Customer Reviews

Never Too Late: My Musical Life Story

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Mr. Holt has written a subversive book. While somewhat disorganized in its presentation, 'Never Too Late' nevertheless presents some very unconventional ideas. I applaud his methods: while the majority of material centers around his musical education and attempts to learn a very difficult instrument (cello) at middle age, he also sneaks in some brain-rattling notions about how we learn, especially as adults. His "day job" expertise--childhood education--is typically referenced here as a distraction to his music, but ends up complementing his theses.

So what did he discover about our learning processes? Try these on for size: we have to imagine ourselves doing something new, difficult, and demanding *before* we do it; if you insist on learning a difficult activity, take it up for its own sake, *not* to help solve some "problem"; testing tests only our ability to take tests, nothing more; while adults have the advantage of posing their own problems (and finding solutions), we're hindered by seeing our tasks--even our art--as a series of tests at which we can only pass or fail (we do *far* too much of the latter).

While coming across these gems, I could not help but notice the biggest conceit of all in this exercise: that John Holt--a brilliant and original thinker about children's education--had written a book about adult education, all under the guise of a personal memoir. This cleverness is not without faults; I found myself starting to skip some of the more complex details of music theory into which he lapses. But they hardly diminish the power of the interspersed ideas.

My favorite insights are those the author found through personal--rather than especially theoretical--experience. He found himself giving "alibis in advance"--appeals for sympathy before even beginning an activity ("I'm not very good, but ...")--and reminded himself: do the best you can! Either shut up and play, or go home! Far from a reproach, this felt like a refreshing blast at an all-too-common self-pity. But even better was an approach Holt admitted he "learned slowly": "I have to accept at each moment, as a fact of life, my present skill or lack of skill, and do the best I can, without blaming myself for not being able to do better." He goes on to note "this is very hard for most adults." True enough. But by pointing out these invaluable insights, he's done us all a great service. Read this splendid little book and see if you don't agree.

This book changed my life. It gave me the courage and inspiration to overcome a horrible childhood experience with piano lessons, and relearn to play as an adult. Playing the piano has become one of the great joys of my life, and John Holt gave me the kick to allow that to happen.

John Caldwell Holt, like Ivan Illych, was a long-time rebel educator who felt that the general public education system could sometimes do more harm than good when it comes to instilling in children a life-long love for learning. But in this particular book, Holt is sending a message to those in their golden years who think they've passed the prime of learning. Taking up the cello at an advanced age, then putting it down due to work and travel pressures, then taking it up again into his 50s and beyond, Holt wants to show by example that getting older doesn't mean you can't pursue your dreams.

Like Wayne Booth's book on the love of amateur cello playing, Holt's book shows how the pursuit of amateur cello playing is available to almost anyone with the drive to put in the requisite practice hours and gather with likeminded people to practice their craft.

If you put down your childhood instrument decades ago, or never picked one up in the first place, Holt can inspire you through his example to consider taking it up.

If you've regret giving up violin lessons back in sixth grade, think "if only I had stuck with it" when you hear Yo Yo Ma play, and you think fondly of the neglected instrument collecting dust in the attic, this book may be for you, providing a jump start to get you back into music. Holt is passionate about his cello, about music, about improving. He inspires courage -- the courage to start something new and work through the frustrations of being a older beginner (whose skills are surpassed by a Suzuki-trained child, no doubt). Holt dives in to his instrument with a seriousness and commitment that I doubt most adult learners would have (hours of practice, playing in community orchestras) -- but it's an inspiring read, nonetheless.

If you're an adult grappling with learning an instrument for the first time(as I am)-or if you're just fascinated by the possibility, you will find much to enjoy in this memoir. A very honest self portrait of a struggling, middle-aged amateur who simply will NOT give up his dream of playing the cello, come what may-and the personal rewards it brings him. Inspiring.

This book contains the musical memoirs of John Holt, amateur cellist. Throughout his life, Holt was fascinated with the process of learning and of education. He taught classes in elementary schools, and he published a number of books including "How Children Fail." In this book, Holt presents many observations about his own struggles to learn music. Holt didn't come from a musical family and had practically no training in music as a young person. However, starting in his teenage years, he developed a great love of listening to music. Over the next few decades, he dallied with learning the guitar and flute, but it wasn't until he was 40 that he began studying music in earnest on the cello. Of all instruments to choose, the cello is not one to be taken up lightly, for it is notoriously difficult in its fingerings, bowings, and tone quality. Holt found that his musical studies were requiring more and more of his time, but he also found the time spent on working with his instrument to be so rewarding that he was willing to give up many of his other activities so as to have more time to practice and learn.

In this book, Holt presents a lifelong analysis of all the types of music he had been exposed to, and what they meant to him and his development in music. He takes us from learning songs with his aunt on summer vacation through how he figured out musical notation by fiddling around with piano keys, through intensive summer music camps he attended as an adult with his cello. At times, this seemingly exhaustive enumeration of musical experiences can drag a bit. On the other hand, each anecdote does eventually play an important role in the big picture as Holt unfolds his story.

As a struggling amateur musician, I found Holt's story to be quite inspiring. Since Holt was neither a trained musician nor a music educator, he was able to offer an uncommon perspective on music practice and learning. I was struck by his insistence that musicians at all levels should include in their daily practice pieces that are much too hard for them, rather than just sticking to material that is appropriate for their current level. He also stresses the need for playing real music, and not just exercises or pedagogical pieces (although he does note that sometimes these, too, are useful). He stresses the importance of playing pieces in their entirety as well as working on individual trouble spots. Holt makes it clear that musicians of all levels should be playing music that speaks to them (rather than to their teachers). Through his example, he shows that it doesn't matter what age you are when you first begin to study music-if you are serious about your practice, you will progress and find immense enjoyment as you play.

How difficult is it to attempt something very imposing at later years? Holt writes of this experience of taking up the cello at fifty and his resultant joys and journey.

A lifelong student, Holt is his own person. Learning from himself and his world, and everything in them that will help him achieve. He makes good points about fear and disappointment building barriers to improvement. The battle between competing voices of critique and edification, of between differing interests, e.g. Holt's musician vs. writer.

All this is comforting and inspiring for the adult learner in each of us. Attempting to pick up the oboe in my fifties, having abandoned it at 14, understand much of what Holt communicates so well. However, his issues of tuning and fret memory are replaced for the double reedist by the ever trying reed dilemma.

I did not profit from the lengthy recall of his music past.

This touching and useful sharing of music growth will stimulate and inspire aspiring musicians of all levels. Learning to be a learner is a wonderful thematic gift of this work.

This book, to me, inspired me to pick up chess. I have never in my life learned to play chess because to me it was quite hard, but i gave it a go. I searched for a good cd rom as compared to finding a teacher or a book and in the end learned to play chess in about a month. It took me about a month to play because chess was something so new to me, but once i got the hang of it, everything was like childs play. John Holt proved to me that certain things can be overcomed-if one tries very hard. At times, it won't work but in others it will. The program that i buoght was" how to play chess with fritz and chesster-part 1".

On music, about playing an instrument. Mom's and Dad's should take them at an early age to music school. The other area is about pregnant ladies listening to alot of classical music as well as them having a positive environment while there babies are still in the womb. This will produce smarter, and intelligent babies. If mom's read alot of books while they are pregnant, this too benefits the child.

Holt's book is inspiring. This may inspire me to take flight cessna lessons some day soon. Oh yes, for me, chess has been my musical instrument you could say. For me, chess has enhanced my IQ. It is a great stress releaser....

This book is inspiring. Give it a try, in reading it, it could help you take up the French or Russian language or it could help you -motivate you to become an Anesthesiologist.

I loved this book. I've read it many times and I continue to be inspired by the wisdom Mr. Holt has left with us. I wish I would have read it when I first started playing an instrument (guitar) in my teens. Its perfect for an adult student but equally appropriate for younger students also.

I started violin lessons at 58 and am thoroughly enjoying it. Some days I'm good, other days I'm not so good - but his book has inspired me to quit kicking myself when I can't get fingering right or am out of tune. Whether you're young or old, this is a great book to read to keep you on track with whatever difficult project you may be working on. If your heart is in it-you can do it. Thanks!