Starting Classical Guitar at 48 — Why I’m Learning Something New (and Hard)

At 48 years old, I decided to learn classical guitar — not because I needed another hobby, but because I missed the feeling of being a beginner again.

Lou LaMedica

Oct 24, 2025

My Story Mindset Music

TABLE OF CONTENTS

🎸 Starting Classical Guitar at 48: Why I’m Learning Something New (and Hard)

Find a Good Teacher

Beginner’s Mind

Start With the End in Mind

🎸 Starting Classical Guitar at 48: Why I’m Learning Something New (and Hard)

I started learning classical guitar today. At 48 years old, that’s not exactly an easy feat.

So why am I doing this? Well, a few reasons.

First, my parents gave my wife a classical guitar as a Christmas present about five years ago, and it’s just sat on our wall gathering dust. Don’t get me wrong, it looks cool, but every time I sit down to watch TV, I catch myself looking at it and thinking, somebody should really be playing that.

Second, I think I have some musical proficiency. I was All-State percussion in high school (you can read all about my story with drums here), and I’ve dabbled in piano when my kids were learning. I can read music, I understand rhythm, and I know how to practice. I’ve always gravitated toward instruments and the process of learning them.

Third, I believe in being a lifelong learner. It keeps your brain sharp, keeps you curious, and reminds you you’re alive. There’s something invigorating about tackling something completely new, especially when it’s hard.

Fourth, I’d love to play a duet with my daughter, who still practices piano. One day, I hope I can accompany her on a piece, something simple, maybe Bach or a movie theme she loves.

And finally, I just love the sound of the instrument. Classical guitar has a natural rhythm and warmth that draws me in. There’s a scene in Vicky Cristina Barcelona where a guitarist plays at twilight in Barcelona. The music, the mood, the air—it’s just beautiful. That scene stuck with me. It made me think, I want to be able to create something that sounds like that.

So here I am. Day one. My classical guitar teacher was impressed that I can already read music and focus. Apparently, I’ve got an edge on the ten-year-olds he usually teaches.

💡

Find a Good Teacher

One of the best decisions I made was finding a dedicated classical guitar teacher.

A good teacher shortens the learning curve. They help you avoid bad habits before they take root, answer questions you don’t yet know how to ask, and give structure to what can otherwise feel overwhelming.

Just as important, a teacher is an accountability partner. Knowing someone is expecting you to show up prepared changes how you practice. It keeps you honest. It keeps you consistent. And consistency, more than talent, is what actually moves the needle when you’re learning something new.

If you’re starting something hard, don’t do it alone. The right guide makes the process easier, faster, and far more enjoyable.

I’m excited. Maybe even a little nervous. But mostly, I’m just ready to get back to that feeling of being a beginner again, the challenge of not being good at something yet, and the quiet joy of watching yourself get better day after day. I wrote about that season of my life in more detail in Learning the Songs, when the practice room was where I figured out who I was becoming.

💡

Beginner’s Mind

There’s a Japanese concept called Shoshin, often translated as “beginner’s mind.”

It’s the idea of approaching something without preconceptions, without ego, and without the pressure of needing to be good right away. When you’re a beginner, you don’t yet know the rules, which means you’re free from them.

I like to spend time with the guitar just messing around. Since I don’t know any better, I don’t have hang-ups about doing things the “wrong” way. I can be curious. I can explore sounds. I can trust what feels interesting to me.

Beginner’s mind is powerful because it strips away fear. There’s no reputation to protect, no standard to live up to, no expectation beyond showing up. That freedom makes learning lighter, more playful, and often more creative.

Starting new things gives you a rare gift: permission to be bad at something again. If you lean into that, instead of fighting it, growth comes more naturally than you expect.

Howard Stern talks about learning guitar in his 70s and how much he practices. Listening to him reminded me how much I miss the feeling of woodshedding, those long, focused hours alone with an instrument, refining something that only you can hear progress on.

I’ve also discovered that practicing guitar has become one of the best ways I reset when life gets heavy.

💡

Start With the End in Mind

Stephen Covey talks about “Start With the End in Mind” in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It’s a principle I try to apply anytime I begin something new.

What is my goal here?

Am I just dabbling? Am I trying to impress someone? Or am I building toward something meaningful?

With guitar, the end in mind is not fame or performance. It’s playing a duet with my daughter. It’s sitting outside on a summer evening and being able to play something beautiful. It’s having another creative outlet when life gets heavy.

When your goal is clear, your motivation becomes clearer too.

And motivation matters most when the novelty wears off. When the fingers hurt. When the chord changes feel awkward. When progress slows down. When it’s just you and your goal staring at each other thinking, “Are we really doing this?”

That’s the moment the end in mind pulls you forward.

Newness is exciting. Vision is sustaining.

If you know why you’re starting, you’re much more likely to keep going.

As I write this, I can feel the slight pain from the beginning of calluses on my left hand, a small badge of honor that says I’ve started. It’s proof of work, of showing up, of putting in the time. And I can’t wait to pick up the guitar and play some more.

So at 48, that’s what I’m doing. Starting something new, something beautiful, and something that reminds me I’m still growing.

Follow my progress each week as I document learning classical guitar, one etude at a time.

🎥 Week 1

🎥 Week 2

🎥 Week 3

🎥 Week 4

🎥 Week 5

🎥 Week 6

🎥 Week 11

🎥 Week 12

🎥 Week 14

🎥 Week 15