15 year old playing Wakefield and Thile

[Tracy Ballinger]

BTW where is west central Ohio? Are you over in Darke or Mercer on the boarder or west of Columbus?

Preble County, about 8 miles east of Richmond.

[Steve K]

The radar (i.e., Transcribe!) clocked them at going ~308 bpm.

[JeffD]

How come I haven't learned as much in 2 years as he has?!

Tracy

Because like me, you have a job or work, rent or mortgage, upkeep and household expenses and worries and bills and family and folks to worry about and negoitiate with etc., etc.

If all I had to do in life was play mandolin, eat the food put in front of me, wear the clothes put in front of me, and learn the seven times tables I would be pretty good at mandolin too.

[Tracy Ballinger]

Because like me, you have a job or work, rent or mortgage, upkeep and household expenses and worries and bills and family and folks to worry about and negoitiate with etc., etc.

If all I had to do in life was play mandolin, eat the food put in front of me, wear the clothes put in front of me, and learn the seven times tables I would be pretty good at mandolin too.

Hmmm, that makes perfect sense when it's laid out like that!

[Bernie Daniel]

JeffD: If all I had to do in life was play mandolin, eat the food put in front of me, wear the clothes put in front of me, and learn the seven times tables I would be pretty good at mandolin too.

Hey you had yer chance!

You must have been 15 at least once!!

[JeffD]

Hey you had yer chance!

You must have been 15 at least once!!

Yea, and I still stumble on those seven times tables.

[Bernie Daniel]

But what really kills me is I wasted my time on things like sports in those years -- there were some kids playing guitar but I had no time for that.

I was minimalist in band -- I picked the susaphone because I knew I would not have to take it home to practice. And of course that bass cleft comes in pretty handy on the mandolin!

Why to they waste youth on young people?

That applies to me but not those kids

[mando.player]

Like a lot of folks, I came into music later in life (early 20's). I've often wondered how much better I would be if I had started earlier. One thing I've never regretted though was the time I spent playing organized sports. There are certain personal and social skills that are learned through sports that I still use on a daily basis.

Even today, I still split my free time between music and sports. Over the past couple of years I've been involved with Martial Arts as a way to keep myself in shape. There are quite a few similarities between music and athletics. I guess I just don't see athletics and music being mutually exclusive. What I do have problems with is managing my free time...LOL.

[Hallmark498]

Some "have it" others don't.

[Tracy Ballinger]

Of course, another factor that really helps these young-uns is that their FAMILY plays music. I'm sure at a very early age an instrument was placed in their hands, they were shown what to do, and on probably a daily basis the family played together. In my mind, that's priceless for making quick improvement!

[Michael Ellis]

I'd think the Ode to a Butterfly would sound much better if he slowed down a little and allowed the notes to 'flow'. I'm glad I'm not wasting any time though Wish I had some similar aged people to compare myself too, Steffey and Bibey are just too old

MN

[Samjessin]

Not much room for criticism here! These kids are great and will only get better.

I just started organized sports again (adult baseball) and it is butting into my music time, but honestly sports and music are both great pastimes so it is okay with me!