I learned to play the piano without a piano | Hacker News Reader

I learned to play the piano without a piano

theguardian.com

19 pointsfermigier8 comments

Can someone explain why there are age-based deadlines for starting formal music education? If a person can become an engineer or a lawyer regardless of their age, why is it the opposite in that field?

I am having trouble finding an exact study, but i believe the studies have shown that you pick it up easier before a certain age (languages are like this too apparently) and if you do, your brain will pick it up easier later on.

Its not hard/fast, but I think its just a huge leg up

That sounds common-sense to me, but it seems un-meritocratic to assume it a priori.

I agree with you. I think everyone should have a chance at what they'd like to do, without being blocked because "people like them" (in whatever way) tend to do poorly.

That said, age matters. Very, very few people can start programming at 18 and progress to the top 20% of the field. I can't think of anyone who's done so, though I'm sure there are exceptions.

Niklaus Wirth comes to mind. Admittedly, programming as a profession was very different at that time.

Hmm. Wikipedia says he had a BSEE at 21. No info on his early years, but I suspect he's one of the people we'd say started young.

I didn't "program" either before 18, since I grew up in a household (and part of the country) without any access to computers. But I was indeed drawn to it young, and "learned to program" by reading magazines and sending off for free vendor literature (which did indeed have lots of nuggets of knowledge about all things tech).

i agree, but I believe the issue here is limited resources. Not everyone can have the world's best education so we use the resources we have on those that early identify as talented.

Not saying its good, just it may be a resource management issue

Mostly so that by the time you reach your peak physical ability in your 20's, you'll have sufficient practice to utilize it. It's not that you can't learn it, you just won't be "great" at it when measured against others who started much earlier.

Other factors are at play too. Like if you're not making money by playing the piano by early adulthood, you'll be spending your work hours doing something else. Where your "competition" will be playing the piano 24x7.

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