Further comments, etc:
Have you seen this TED talk?
There is a lot there about mindset, curiosity, the internal critic, and following your heart. Also about how to jump to that first plateau, and how to get motivated easily.
Also this TED talk, which may be less intimidating, and more hopeful: (and it's by a guy who learned how to play the ukulele, too!)
Some further tips:
--Easy practice time, found!
I used to tell my students (ages 3-adult) who said they had no time to practice, to practice every time they saw a commercial on tv. A typical 1-hour show has 20 minutes of commercials. That's more than enough time daily to make great, consistent gains. (Nowadays, the devices go with you, so that may be dated advice...) The point is, you have time. You just need to STOP doing other, wasteful things, and devote your time and attention to what you WANT, instead.
--Expect plateaus. Typically, you will make progress for a while, then kind of stagnate.
People often get frustrated at those times.
Like a tree you transplant, when there is nothing going on above ground, the roots are likely growing stronger and preparing to put out the fruit when the time is right. It's invisible. It seems like nothing is happening. That's not true.
Similarly, if you persist consistently, the fruits will come.
--Work on the hard stuff.
The tendency is to play the easy parts and avoid or "mumble" through the hard parts, or what you don't like.
Instead, focus on the hard stuff, and once you get that, you will make a big leap.
--Slow it down.
If something is hard, slow it waaaaay down.
--Practice smart.
What you practice will get better. So don't practice mistakes. Practice the correct stuff.
Every time you play a mistake, you practice it. You'll get better at playing mistakes. Is that what you want?
Slow down enough to play it correctly. Then practice THAT.
--Then speed it up.
Once you can do something s-l-o-w-l-y, correctly, then start speeding up, gradually. If you start to make mistakes, slow it back down (or you'll practice mistakes).
That is how to gain fluency. If you cannot do it slowly, how can you expect to do it quickly?!
--Use a metronome.
How do you keep perfect time? By following something that keeps perfect time.
Buy or find an online metronome and use it to practice.
Nothing frustrates other musicians more, than trying to play with musicians who cannot keep a steady beat. @#$&!!
--Record yourself.
Yeah, it's hard to watch ourselves. That critic starts SCREAMING and throwing fits! haha
But it's a great way to keep track of progress. When we're inside of it, we have a hard time seeing things objectively.
It can also point out things you didn't know you were doing, that you might want to change or correct.
--Compare yourself to yourself.
The tendency is to look at others and say, wow, he learns so fast! Geez, she has such beautiful style. I feel like a dolt.
Instead, say, Hey, two days ago, I couldn't play anything. Now I can play four chords and I'm working on the hammering technique! Yay! Keep up the good work! You can do it!
--Push yourself just a bit.
Find something just a little harder than where you are. If you want to learn a really hard song, that will only frustrate you. You need to match up where you are, with something that is do-able, just barely, with a bit of work.
On that note, the first video, with the medieval (jeez, what a hard word to spell!!!) song--that first pattern he's showing you, with the hammer, may take you several days to a week to learn. This is definitely more advanced stuff.
You might try to find something slower and easier and simple, and build up to that.
--Find ways to share.
Your chickens may or may not love your "music." [fair warning! haha]
BUT, you might be able to play chords for your grandkids' Christmas carols singalong.
Or play the chords while you sing Happy Birthday to your husband.
Or do a singalong at a senior center.
Find or start a group so you can play with others, whether it's with the same instrument, or with different ones. (But remember: music is full of politics, just like everything else!)
And on THAT note, I leave you with one of this guy's videos (which always bring me to tears. The fact that animals that can easily kill or hurt you will be so curious and gentle instead, because of music, speaks to the magnificence of spirit and Nature that we share.). Not to mention it's so beautiful!
Finally, some words on criticism:
Consider the source.
--Those who DON'T DO, are quick to criticize.
--Those who DO, understand how difficult it is, because they've been there themselves. And they will either be supportive, or will give you pointed, helpful tips. There is mutual respect amongst those who have put in the time, money, energy, discipline, and persistence, to get to where they are. Listen to them.
Maybe you will find others who want to learn with you on the permies forums...?
