting out my best effort.

This is how I avoid lethargy and boredom. If that starts to wear off, I learn another keyboard.
Bernie

Have you played with the drawbars on the PA4x yet? It's a darn good simulation of the organ your friend has. Nothing beats the real thing, but most of the clones are about head to head.

Hi,
I think it's true.
Sort of happened to me a couple of years ago.
Hubby's mum passed away. 6 months later my dad passed away. Basically what to do with my mum, she was left with a house that was slowly crumbling around her 600 miles away. Anyway, all sorted out and is happily living in a retirement village.
Meanwhile I all but talked hubby into moving into a retirement village, didn't want to end up in the same situation as mum if something happened to hubby.
Thank goodness our house didn't sell immediately , and had time to withdraw it from sale.
He would have died of boredom without his garden to work on.
I'd given up my keyboards and went back to making my teddybears. Not great stimulation for the brain. Too much time to ponder about NOTHING.

A few weeks ago decided to check back into Synthzone.
New keyboard. Caught up with old friends. Back to feeling like my old self again.
The old brain is active again. Taking a tad longer to work out some of the newer functions, but never too late to learn

Right on Rikki. It's use it or lose it.

We are happy you made that decision Rikki. You bring a lot to the table.

Thank you Bernie.

Great thread. Hope to hear more.

Uncle Dave is right about the organ simulation on the 4X.

After all our keyboards are 'organ touch' right?

Do you suppose the keyboard would be much different on the SK1 than our arrangers?

Tx all..great thread.

Rog Lee

I would hope so..

The action on the SK1 is stiffer, but the Korg is wonderful. Great, tight, responsive action - I love it.

dave you giggin with the 4x yet? or? & hows the monitoring..

Not yet Donny ... too busy to take a chance. Years ago, I'd always take a new board out as soon as I got it, but after my 10 year slowdown with school, I'm taking my time on this one ... I'll debut it at the open micnight at the end of the month. I'm sure the monitoring will be OK, with my TC FX150. It's not like I won't hear the mains, but you know how I love the in-my-face approach.

Ill try to make to open mic nite also.....see ya there ..

Fair warning (and the reason I MAY not last too long at this venue) ... they allow SMOKING in there. YUK.

oh no!!!!!! that really sux!!! maybe I'll stand outside and listen..I remember walking into a club with Don Mason in Shreveport LA you couldn't see the stage it was so smokey...
we lasted 20 minutes and left!! and our clothes stunk for a week yuk!

Yeah ... I'm not excited about that smell again. It's been YEARS since I played a smoking venue.

not to mention what it will do to your new PA4x yuk

...and that was the last time I was in that place. I worked there six nights a week for several years back in the early 80's. They used to call me to come back but now they know that I won't because of the smoke so they quit calling.
It's a wonder I didn't get lung cancer from all that second hand smoke. I never smoked and always hated being around it.

My long-time partner lost 1/2 his tongue and finally died from throat and tongue cancer. He didn't smoke, either. I stood beside him for 20 years...still worry about that, occasionally.

Russ