I'll be 55 on Halloween (Boo!) (Yeah, avatar pic is 10 years old now). Guess I would fall into the category of "old guy club", but I don't care. I wouldn't mention my age except I was thinking about the drums today. I started playing when I was 20 years old and have played for 3 different time frames since then, but all those times only add up to about 11 years in the last 35 years since I started. A lot of those off years were due in part to living in apartments - finally I have my own place to practice and it makes a big difference.
Back to the question at hand, I've always had some natural ability at artistic things like drawing, writing and playing several instruments. Being artistic, it's been important for me to express myself creatively the way I want,and my other non-drum music reflects that - it can stand on its own.
The drums is another matter - it is such a primitive instrument (in a good way, connects with our inner self and the beat connects you with other people), and yet is such a technical obstacle to get over when it comes to learning independence and new styles, etc. I'm still lazy like I've always been in those areas. I've had a few teachers for just a few months at a time since money has always been an issue, but the best one was the one who had me learn songs and showed me the parts on the kit.
I can compare myself to one of my best friends - he's got a totally different temperament. Totally anal and perfectionistic. He doesn't have the most talent but he's one of the hardest workers I know - he works and works at something until he gets it down, and it's always damn near perfect. He started playing lead guitar when he was in his late teens and would learn lead lines from songs over and over until he got it right, and he always nailed it. He played professionally for a number of years - best example is when he played "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" (guitar solo and song by Jeff Beck) in a huge nightclub with about 1500 people and they all gave him a standing ovation. Most probably didn't even know the song.
Similarly, he played pool every day after work when he was young, and eventually became a tournament champion. I know how tough he is to play since we have our own tournament of sorts every other weekend at his place. He is very hard to beat, but I'm always within a few games and a lot of times we're even until he overtakes me at the end. His playing leaves little room for error.
I started practicing at a pool hall the same day we would play for a while, and I think I really surprised him a few times, beating him five games in a row before he got even more serious.
Point I'm trying to make with all this is it all comes down to what you put in.
For me again the hardest thing is working on new stuff - I've gotten a lot better at what I already know by playing more but it's not enough. Geez, maybe I need another teacher again! Can't really afford it, but I think there's enough resources out there today along with books to work on.
For the younger guys and girls out there, I would say get a teacher that you like and stick with it. I'm finding out it's not too late fortunately and I've been having a blast, but I'd be so much further along with being consistent over the years if I had had more discipline.
Fishnmusicn