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The Late Starters Orchestra
“We’re all living longer. What should we do with the time? Ari Goldman has a solution. The Late Starters Orchestra is warm, soulful, sometimes rueful, sometimes passionate—just like his beloved cello. I found myself laughing out loud in places—and unexpectedly moved at the end.”
—Jonathan Weiner, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Beak of the Finch
In a cluttered room in an abandoned coat factory in lower Manhattan, a group of musicians comes together each week to make music. Some are old, some are young, all have come late to music or come back to it after a long absence. This is the Late Starters Orchestra--the bona fide amateur string orchestra where Ari Goldman pursues his lifelong dream of playing the cello.
Goldman hadn’t seriously picked up his cello in twenty-five years, but the Late Starters (its motto, If you think you can play, you can) seemed just the right orchestra for this music lover whose busy life had always gotten in the way of its pursuit.
In The Late Starters Orchestra, Goldman takes us along to LSO rehearsals and lets us sit in on his son’s Suzuki lessons, where we find out that children do indeed learn differently from adults. He explores history’s greatest cellists and also attempts to understand what motivates his fellow late starters, amateurs all, whose quest is for joy, not greatness. And when Goldman commits to playing at his upcoming birthday party we wonder with him whether he’ll be good enough to perform in public. To the rescue comes the ghost of Goldman’s first cello teacher, the wise and eccentric Mr. J, who continues to inspire and guide him--about music and more--through this well-tuned journey.
With enchanting illustrations by Eric Hanson, The Late Starters Orchestra is about teachers and students, fathers and sons, courage and creativity, individual perseverance and the power of community. And Ari Goldman has a message for anyone who has ever had a dream it’s never too late to find happiness on one’s own terms.
—Jonathan Weiner, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Beak of the Finch
In a cluttered room in an abandoned coat factory in lower Manhattan, a group of musicians comes together each week to make music. Some are old, some are young, all have come late to music or come back to it after a long absence. This is the Late Starters Orchestra--the bona fide amateur string orchestra where Ari Goldman pursues his lifelong dream of playing the cello.
Goldman hadn’t seriously picked up his cello in twenty-five years, but the Late Starters (its motto, If you think you can play, you can) seemed just the right orchestra for this music lover whose busy life had always gotten in the way of its pursuit.
In The Late Starters Orchestra, Goldman takes us along to LSO rehearsals and lets us sit in on his son’s Suzuki lessons, where we find out that children do indeed learn differently from adults. He explores history’s greatest cellists and also attempts to understand what motivates his fellow late starters, amateurs all, whose quest is for joy, not greatness. And when Goldman commits to playing at his upcoming birthday party we wonder with him whether he’ll be good enough to perform in public. To the rescue comes the ghost of Goldman’s first cello teacher, the wise and eccentric Mr. J, who continues to inspire and guide him--about music and more--through this well-tuned journey.
With enchanting illustrations by Eric Hanson, The Late Starters Orchestra is about teachers and students, fathers and sons, courage and creativity, individual perseverance and the power of community. And Ari Goldman has a message for anyone who has ever had a dream it’s never too late to find happiness on one’s own terms.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
June 30, 2014
While the idea for the book was great - an older man picks up the cello and tries to play - it ended up being rather dull. The book was strongly geared (obviously) toward older folks, but even as a 30 something I feel like I ought to have related at least a little. But I didn't.
First off, while Goldman was forthright and honest about his resistance to change, it didn't seem that he cared. Which meant that much of his world view became dated. He wanted to play cello, but only classical (he did, at one point, open up to "gypsy" music.... but that was as far as he got). He wanted his son to be a musician, but only a classical musician. Even when Goldman created a real and true musician, one who could jump from instrument to instrument, he couldn't help but feel pity for himself that his son wasn't going to be a concert cellist.
Secondly, it was painful to watch him try so hard to fit his son, and, at some points, his students in the classical mold. There is great beauty in tradition, but Goldman, unfortunately, refused to believe that the world changes, often for the better, and that that change is beautiful, too. There are ways of blending tradition and change, past and present and future, into one beautiful whole. It can get ugly if someone tries too hard to hold onto the "good old days".
Finally, his writing style was pure newspaperman. This was the first Goldman book I have read, so I was a bit surprised by it. Newspaper writing should be left with the news. There were so many chances in his book for Goldman to dig deeper.... and he passed them all by. The history of cello making.... The story of the great cellists.... The story of the great cello composers.... Cello in art today.... All lightly skimmed over in favor of his personal memoir. It was a bit sad really. It felt like he was ignoring much of the rich cello that he loves so much.
It may have just been that I experienced a generational gap. It may be that the older people I know are more open to change. And I might be a little bit too demanding in the depth of my reading. Either way, I was really disappointed in the outcome of this book.
First off, while Goldman was forthright and honest about his resistance to change, it didn't seem that he cared. Which meant that much of his world view became dated. He wanted to play cello, but only classical (he did, at one point, open up to "gypsy" music.... but that was as far as he got). He wanted his son to be a musician, but only a classical musician. Even when Goldman created a real and true musician, one who could jump from instrument to instrument, he couldn't help but feel pity for himself that his son wasn't going to be a concert cellist.
Secondly, it was painful to watch him try so hard to fit his son, and, at some points, his students in the classical mold. There is great beauty in tradition, but Goldman, unfortunately, refused to believe that the world changes, often for the better, and that that change is beautiful, too. There are ways of blending tradition and change, past and present and future, into one beautiful whole. It can get ugly if someone tries too hard to hold onto the "good old days".
Finally, his writing style was pure newspaperman. This was the first Goldman book I have read, so I was a bit surprised by it. Newspaper writing should be left with the news. There were so many chances in his book for Goldman to dig deeper.... and he passed them all by. The history of cello making.... The story of the great cellists.... The story of the great cello composers.... Cello in art today.... All lightly skimmed over in favor of his personal memoir. It was a bit sad really. It felt like he was ignoring much of the rich cello that he loves so much.
It may have just been that I experienced a generational gap. It may be that the older people I know are more open to change. And I might be a little bit too demanding in the depth of my reading. Either way, I was really disappointed in the outcome of this book.
January 20, 2024
I really enjoyed this story, as I’m saving for a new-to-me instrument, and would love to get proficient enough to join a community orchestra. Yay, inspiration!
July 3, 2014
The Late Starters Orchestra is a cozy little book suited for all readers interested in music for anyone interested in learning a new skill later in life. Ari L. Goldman, a highly experienced writer, relates his personal experiences with returning to the cello after twenty-five years away.
After retirement many people are concerned about how to keep their brains sharp and their lives interesting. Goldman mentions several ways to reduce our brain age, focusing on the incredible power of music. As well, he examines how introducing a young child to music improves their math abilities and stimulates brain growth in specialized areas. Both the old and the young do better in memory tasks than nonmusicians.
Goldman introduces the reader to various amateur music groups including The Late Starters Orchestra. We follow his journey as he sets a personal goal to play exemplary music on the cello on his 60th birthday. On the way, we're introduced to numerous people whose lives have been dramatically improved by returning to our beginning music at a later stage in life, from Dan who lost his job to Geraldine who totes her double bass seven hours by car to participate in an amateur orchestra. Goldman makes it very clear that learning an instrument, especially a stringed one, is challenging and requires commitment and extensive effort at any age but the benefits are worth it.
Goldman reiterates Malcolm Gladwell's statement that 10,000 hours of practice are required to become expert at anything. (If you haven't read Gladwell's books, check them out. They're fascinating sociology/psychology texts.) Goldman admits that no one his age has 10,000 hours and that's okay. Do what you can, where you can, when you can, and it will still make a difference to the quality of your life.
There are some fascinating facts about the difference between a violin and cello, the history of the cello, and its abilities. I did find the book slow going at times. I think he could've gone into more depth about some of the other late starters he included. But generally, it was a comfortable, enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book for review from Algonquin Books.
After retirement many people are concerned about how to keep their brains sharp and their lives interesting. Goldman mentions several ways to reduce our brain age, focusing on the incredible power of music. As well, he examines how introducing a young child to music improves their math abilities and stimulates brain growth in specialized areas. Both the old and the young do better in memory tasks than nonmusicians.
Goldman introduces the reader to various amateur music groups including The Late Starters Orchestra. We follow his journey as he sets a personal goal to play exemplary music on the cello on his 60th birthday. On the way, we're introduced to numerous people whose lives have been dramatically improved by returning to our beginning music at a later stage in life, from Dan who lost his job to Geraldine who totes her double bass seven hours by car to participate in an amateur orchestra. Goldman makes it very clear that learning an instrument, especially a stringed one, is challenging and requires commitment and extensive effort at any age but the benefits are worth it.
Goldman reiterates Malcolm Gladwell's statement that 10,000 hours of practice are required to become expert at anything. (If you haven't read Gladwell's books, check them out. They're fascinating sociology/psychology texts.) Goldman admits that no one his age has 10,000 hours and that's okay. Do what you can, where you can, when you can, and it will still make a difference to the quality of your life.
There are some fascinating facts about the difference between a violin and cello, the history of the cello, and its abilities. I did find the book slow going at times. I think he could've gone into more depth about some of the other late starters he included. But generally, it was a comfortable, enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book for review from Algonquin Books.
January 15, 2014
I'm enjoying this growing genre of books about middle-aged people taking up a musical instrument, either for the first time or decades after last playing. Guitar Zero, A Devil to Play (French horn), and Play it Again (piano) are a few I've read and liked.
The Late Starters Orchestra has its author, Ari Goldman, getting reacquainted with the cello in his fifties. As he approaches the age of sixty, he's determined to learn enough to play a few songs for his friends at his 60th birthday party. It's difficult, with his job as journalism professor at Columbia University and a lively family. But he sticks with it, as his old cello teacher, now dead, continues to inspire with remembered words of encouragement.
Since Goldman lives in Manhattan, he has access to many music groups, including entire orchestras made up of amateurs of all levels of experience. He tries a few of them, as well as several music camps both in New York and in England. His experiences are interesting and amusing, as is the fact that his young son took up cello at age six and quickly passed his father. For a while, Ari and his son were able to play in the same beginner's orchestra.
Goldman's struggle to achieve his self-imposed goal is easy to identify with. He also gives us profiles of many of the adult learners he meets along the way. By the time you finish you have to admit, there's no reason not to tackle that instrument/foreign language/dance.
The Late Starters Orchestra has its author, Ari Goldman, getting reacquainted with the cello in his fifties. As he approaches the age of sixty, he's determined to learn enough to play a few songs for his friends at his 60th birthday party. It's difficult, with his job as journalism professor at Columbia University and a lively family. But he sticks with it, as his old cello teacher, now dead, continues to inspire with remembered words of encouragement.
Since Goldman lives in Manhattan, he has access to many music groups, including entire orchestras made up of amateurs of all levels of experience. He tries a few of them, as well as several music camps both in New York and in England. His experiences are interesting and amusing, as is the fact that his young son took up cello at age six and quickly passed his father. For a while, Ari and his son were able to play in the same beginner's orchestra.
Goldman's struggle to achieve his self-imposed goal is easy to identify with. He also gives us profiles of many of the adult learners he meets along the way. By the time you finish you have to admit, there's no reason not to tackle that instrument/foreign language/dance.
January 17, 2014
This book made me smile. All while reading it, I found myself smiling. This memoir is more than a feel-good book, though. It’s an important reminder to honor one’s inner artist, in whatever form that might be. It's also a reminder that it's never to late to do something you love or try something new.
Ari Goldman returns to the music instrument of his early adulthood, the cello. Nearing 60, he picks up the cello again after watching his youngest son develop into a first-class cellist. Never competitive with his son, Goldman honors himself and Judah with admiration and respect - first for the instrument, secondly for the student.
This memoir is at times funny, poignant and wistful. Goldman shows his journalistic chops by writing a smooth narrative that flows seamlessly between past and present. He channels Sholem Aleichem's "Fiddler on the Roof," his mentor Mr. J, his family and struggling musicians everywhere. His devotion is evident in this love letter to the cello. Highly recommended!
(This book was previewed through NetGalley.com. It is scheduled for publication June 10, 2014.)
Ari Goldman returns to the music instrument of his early adulthood, the cello. Nearing 60, he picks up the cello again after watching his youngest son develop into a first-class cellist. Never competitive with his son, Goldman honors himself and Judah with admiration and respect - first for the instrument, secondly for the student.
This memoir is at times funny, poignant and wistful. Goldman shows his journalistic chops by writing a smooth narrative that flows seamlessly between past and present. He channels Sholem Aleichem's "Fiddler on the Roof," his mentor Mr. J, his family and struggling musicians everywhere. His devotion is evident in this love letter to the cello. Highly recommended!
(This book was previewed through NetGalley.com. It is scheduled for publication June 10, 2014.)
June 15, 2014
I really liked this book!
I liked Ari's tenacity and acceptance that at his age it would more difficult to learn to play the cello, and his decision to do it anyway!
His commitment to his musical growth was impressive. To travel, carrying a cello is no easy feat. To practice the many hours a day and carry on a "normal" life and remain involved in family life is outstanding!
Ari also describes how he learned from, and carried inside of him all of his cello teachers. He had the ability to engage with them internally when he would have a problem with learning, and pull out their words of wisdom.
There is another story in the book of Ari's relationship with his son Judah. Judah is a cello student and Ari is extremely supportive of his son and his musical education on the cello. Ari stars again when Judah wants to add the guitar to his musical learning. He also wants to quit formal cello lessons. He reluctantly accepts his sons decision.
Ari wants to celebrate his love of the cello by performing a cello solo on his 60th birthday.
I do not want to spoil the ending, so you really should read this inspiring book yourself!
I liked Ari's tenacity and acceptance that at his age it would more difficult to learn to play the cello, and his decision to do it anyway!
His commitment to his musical growth was impressive. To travel, carrying a cello is no easy feat. To practice the many hours a day and carry on a "normal" life and remain involved in family life is outstanding!
Ari also describes how he learned from, and carried inside of him all of his cello teachers. He had the ability to engage with them internally when he would have a problem with learning, and pull out their words of wisdom.
There is another story in the book of Ari's relationship with his son Judah. Judah is a cello student and Ari is extremely supportive of his son and his musical education on the cello. Ari stars again when Judah wants to add the guitar to his musical learning. He also wants to quit formal cello lessons. He reluctantly accepts his sons decision.
Ari wants to celebrate his love of the cello by performing a cello solo on his 60th birthday.
I do not want to spoil the ending, so you really should read this inspiring book yourself!
February 11, 2016
If you’re middle aged and always wanted to do something new and difficult, you should read The Late Starters Orchestra for inspiration. Written by Ari Goldman, it tells of his desire to follow a lifelong dream of playing the cello. But maybe you want to learn to ski. Or play chess at the Masters level. Or study Sanskrit.
No matter. This book provides insight in a gentle way as Goldman decides he will put time, effort, and some money into learning his instrument. At first he struggles not only with notes but also with finding a supportive environment for someone nearing sixty. Eventually he comes across a movement called Late Starters Orchestras, whose musicians are just like him. They love the thrill of music and want to play together publicly, knowing they’ll never play Carnegie Hall. In fact there is one such orchestra that prides itself on how terrible it plays.
How Goldman sets a goal and achieves it is told pleasantly and clearly; it’s a good read even if you are already proficient at everything you enjoy. But I’m betting you’ll think of something you want to tackle by the last page.
No matter. This book provides insight in a gentle way as Goldman decides he will put time, effort, and some money into learning his instrument. At first he struggles not only with notes but also with finding a supportive environment for someone nearing sixty. Eventually he comes across a movement called Late Starters Orchestras, whose musicians are just like him. They love the thrill of music and want to play together publicly, knowing they’ll never play Carnegie Hall. In fact there is one such orchestra that prides itself on how terrible it plays.
How Goldman sets a goal and achieves it is told pleasantly and clearly; it’s a good read even if you are already proficient at everything you enjoy. But I’m betting you’ll think of something you want to tackle by the last page.
December 18, 2014
I usually enjoy reading books about music or musicians, so, even though I didn't know what to expect with this one, I had a feeling that I would find it quite enjoyable. What I didn't expect, to be honest, was enjoying it as much as I did. I'm glad that I was given the opportunity to read this by Early Reviewers at LibraryThing.
Ari Goldman has written some other books, but this is the first one of his I have read, so I have nothing previously read to base this on. He writes in a style that is easy to read, but there is a depth to his writing that makes it worthwhile reading, with lots given to think about and reflect upon.
The book is primarily about Goldman's decision to take up playing the cello again after a number of years of neglect. As he approaches his 60th birthday he decides that as part of his celebration he wants to be able to give a performance on the cello. There is some regret that he abandoned his cello playing for so long, but he shows some determination in getting back to it again.
I would have probably found the story of his re-acquaintance with the cello enjoyable enough, but he enriched the story by sharing his life journey as well. He tells the story about his life growing up as a Jew and how music had always been part of his life, going from how this initially involved regular singing in the synagogue to having to learn to play an instrument when his voice broke and he no longer sung as angelically as he had previously.
Goldman shares a lot of what and who inspired him over the years, especially one cello teacher who taught him a lot of what he knew, not just about cello playing, but also life in general. He also shares some of the struggles of balancing his career and family with his love of music. Of the three, it was music that mainly took the back seat as his career and family came to the forefront. He also shares the stories of some of the people who have come into his life as he has undertaken his journey of musical rediscovery.
At times the book was moving. Sometimes it was funny. Often it was both. I could identify with some of what he wrote, having been around music of some sort for most of my life. I grew up in a church where learning music was encouraged from an early age. I had my first musical instrument placed in my hands before my seventh birthday. Over the years playing music has moved in and out of my life. One of my regrets has not always having taken it as seriously as I could have, plus my aversion to regular practice probably didn't help. Although my journey hasn't been the same as Goldman's, I found myself identifying with some of the things he shred, perhaps especially some of the regrets.
Although I enjoyed this book partly because of my enjoyment of music, I think that those without a musical background would also enjoy it. It's inspirational and moving in the way it touches on life in general, in relationships, in the part religion plays in one's life, and in the way we are shaped by those who teach us, among many other things. Above all else, Goldman inspires the reader to see that one is never too old to deal with some of the regrets of the past, not necessarily returning there, but picking up something long neglected and continuing with it once more. Too many people live with regrets instead of actually realising that sometimes they can be dealt with and overcome.
I'd heartily recommend this book as one worth reading, especially if you enjoy musical biographies, but it is also worth picking up if you are looking for something inspirational to read.
Ari Goldman has written some other books, but this is the first one of his I have read, so I have nothing previously read to base this on. He writes in a style that is easy to read, but there is a depth to his writing that makes it worthwhile reading, with lots given to think about and reflect upon.
The book is primarily about Goldman's decision to take up playing the cello again after a number of years of neglect. As he approaches his 60th birthday he decides that as part of his celebration he wants to be able to give a performance on the cello. There is some regret that he abandoned his cello playing for so long, but he shows some determination in getting back to it again.
I would have probably found the story of his re-acquaintance with the cello enjoyable enough, but he enriched the story by sharing his life journey as well. He tells the story about his life growing up as a Jew and how music had always been part of his life, going from how this initially involved regular singing in the synagogue to having to learn to play an instrument when his voice broke and he no longer sung as angelically as he had previously.
Goldman shares a lot of what and who inspired him over the years, especially one cello teacher who taught him a lot of what he knew, not just about cello playing, but also life in general. He also shares some of the struggles of balancing his career and family with his love of music. Of the three, it was music that mainly took the back seat as his career and family came to the forefront. He also shares the stories of some of the people who have come into his life as he has undertaken his journey of musical rediscovery.
At times the book was moving. Sometimes it was funny. Often it was both. I could identify with some of what he wrote, having been around music of some sort for most of my life. I grew up in a church where learning music was encouraged from an early age. I had my first musical instrument placed in my hands before my seventh birthday. Over the years playing music has moved in and out of my life. One of my regrets has not always having taken it as seriously as I could have, plus my aversion to regular practice probably didn't help. Although my journey hasn't been the same as Goldman's, I found myself identifying with some of the things he shred, perhaps especially some of the regrets.
Although I enjoyed this book partly because of my enjoyment of music, I think that those without a musical background would also enjoy it. It's inspirational and moving in the way it touches on life in general, in relationships, in the part religion plays in one's life, and in the way we are shaped by those who teach us, among many other things. Above all else, Goldman inspires the reader to see that one is never too old to deal with some of the regrets of the past, not necessarily returning there, but picking up something long neglected and continuing with it once more. Too many people live with regrets instead of actually realising that sometimes they can be dealt with and overcome.
I'd heartily recommend this book as one worth reading, especially if you enjoy musical biographies, but it is also worth picking up if you are looking for something inspirational to read.
July 18, 2014
Well written book. It seemed to be in much the same vein as Noah Adams' book on learning piano as an adult. Although I found this book to be more on topic, more about how music was important to his life, to the lives of those that he was in contact with, and what the various seemingly odd institutions crop up around musicians - amateur or professional. If you had no knowledge of the string world, I think you could find this very instructive. As someone raised as a violinist and then violist, it all rang very real to me. As much memoir on aging and parenting as it is about being a cellist, it still worked on both levels equally which I found satisfying.
June 19, 2014
I liked it. It's a quick read and for those of us who took up an instrument late in life, there's a lot to relate to.
January 4, 2020
2.5 stars.
I bought this on a whim at a secondhand bookshop because the cello on the cover caught my eye. I played cello all through school and was in a community orchestra for a few years before it lost funding or something. I have been toying with the idea (when my life slows down just a bit) of joining the somewhat newly-formed college symphony orchestra to get back into it. So I thought I would sort of relate to this memoir, even though the memoir focuses on someone a couple of decades my senior.
While I appreciate that this is a memoir and is therefore just one person's experience, there was very little in here that I could relate to. This person apparently has scads of money just waiting around for spontaneous trips across seas for fun little orchestra camps, or a couple of thousand dollars available for the repairing of very old instruments that would be cheaper to replace. How nice for him. But again, Mr. Goldman is at a different point in his life than I am and also the economy hadn't quite screwed over his generation as much as it has mine.
Speaking of which, as much as I abhor the internet's sensationalized "war" between Millennials and Baby Boomers, I could actually hear in my mind, unsolicited, the much over-used and quite stupid phrase, "ok boomer," mainly when he is teaching a journalism class and refuses to accept the new turn in media, and when he is trying to force his son into the perfectly outlined life he had envisioned for him. For a writer and world-traveler, Goldman seems to have a very narrow view of life. Technology is evil. The only pure form of journalism is thousands of pounds of paper and ink. Being a musician means playing classical music in an orchestra. His opinions are the right ones. His tastes are much more advanced than anyone who disagrees with them. Towards the end it seems he grudgingly accepts his son's broader musical talents, but honestly it seemed very forced, like he realized he was being kind of a jerk and needed to ingratiate himself to the reader a bit.
This book, to my knowledge, is the second book by a journalist I have tried to read. The first was The Soloist, which I DNF'd years ago. I don't know if I just can't stand reading books by journalists because their style does not really vary from newspaper to novel and when reading a novel, I prefer NOT reading a 300-page newspaper article. It could also be that journalism is not the right style with which to write about something so creative and subjective as music. Music should have feeling, and writing should have feeling. Journalism is very wooden and unwavering in its opinions-presented-as-facts. When Goldman tries to bring feeling into this book, it falls flat for me and just seems overly cheesy, especially when his old teacher is speaking to him through his old cello.
Qualms aside, this was a quick read and not too terrible. The best parts were when Goldman focuses on the other people he meets at the various orchestras he takes part in throughout the book. Some of their stories were interesting. I also enjoyed the little forays into the history of stringed instruments. I wish there had been a bit more of that.
I bought this on a whim at a secondhand bookshop because the cello on the cover caught my eye. I played cello all through school and was in a community orchestra for a few years before it lost funding or something. I have been toying with the idea (when my life slows down just a bit) of joining the somewhat newly-formed college symphony orchestra to get back into it. So I thought I would sort of relate to this memoir, even though the memoir focuses on someone a couple of decades my senior.
While I appreciate that this is a memoir and is therefore just one person's experience, there was very little in here that I could relate to. This person apparently has scads of money just waiting around for spontaneous trips across seas for fun little orchestra camps, or a couple of thousand dollars available for the repairing of very old instruments that would be cheaper to replace. How nice for him. But again, Mr. Goldman is at a different point in his life than I am and also the economy hadn't quite screwed over his generation as much as it has mine.
Speaking of which, as much as I abhor the internet's sensationalized "war" between Millennials and Baby Boomers, I could actually hear in my mind, unsolicited, the much over-used and quite stupid phrase, "ok boomer," mainly when he is teaching a journalism class and refuses to accept the new turn in media, and when he is trying to force his son into the perfectly outlined life he had envisioned for him. For a writer and world-traveler, Goldman seems to have a very narrow view of life. Technology is evil. The only pure form of journalism is thousands of pounds of paper and ink. Being a musician means playing classical music in an orchestra. His opinions are the right ones. His tastes are much more advanced than anyone who disagrees with them. Towards the end it seems he grudgingly accepts his son's broader musical talents, but honestly it seemed very forced, like he realized he was being kind of a jerk and needed to ingratiate himself to the reader a bit.
This book, to my knowledge, is the second book by a journalist I have tried to read. The first was The Soloist, which I DNF'd years ago. I don't know if I just can't stand reading books by journalists because their style does not really vary from newspaper to novel and when reading a novel, I prefer NOT reading a 300-page newspaper article. It could also be that journalism is not the right style with which to write about something so creative and subjective as music. Music should have feeling, and writing should have feeling. Journalism is very wooden and unwavering in its opinions-presented-as-facts. When Goldman tries to bring feeling into this book, it falls flat for me and just seems overly cheesy, especially when his old teacher is speaking to him through his old cello.
Qualms aside, this was a quick read and not too terrible. The best parts were when Goldman focuses on the other people he meets at the various orchestras he takes part in throughout the book. Some of their stories were interesting. I also enjoyed the little forays into the history of stringed instruments. I wish there had been a bit more of that.
July 26, 2019
Perhaps this book is for a small segment of the general reading public. But it was definitely written for me. This is a true accounting of the author (about my age) who decides he wants to play cello (me too). Granted he, unlike me, had studied cello years before with a beloved teacher, one long gone but to whom he often still listens.
Here's how he opens the book: "Standing in a crowded elevator in midtown Manhattan with a cello strapped to your back is no way to win a popularity contest." He continues, "In truth, the cello on my back was the least of my worries. I was en route to what I feared would be a mortifying encounter."
He was on his way to his first rehearsal with the LSO, the Late Starters Orchestra, a musical group for people that started playing late in life. It sounds quite a bit like a community orchestra, and it is filled with varying talents.
There was so much I loved about this book.
"Perhaps learning cello as a late starter was not about learning it anew but about recapturing what was already part of me."
And later, when he was sidelined with a back injury and not playing, but rather sitting in the audience, "But there, from my new perspective, I noticed something that I did not see when I played with LSO. And that was the look on every musician's face. The violinists, the violists, the double bassests, the cellists, they all looked happy. And when Magda conducted the final notes, and held her hands up as the last sound softly faded, those grins broke out into huge smiles. The joy of making music was palpable."
The whole book was a joy to read, mostly, probably because I play in a community band and I know something of the joy of making music. And because someday I hope to hug a cello myself.
Here's how he opens the book: "Standing in a crowded elevator in midtown Manhattan with a cello strapped to your back is no way to win a popularity contest." He continues, "In truth, the cello on my back was the least of my worries. I was en route to what I feared would be a mortifying encounter."
He was on his way to his first rehearsal with the LSO, the Late Starters Orchestra, a musical group for people that started playing late in life. It sounds quite a bit like a community orchestra, and it is filled with varying talents.
There was so much I loved about this book.
"Perhaps learning cello as a late starter was not about learning it anew but about recapturing what was already part of me."
And later, when he was sidelined with a back injury and not playing, but rather sitting in the audience, "But there, from my new perspective, I noticed something that I did not see when I played with LSO. And that was the look on every musician's face. The violinists, the violists, the double bassests, the cellists, they all looked happy. And when Magda conducted the final notes, and held her hands up as the last sound softly faded, those grins broke out into huge smiles. The joy of making music was palpable."
The whole book was a joy to read, mostly, probably because I play in a community band and I know something of the joy of making music. And because someday I hope to hug a cello myself.
May 31, 2017
As a trained musician, I have worked with a lot of "late starters": people who have had other careers and interests, and decide to learn or revisit music later in life. While that is ostensibly what this book is about, I just felt throughout the narrative that the author was being very self-indulgent in his quest to master the cello. There was no advice or wisdom offered, just the tale of one Columbia professor's white privilege. There's a workshop in England? Let's go! A new cello with a better sound? No problem.
I'm just not sure who the intended audience is, or the point of the book, for that matter. But an extra star for fun illustrations doodled by the author!
I'm just not sure who the intended audience is, or the point of the book, for that matter. But an extra star for fun illustrations doodled by the author!
July 14, 2018
I was drawn to the concept of this book, but it's more of a memoir than a look at a full set of people trying to learn to make music late in life. There's a lot about Goldman's family, about his Jewish background, and about his journalism career, which would be fine, but the central premise isn't really delivered all that strongly. The author tends to be somewhat dismissive of kinds of music beyond his interests of classical and Jewish music, which is a turnoff. The organization is a bit haphazard and I didn't find any great insights into musicianship or the desire to pick up a skill in later life. In the end, I felt like this was a better idea for a book than it was a book.
February 5, 2019
Non put-downable!
A very enjoyable book. I couldn't stop reading it until I reached the end. To me, a retiree aged 60 and a late starter on cello playing, this non-fiction documents the evidence that one can learn music at any age. It inspires me as much as John Holt's classic "Never Too Late" did in my self-education music journey. Like Prof. Goodman says in the book, we (late starters) may not have enough time (10,000 hours) to practise our skills to become a master, but we can certainly strive for competency. And when I achieve that goal, I shall not be ashamed to call myself a "musician".
A very enjoyable book. I couldn't stop reading it until I reached the end. To me, a retiree aged 60 and a late starter on cello playing, this non-fiction documents the evidence that one can learn music at any age. It inspires me as much as John Holt's classic "Never Too Late" did in my self-education music journey. Like Prof. Goodman says in the book, we (late starters) may not have enough time (10,000 hours) to practise our skills to become a master, but we can certainly strive for competency. And when I achieve that goal, I shall not be ashamed to call myself a "musician".
October 19, 2019
Ari Goldman relates his experiences of returning to the cello after a 25 year hiatus. He joins the Late Starters Orchestra and details his experiences and those of his fellow players as they discuss their love of music and their desire to return or start playing regardless of ability. He also goes through his son’s experiences with the cello and his quest to be able to play a concert as part of an upcoming birthday celebration. As he struggles to reach his goal, he remembers his first cello teacher and uses his wisdom to guide him through his ups and downs. He relates how music should be a joy and those who wish to play should take the leap, regardless of age or ability.
June 12, 2018
Reading this made me want to pick up my violin again...
I enjoyed Goldman's look at revisiting music at a later age, and his insights into the motivation of not just himself but of others who were willing to try to learn an instrument. It was just the right length and other than a slight delve into Jewish culture, not so dense of new material that made it difficult to get through. A good read to start off the summer.
I enjoyed Goldman's look at revisiting music at a later age, and his insights into the motivation of not just himself but of others who were willing to try to learn an instrument. It was just the right length and other than a slight delve into Jewish culture, not so dense of new material that made it difficult to get through. A good read to start off the summer.
September 24, 2021
Boring. I liked the author and his family. The book is written in a disorganized manner and it didn’t need to be 200+ pages. It seemed better as a magazine essay. He introduces the reader to folks picking up instruments when they’re older which is interesting but he went into too much detail. I liked the illustrations.
July 24, 2017
A memoir of a professor who returns (all in) to his love of the cello after years of neglect. The musical part was inspiring and the story itself was deeply personal and moving. This book was a great commentary on aging, parents, mentors, children, learning and music
May 1, 2018
This is a good story. It supports advocacy for adult beginner musicians, perhaps inadvertently. I appreciate that it is a simple telling of one man's journey with music, most specifically the cello. It is never too late to learn!
May 24, 2020
This is a sweet little memoir about the author’s relationship to music. I picked it up last year when I bought my cello and finally got around to reading it due to the COVID pandemic. I think most musicians would enjoy it but maybe not non-musicians.
July 17, 2020
Very slow to engage me, but I liked the size of the book and the image on the cover, so I insisted I finish it. Author’s love of the instrument is sweet and dedication strong. Maybe I will go back to the flute someday...
May 28, 2021
I’m a late starter to playing the cello, so I totally enjoyed this memoir. I love that he was able to find words for how I feel about the cello. It was entertaining and relatable to me-maybe not a book for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
March 20, 2022
Maybe because I’ve recently turned 50, but it was awesome to read about Ari’s journey to play the cello again later in life. Ari also shared the stories of other people who returned to music later in life that reinforced the beauty and pain of each of our own journeys.
March 4, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this nonfiction book.
My favorite parts were the quotations and stories from Mr. J.
Musicians evolve over time, as Judah did and eventually Ari as well.
I may have to go back and re-read this, for it is full of musical inspiration.
My favorite parts were the quotations and stories from Mr. J.
Musicians evolve over time, as Judah did and eventually Ari as well.
I may have to go back and re-read this, for it is full of musical inspiration.
April 7, 2019
As a late starter to cello, this was a perfect read for me. Full of life lessons & timeless wisdom.
May 14, 2019
Just a casual musician and his thoughts and feelings on practicing his instrument -
September 17, 2019
Motivating.
May 8, 2020
I love the tones of a cello. If I could play a stringed instrument, that would be it. This book is a lovely little rumination on music and family.
December 31, 2021
As a late-starter to the violin, I really enjoyed the journey that I followed through this story. There are many things that I could relate to.
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