teaching adults

[nervous_wreck]

i'm 15, and i've had about 3 or 4 adults ask me to give them lessons, and i've managed pretty well with the first 2. but their lack of progress worries me, is that usual for adults? because they're not really going as fast as most of my younger kids are... i also would like to know, what is really the different approach you would take between teaching a beginning adult, and a beginning child?

[abell88]

Adults -- except for the extremely motivated ones (ie. frustrated concert pianists) -- often progress more slowly than children. They may be quite self-conscious about it, or on the other hand, they may be delighted to be learning something new. As long as they are reasonably pleased with their progress and not too hard on themselves, you are probably doing a good job.

[amanfang]

Yes, adults progress much more slowly than kids (in general.) (I know that's a pretty broad generalization.)  The main differences as I see them, are that adults usually have a pretty good idea of what their expectations are from taking piano.  Some of them have some classical pieces that they've always loved and want to learn to play.  Some want to be able to play the old pop songs they grew up with.  Some want to play the hymns they grew up with in church, and so on.  So finding out what they want and how to best help them.  Another difference is that they understand concepts better than children do.  Their thinking/analytical skills are much more developed.  It is easier for them to see patterns, etc. 

[celticqt]

Yes - I teach several adults and all but one of them learn way slower than my kids.  At first I thought I was doing something wrong, but after a few months I realized that their brains just don't assimilate the information as quickly as kids' brains do.  And that's ok - most of them are doing it just for fun.  It's a hobby to them (not a life).

For a beginning adult I just use an adult lesson book (no silly pictures of elephants wearing tutus) and I don't emphasize the technique as much as I do with kids.  For instance, most of my adults couldn't care less about scales.  I try to help every student learn scales, but if a grown-up isn't interested, it doesn't do any good to push them.

[thaicheow]

Adults are difficult and challenging in teching them. I have had quite a number of adults students. So far, only two who have stayed with me more than 2 years.

Adults usually come with expectation, sometimes which is a bit too high and unrealistic. And they generally lack the flexibilty in their hands and slow in reponding to the notes. I have had adults who required to play Fur elise with weeks, after just a few sessions with me. If it is unrealistic, I usually tell them off or simply stop from me.

I have just let a 50+ lady did her grade one practical exam. She is pretty resaonable, and appreciative even if I do some children folk songs with her.

Basically I just take it easy with adults. If they really cant take my way of teaching, I will just tell them off. Sadly, currently having quite a lot of new enquiry from adults. 

[elspeth]

Speaking as an adult who's only been playing seriously since September, I have found I'm progressing slower than I did while learning woodwind instruments when I was a child. I came to piano with a solid grounding in musical theory but no piano skills beyond knowing which note was which. I'm doing better than the other adult beginners my teacher has, though, mostly because I already have the background so 'only' need to work on practicalities.

Mostly my slower progress compared to when I was a child is down to the fact I have a much more complicated life now than I did then. I work 50+ hour weeks, and then have a house to manage, a family to be involved in and other interests to indulge. I just don't have time or energy to devote an hour or more every day to practising like I did aged 10 - although on the other hand when I have time free at weekends I can sit and play for much longer periods than I could back then as my attention span is longer now!

Talk to them about why they play and what they want to play. I play because I enjoy it, not because I have any pretensions to do it professionally. If I can find my way to some of the composers I love I'll be happy. I'm not in the least worried about timescale, because that's not the point - while it often is with children, to get them as far as possible as fast as possible so they don't get bored and if they decide they want to play professionally they're good enough by the time they leave school.

You'll probably find your adult learners won't respond to the same shorter-term goals as you set for children. One of the first things I agreed with my teacher was that I have absolutely no intention of taking grade exams - been there, done that, didn't like it even when there was a point to doing it - and will not play anything on the grade syllabuses (syllabi? that's a horrible plural) unless I like the pieces for their own sake. My teacher finds me quite liberating in that respect, we play what we like and introduce each other to new composers.

One thing I have found tripping me up now that didn't when I was a child is a tendency to think too much about what I'm doing, it's taking me a while to get past that and trust that my hands will play it right if I let them!

[gilad]

My learning experience...
i started piano as an adult for the second time as an adult nearly a year ago.
my first time trial about 5 years ago ended prematurely for the following reasons:
-i expected to be able to play what i could hear(that means everthing and anything). without having to play what i thought was silly pointless music from a method book.
-i couldnt concede to myself that i had difficulties playing through this silly pointless method book music, SO i never practised.EVER.
-My teacher aware of the fact that i wasnt practising never put any pressure on me to practise at all.

five years after quitting:

i decided i had to learn to play again.
-my new teacher gave me a mouth full on my second lesson with him for not practising. i wanted to avoid this in the future and started to practise.
-he humbled me by making me get john thompson book 1-as much as i hated playing from this book i really wanted to learn if it was the last thing i ever did.
-my teacher put more effort into my lessons and took me more seriously when i started to practise(before he seemed to treat me as though i would only be there a few weeks,months and give up), therefore i got the most out of my lessons from him and still do.

[gruffalo]

my first pupil who i teach is an adult. she is ver keen and is learning very quickly. she is 26 years old and she is very motivated. i have her working through several childrens' books and one book for beginners which explains theory whilst learning very short pieces. she is very keen, as she told me that she wants to learn a certain piece and i told her that if she sticks to my regime she will be learning it fairly soon. she is progressing very fast. i am actually teaching the way i have seen my former piano teacher teaching beginner adults and its working great. she is also keen on the scales, but still on C major.

[nervous_wreck]

yeah i toootally don't use books... i find them to be counter productive at times. i have a little more trouble with the age difference though.. i'm 15, and one is 62, the other is 37 and the other is 28. it feels weird sometimes.. thanks alot guys, you've answered alot of my questions.

[tiasjoy]

i'm 15, and one is 62, the other is 37 and the other is 28. it feels weird sometimes..

I think you're great for taking on adult students!  And I think it's great that they obviously feel comfortable with you - they must if they keep coming back and others are asking for your help too.  So just keep thinking about that next time you feel a little weird.  If they wanted to find an 'older' teacher, they would, so they're happy with you.

If you are concerned about their progress, simply ask them "Are you happy with the way you're progressing?"  "Are you finding the lessons a little slow/fast?"  Believe me, they won't mind telling you and would probably really appreciate it.  Then your job is to listen to their response and reassure them that you will try and do something about it (if  they are getting a little frustrated).  You may even like to ask them for suggestions.

That's one difference between adults and children - adults can evaluate and communicate better, so use both.

I suppose the biggest difference (I can think of at the moment) is that I'm very much in control with children - even though I let them think they are sometimes, but with adults it really is much more of an ongoing partnership - regularly checking in with their satisfaction levels, goals etc.

As for them learning slower than students, I'm of the belief that it's difficult to compare anyone with anyone!  I have some children who learn slower than some adults.  Treat people as distinctly individual.  You may be surprised - the one you think isn't progressing very well may be delighted with how much they've been able to accomplish.   You won't really know until you ask.

If you do, let us know how it goes.