Never too old to learn.  I don't know where people get that idea.  You may be a little old to try for "child prodigy", but as long as you're ok with that, you should be fine.  LOL

Kind of interesting that people often seem to wonder about if they are too old to start learning an instrument.. But I've been thinking maybe folks would be better off wondering if they are too old to quit.

I mean, doesn't there come a point where you can look at your age and your likely life expectancy and think... "Aw, what the heck.  I may as well just stick with it."

50 used to be considered kinda old, I guess.  But these days, with advances in medicine and educational opportunities, I have talked to quite a few people now that think of it as just a good age for "re-tooling" to prepare for your next career.  It is not as old as it used to be.  Neither is 70, for that matter, or any age, really.

"Retirement" used to be a carrot that was dangled at the 65 yr old line of life.  But having seen older friends who retired and died a very few years later, and the ones that died of heart attacks in their "big push" the last couple of years before retirement, I decided a few years ago that I can maybe live better without ever going after that particular carrot.  Most of the friends who are older than myself who are in good shape and good health are still working, though many of them took a change in lifestyle or career direction. 

When I hit 50 a few years ago (I'm 53 now), I gave such matters quite a bit of thought.  And I'll admit, some worry.  But deciding I wasn't ready to wrap things up and think of life as done, I started thinking about what I'd like to do, what my half a century had given me in life experiences that I could build on, and for part of my 51st birthday, I started looking at violins.  I'd always wanted to try the instrument, one hears how hard it is and how expensive, how much work to learn and etc.  I let that sort of talk chase me off when I was younger.  But as an adult, I know better than to be chased off by just talk when I can find out for myself and see what *I* can do.

So one can worry about being "too old" or just decide it is time to re-tool and gain the skills and education you'll need for "round 2". 

I do think small children have some learning advantages.  But so do adults.  Adults are often more self-disciplined, have learned what can be accomplished with some work and sticking to something rather than becoming discouraged when things will take some time.  Life experiences can give us a better long-term perspective, and at least a lot of us have learned to be better at budgeting our time than when we were kids. 

Besides, it is never too late to have a happy childhood.  This time you can hold out for the new bike, a pony AND violin lessons.  LOL