I AM I TOO OLD? I have a B.S. in business and am looking into getting an A.A. in music education. I even have a relationship with the academy where I take lessons where I will be allowed to observe others teaching and possibily teach there myself. I know it sounds like I've already decided but I haven't. Do I really have, or can I really get, what it takes to teach others at this late stage in life? Thanks for listening to me ramble, and thanks for any responses.
John
John,
I thought why not do something I really love, why not teach music? It would mean going back to college to get a degree so I could teach. I even talked about it briefly with my teacher and she was very positive.
Old is a state of mind to be avoided!
Good for you guys, you have the right motivation; you love this and want to help the art survive. We need more like you, there are too many frustrated performers in teaching. Teaching is an art in itself; there have been many great pianists who could not teach, although they were good coaches for young artists who were already fully formed as pianists and just needed some advice about fine points.
Before I go on I should make clear that I am one of those who believes that to teach you must also do, or have done (Really done) at some point. If you are asked to teach the Rachmaninov 3rd Concerto, you should be able to play the Rachmaninov 3rd Concerto. Otherwise you are an "armchair Admiral". I know there are those who will disagree with me, but I know I am right.

Also, to be able to teach beginners or young people effectively, you have to be able to play their literature, a much easier task than Rachmaninov's Concerti.

In my region, there are (were, one retired thank god) two teachers who bear out my statements. One always had over 50 students, she was very successful with children, but when the students hit late intermediate level the bad things started to happen; carpal tunnel, tendonitis, all that. But she was too proud to give them up and send them to someone who could play that literature. Many talented kids were lost, and were literaly crippled, because of her ego.You have to know when to say goodbye. The other teacher is more insidious, because he's living vicariously through his students, giving them literature beyond their capability, and his. I just don't understand. This teacher sells himself as an advanced level teacher. Again, we have the tendonitis and CTS, and broken dreams.

Put another way, I know what all the controls in an airplane cockpit are and do, but I have never flown a plane, nor would I try without an instructor. Nor would I teach someone else how too! Would you?

By the way, tendonitis and CTS are serious stuff; recovery can take years, and the painful surgery is no guarantee. This goes beyond piano into the rest of ones life, opening doors, driving typing etc.. There is a lot of bad technique being taught out there at all levels.
Something both of you mentioned I feel I need to address; why do you need degrees,unless you want to teach in public schools or a college or university? Teacher #2 above has no degree in music, but one of the best teachers in the area has no degree either although she attended a prestigious school for 3 years. Because of her lack of a degree, she was denied a postion she would have been wonderful in. That's the only reason you need a degree, is for career enhancement. It's like Cub Scouts, "got my Bobcat pin, now the Wolf Badge, and Bear Badge!"

This has nothing to do with music. And everything to do with worthless academics creating their own Private Idaho; may they rot there.

Well that was a bit strong! I'm not trying to discourage either of you, some academics actually have worth, and you might be hooked up with some of the good ones! There are other places and people to learn from apart from what the academics will tell you(Oh, I'm one too, sort of.... ;)I have no idea what your rep levels are, but don't try to teach what you cannot do. You can fake that for awhile, but you will be exposed in the long run.
Also, do you like children? Is you don't, don't teach them! We need more teachers for adults, many children's teachers can't teach adult beginners effectively.You will only frustrate yourself and annoy the children if you don't like them.

I think you should both take one or two students at the rep level andage you feel comfortable with and see how it goes; you might love it, or hate it! Find out before you alter your lives!
Good luck, write me anytime

arensky