I'm a piano instructor. You're probably picturing the older lady down the
block who augments her pension with piano lessons for unwilling children,
right? I, however, am different. I only teach adult students: doctors, accountants,
businessmen, retirees, and housewives. I make a full-time living at this
because, you see, music lessons and making music are NOT just for children
anymore.
Music: "Good for What Ails Ya"
We all love music. Americans have music to fit every mood, and with CD's and ipod's, getting "our music" has never been easier. We use it to pep up, calm down, to inspire, and sell products. But if it's so easy to be a consumer of music, why would anyone in this busy, busy world want to invest time, money, and energy to learn to make music for ourselves and become a producer?
This is Your Brain on Music
Last year's book This is Your Brain on Music helps answer this question. Daniel Levitin left a career as a Hollywood recording engineer to pursue a doctorate in neurobiology. His focus, naturally, was music and the brain. In the book, Levitin points out that "Music listening, performance, and composition engage nearly every area of the brain that we have so far identified, and involves nearly every neural subsystem."
Something New Under the Sun: The ADULT Music Student
Literature for piano instruction for adults was nearly non-existent prior to the early '60s. However, the field has really bloomed in the last few years as Baby Boomers find time to pursue new activities.
Dick, a 44 year old Pharmaceutical Rep, says, "I have been taking piano lessons for ten years. Playing the piano is very fulfilling, not only for me but for my family and friends as well."
Dick continues, "It has added much enjoyment to our lives. The emotion one has from sitting down at the piano and playing a beautiful piece is very rewarding. "
"Aren't You Too Old - I Mean Really?"
Lois is a retiree. She says, "It's been a little over two years since I began taking lessons. My purpose was to play for my own enjoyment and that is exactly what has happened! In addition, every lesson has proved to be enjoyable as well as fruitful."
Many adult students start out thinking that children pick up music much more easily than they do but my experience says otherwise. After all, adults already know music, having enjoyed it all their lives. They don't need music lessons, just training on how to make music with their instrument of choice. Adult music students have longer attention spans, full-sized hands, and motivation that doesn't waver with the first hardship.
The Big Stopper: Time
Surprisingly, age and talent have little effect on learning to make music. The big stopper for adults is simply time - time to take lessons, time to practice, and time to enjoy playing for the sheer joy of making music. If an adult can make the time to learn to play music for their own enjoyment (and that of friends and family) then chances are they'll succeed in improving the quality of their lives.
Dan Starr is a Tucson piano and keyboard teacher and author of piano education manuals. Visit him online at www.danstarr.com.
© 2008 Good News Tucson
