A few months ago my friend invited me to watch her play in the Nairobi Orchestra concert held in July 2023. I was both confused and excited for her.

‘Did she always know how to play the Cello?’

‘How did I not know this?’

Turns out she had just picked up the Cello in September 2022 and was playing in the orchestra less than a year after she began her learning journey. I was amazed!

As someone who enjoys learning, I know how humbling learning something new is. I’ve attempted to learn different musical instruments from the drums to the ukulele but none has stuck so far. Learning something new requires being comfortable with feeling foolish and putting in the work every day. It requires consistency, passion and determination.

So after my friend achieved her great feat I asked her to share her tips & tricks for learning something new. She was gracious enough to share her advice with me in writing and here is what she had to say:

Struggling to learn as an adult? Here are 6 tips to get you started:

1. Embrace the Journey

Learning a new skill as an adult can be intimidating, especially if it's a skill that most people learn very early in life e.g. a musical instrument, a language, a sport etc. It’s very easy to find yourself comparing yourself to others, leading to feelings of inadequacy. And as much as the feelings are valid, they will do you no good, so focus your energy on the right things. Lean into your life experiences to help you on your learning journey. Take a more active role in your learning process and as such, the journey of learning and developing a new skill becomes one of growth, self-discovery and personal development.

Lastly, it’s never too late to learn. My friend's mother went back to the piano at 70 years old, so embrace the journey and put in the work!

2. Be very clear WHY you’re doing it.

I chose to learn the Cello purely for personal enrichment and joy. Music has always had a very unique sway on me - and being immersed in the process/experience of other people making music has always brought me immense joy, and to date still fuels a lot of my curiosity. In addition, picking up this new skill has also been the best playground to experiment and discover how I learn best.

Whether you’re learning to advance your career or for personal fulfilment and enrichment, identifying why you are developing that specific skill will help to provide motivation and direction when it gets hard.

3. Find the right resources

Once I was clear on why I wanted to learn the Cello, and armed with a little information on how I learn best, I sought guidance from players and teachers on what to look for in a teacher. Luckily, I found a wonderful fit!

Thanks to the internet, I also found resources that tackled some of the unique challenges adult learners face.

Given that the area you’d like to explore/learn a new skill might be completely new to you, seek out people and resources that might help you get started. As you progress, you will get better at ‘learning to learn’ and diagnosing what, or who you might need, to help you along the way.

4. Set ambitious yet realistic goals

As with most things, having something to work towards is essential in keeping you focused and maintaining some kind of momentum in learning. Finding the balance between what is too audacious and what is not audacious enough will be your biggest task.

In my case, having an ambitious goal, to play in an orchestra having played the Cello for slightly less than a year, might be one of the most daring and difficult goals I have ever set for myself. I wanted to achieve 10 years worth of work in 3 months. However, very quickly, the process (yes, that one that should always be trusted) took over, and the wisdom of taking it one bar, one practice session, one lesson at a time was (re)learnt. I also (re)learnt the importance of consistency by playing daily even if it is just for 15 minutes.

The journey was tough, but WHY (back to point 2) I was keen on playing in this particular concert kept me focused.

5. The power of a supportive environment in overcoming obstacles

As is with any undertaking, there will be challenges. Whether it is limited time due to other responsibilities, imposter syndrome or a lack of motivation due to some bumps on your learning journey, the most important thing is to be honest with yourself about the challenges and surround yourself with the right people.

In my situation, my biggest obstacle was feeling like an imposter. To be fair, by most standards, I would be considered an imposter for thinking I could succeed in this undertaking. However, I was honest about what level I was at and immersed myself in a community of Cellists who provided a safe learning environment for me within which I could fail and learn. This learning environment enriched the formal lessons I was taking with my teacher.

In summary, finding yourself a supportive community of practice that encourages a growth mindset could provide a wonderful platform to keep you consistent, learning from others and receiving valuable advice while making learning fun and enjoyable.

6. Celebrate achievements

I was eager to fly before I could run, so I couldn’t see ‘walking’ for the milestone that it was. However, one day while in conversation with my teacher, she pointed out how much I’d been able to achieve, and that gave me some extra firepower to keep pushing. I celebrated by getting myself some new gear.

Acknowledging your progress, however slow or quick, is crucial in building your confidence and keeping yourself committed to the journey.

In conclusion, the beauty of learning is that it allows you to curate and enrich your life in various ways. Exploring where your curiosity takes you and leaning into your strengths has the potential makings of a wonderful and purposeful life. It helps that the adult human brain has the capacity to change and grow in response to new challenges and experiences - so lean into that and embrace the journey :)

This article is a great reminder that learning though fulfilling isn’t easy. It requires work but the fruits are definitely worth it.

All the best as you pick up that new skill and move from 0 to 1. And as always, remember to;

#ChooseToThrive