Hi there, I've recently begun to teach singing, piano and theory and I have my first 'mature' student coming to me in a couple of weeks. He does not have any musical training or experience and would like to have lessons in all aspects of my teaching subjects (especially singing).

Can anyone please recommend some good adult theory/piano/singing books that do not patronise the pupil but are clear for a complete beginner? At the moment most of my teaching materials/experience are geared for younger beginners and have pictures of elephants and so forth on them. However I'm looking forward to the challenge!

Any advice?

hi jazzywench,

for my adult students, i usually use books from the series Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course. You might wanna check out the website here: http://www.alfred.com/frameset.cfm?sub=pia...index_abpl.html

hope this helps.


cheers.

I have used the Pamela Wedgwood books for late beginners quite successfully with two adults on the piano but they do tend to move on quicker than the children's books. I have also used the Fanny Waterman books (ages old now!) again fairly successfully.

Where theory is concerned the ABRSM books are OK for adults and children - at least my adult pupils don't complain too much about them.

One of my adults actually expressed sadness that she wasn't getting "elephants" in her book - rather fancied being a child again I think!!

Have a browse around: there's plenty out there if you have time to look.

Best of luck. You will find adults are rewarding to teach but they can be very demanding on themselves and, of course, if they're working find time to practise quite hard-going sometimes.

Hi,

I teach an adult who previously got to grade 2 standard 20 years ago and has now decided to return to the piano.

I find that he is very enthusiastic and keen to learn but he is quite hard on himself so I tend to praise him as much as possible. I also find that part teacher-led and part pupil-led lessons work best, but the adult pupil tends to like to know the reasons for learning what they are learning i.e. technique etc.

It is worth finding out what the goal is for an adult pupil, what sort of music do they want to be able to play? Do they want to take exams or learn for the sheer enjoyment of the instrument?

Most of all - you need a sense of humour. Have fun. It's really rewarding teaching adults

Be encouraging but realistic... Never go "oh wow that's amazing" when it patently wasn't (adults generally are hard on themselves and will end up not taking anything you say seriously if you never give an constructive criticism, esp if they know they deserve it to some degree!) but always find things to encourage and to praise. And have a sense of humour!

(these are from the student's point of view... I'm yet to teach any adults, but currently learning piano as an adult)

Carol Barrett's piano book for the older beginner (i.e. adult) is good for people who want to learn classical music. I used Alfred a few times but it is based on chords and some adult beginners find it really hard to play them. I've now taken to waiting to decide which book to use until I've seen the student a few times and can work out what they'll be able to cope with and chat to them about their goals. The complete piano player is not terribly musically arranged but people can play things they recognise quite early on and those I have on it seem to enjoy it - I do think of it as a bit more low brow though!

Yes. Agree this is a good idea.

You can always find them something easy to do short-term.
I like Carol B but it goes a bit quick for some, ideal for others.
I've used Kenneth Baker and yes I think of it in similar terms! also it seems to have almost too much information, students I've used it with are relieved to get rid of note names in the music!

Anyone tried Micro Jazz with adults?

Ah, now I've got Microjazz for starters-I originally got it with teenage beginner students in mind but haven't as yet had the chance to use it as a tutor book-I've been using it for sight reading practice for all ages. I will certainly consider it as a tutor book, probably supplemented by something else as it's a bit short. The teacher accompaniments have gone down very well as they make every piece sound good.

Hi jazzywench

I can only comment on the piano bit. I use Pam Wedgewoods 'It's Never Too Late to Play Piano'.

Steve

I would wait and see what they hope to get out of lessons, maybe get them to look at some of the books - either in the shop or if you have any in your collection.
I use Fanny Waterman; Michael Aaron is good as well - my only adult learner appreciates the 'real' pieces that he uses.
Theory, I jsut use the Music theory in practice books.
Can't help with singing though.

I've been using the Piano Adventures Adult Course with my latest adult student as she had no musical background at all, and it seems to be working well - it's the first time I've used it though and we're still only half-way through book 1 so I've yet to find out how book 2 is. It certainly moves pretty gently, whereas the Carol Barratt book moves fast and I generally have to abandon it in favour of PLENTY of supplementary stuff! I quite often use the same approach with adults as I do with children - fun and games - and the occasional sticker!!

Hi folks, just thought I'd give you an update on my adult pupil.

Things did not get off to the best of starts when I was sitting waiting for him to turn up and got a phone call ten minutes into his lesson time asking for directions. I told him 'okay, it's just on up the hill and a sharp left , I'm the red bricked house' and expected him about a few moments later as he wasn't far away at all from my house. However, five minutes later and still no pupil I began to worry and ended up running around the streets trying to find him.

When he eventually arrived, I discovered he'd taken a wrong turn from the start, so when he went up the hill and turned left, he'd ended up in a housing development that was made ENTIRELY of red bricked houses!!

Oh well. Even though he was 25 minutes late I gave him his due lesson and have started him on posture and breathing. I'll be using Fanny Waterman and ABRSM theory as main texts with my own supplements but I'm a little clueless about the singing material. All of the books I have are really for high (or female voices) even though the Art of Song is in 'low/medium voice', it's all in the treble clef!

so....singing tutors/materials for male voices, anyone???