Piano Lessons for Adult Piano Students
Having my studio robbed has confirmed many of my piano teaching principles
I know this is strange way to make lemonade out of lemons, but being burglarized this past weekend has served to validate many of the ideas I have used successfully when teaching adult piano students. Weird, but wonderful. (more…)
Predicting the Future is Usually Dicey but I Do See the Trends
I’ve been teaching piano now full-time since October of 1987. I began as most teachers do – traveling to my students’ homes. Later, I found space to teach at a local piano dealership. A few years ago I decided to limit my practice to adult and teen-aged students. This year I’m focusing my attention to the Internet. I give you this history to convince you that I might just be able to see “the handwriting on the wall” regarding piano education. (more…)
YOU and YOUR Goals are the Very Essence of My Approach to Piano Instruction
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about teaching piano to adult students it’s that they’re interested in different things and thus require different materials and different styles of teaching. Consider a few students from my current crop:
1. A student who loves classical music and wants to play it well.
2. A student who already knows classical but wants to learn pop and rock well.
3. a student who knows nothing about piano except she wants to play it.
4. The student that prefers the many sounds and features of her electronic keyboard to that of a simple piano.
Obviously (at least to me) one size does NOT fit all. (more…)
Ever Wonder Why So Little Attention is Given to Older Piano Learners?
This week I was reminded of the essential difference between the teacher focusing on young (5 -10 year-old) piano students and the piano instructor, such as myself, who specializes in teaching “the older learner.” Unfortunately, what I actually refer to is the different that OUGHT to be there but too frequently is NOT, resulting in unhappy and poorly functioning instruction.
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Learn to Recognize Piano Lessons Designed to Work for the Adult Piano Student
Over the years I’ve spoken with many other piano teachers and come to know that the vast, VAST majority of piano education is directed at children. Sure, there are a few books out there for adults and the Internet is full of “adult piano lessons.” Additionally, most every piano teacher says they teach adults. However, the majority of the teaching methodology, live and online, is still based on teaching the untutored child, that small human being who is just now learning about his culture and its music. (more…)
Bluntly Answering the Most Common Questions of Adult Piano Students
Note: This is a copy of a promotional flier I wrote some while back for my own adult piano teaching practice. It’s as bluntly honest as I could make it. (more…)
Understanding the Truth about Your Piano Playing Goals Leads to Piano Success
After 20+ years of piano teaching and over 2000 piano students, I don’t hesitate to say that the common goal of ALL these adult students is “to play the piano well.” Now, different students define the word “well” differently, but all have some idea in mind and, strangely enough, there is more similarity than difference in their definitions. (more…)
Understanding the Truth about Your Piano Playing Goals Leads to Piano Success
Our first essay on this topic defined and explained the two-part goal all adult piano students seem to share. The subject of this essay is vital information regarding HOW. (more…)
Real World Evaluation of the Pros and Cons of Children vs. Adults at the Piano
I’ve been a piano teacher for over 20+ years now, teaching 100 -150 piano and keyboard students of all ages each year. Some stayed only for a few lessons, while others have been around seemingly forever (they tell me they just like piano lessons!) Because I accepted and encouraged students ages 6 – 80 from the beginning, I’ve been able to conduct my own “real-world” survey of the advantages and disadvantages of age in learning the piano. (more…)
Real World Evaluation of the Pros and Cons of Children vs. Adults at the Piano
I will continue to explain why this piano teacher prefers adult piano students! (more…)
Every Adult Piano Student Knows that TIME Can be a Big Problem
Many adults would like to play the piano. I am thankful for this fact every time I go to the bank, for most of my income comes from adult piano students! These are folks who ignored the “conventional wisdom” that says you must start piano as a child if you want to succeed. My students are adults who are successful enough at their piano training that they pay me good money, week after week. This leads one to wonder how much truth there is in the “conventional wisdom” and how it originated. (more…)
Every Adult Piano Student Knows that ATTITUDE Can be a Big Problem
Yes, it’s not the adult pianist’s “talent” which gets in the way of success at the piano – it’s the way adults think and feel about piano lessons that essentially dooms some of them and impedes many others Too many adult piano students who just want to play for their own enjoyment actually fail to enjoy themselves no matter what they can or cannot do with the piano. (more…)
There are Many Good Reasons for Adults to Play Piano and Take Lessons
I’m a piano instructor. I know you’re thinking of the older lady down the block who augments her pension with piano lessons for unwilling children. I, however, am different. I only teach adult piano students: doctors, accountants, businessmen, retirees, housewives – folks just like you. I make a full-time living at this because, you see, piano lessons and making music are NOT just for children anymore. (more…)
Read a True Story That Will Provide a Boost When Piano Lessons Get Rough
Here’s a short story that should give you an emotional boost RIGHT NOW, as well as a good formula for piano lesson success! (more…)
Good News! Your Memory is NOT Likely to be Your Main Piano Problem
It’s a sad day but an inevitable one for every adult piano student when they realize that the piece of piano music they studied so hard three months ago cannot be easily played easily today. They’ve forgotten much of it. Many of my piano students, especially those over 50, fear that age and deterioration has set in. Thus, I give the following lecture about once a month. Read on because what I have to say is going to make you feel better about your memory. (more…)
Many, many adult piano students want to play for the same reasons
I wanted to share the results of two surveys I did in 2007. The first was done with the adult students currently taking piano lessons, the second with adult students who had quit taking lessons from me some time back but still played the piano for enjoyment. I’m presenting the results together since they were pretty much identical. (more…)
