I was talking with a well-known and respected violinist, teacher and author this afternoon and he openly admitted it's a complete myth that adults can't or don't learn just as well as children.

In fact, in his experience he can cover as much ground with an adult, in a month, as he can in two years with teenage students. So starting young is NOT important, it's simply about committing yourself to the learning process once you've reached maturity - a time when there's often lots of other baggage in your life.

WHY??

Because, as I've repeatedly said: an adult brain is overwhelmingly capable of drawing on problem solving experiences, and apply existing knowledge to new situations.

While most children, and even teenagers, have to be virtually spoon fed every detail, a mature student (anyone 20 years of age or over) can be informed of the basics and will then go away and work on it - effectively "teaching themselves".

I don't want to hear any more of this "Am I too old" on this forum.

It's official..., NO...YOU'RE NOT TOO OLD!!

Hear hear!

Thanks for the pep talk. I started learning to play the piano about 4 1/2 years ago and I'm in my 60's - there are times when I feel "I shoulda done it when I was six", your post really makes me feel so much better.

My teacher says that most adults quit after the first year because it's too hard. I'd rather choose the word challenging - this is something I've always dreamed of doing. She admires my tenacity. It's not easy - we all know there's a lot to learn, but hey, that's part of the fun. I'm happy to be learning pieces that I never even in a million years thought I'd be attempting and I know there a many others out there that feel the same.

So many thanks to you and to the violin teacher from all the late bloomers out there!!!!

Not quite my experience !

Pleased to know that old rumour about adults not making good students is finally getting its marching orders!

Hear hear! YAY!

One of my best pupils at the moment is a 38 year old adult who has just taken up Blues/Jazz piano. He is currently preparing for the ABRSM Grade 1 Jazz exam after about 9 months of lessons. In comparison, his 11 year old son gave up after he starting Grade 2 Piano, which he found was too much hard work!! The father is admirably leading by example.

Gae

I agree - three cheers for the "olds" (me and my pupils )

Without doubt the pupils I teach who work the hardest are my adults. They are self-motivating and eager. I think the hardest worker of all is the 70-year old grandma who has oboe lessons with me. Now that is actually quite old for a novice oboist but full marks to her I say.

Well done to all adult learners on these forums and those we teach too.

The additional proof of self-motivation is that they pay for their own lessons which young people in f-t- education don't (usually). The teaching methods are slightly. I think someone said it up there, more like problem solving (than learning like a parrot).

Yipeeee it's official I am not an oddity!

I must admit that I have never really had a problem with learn an instrument as an adult (42 and just started). Probably because I have always needed to retrain in my work. I see learning as a gift and learning something which is just for me and and one else is an even greater gift (of course the means to do it is nice too!)

The only problem I have is society in general the number of times I hear:

"oh, your learning clarinet, aren't you a bit old" or
"that's really brave of you I would never have the patiance/courage to do that" or
"dont you feel a fool learning at your age"

My eyes roll to my head and I bite my tounge.

[QUOTE]I see learning as a gift and learning something which is just for me and and one else is an even greater gift QUOTE]
oh well said.

Hey, what's wrong with being an oddity...?

rflol .... quite right too.

to be honest I am still a bit of an oddity ....

Only a bit? *grin*

Sarah (an oddity and proud )

Yeah, I can see this being true. I've noticed that kids seem to cover a grade every year or three, but adults seem to shoot through them. Now, not that I think getting to grade 8 as quickly as possible is the be all and end all, but it's an interesting progress marker, at least for most people. (There are always people who are 'good at exams'....)

I'm hoping to start cello in Jan/Feb and to get cracking on my theory well before that. I plan to be at grade 3 by March or June 2007.

Keep stuff like this coming!

Hugs,

Elisabeth

I'm so happy to know that there a so many of us learning to play the instrument of choice as an adult and voice and dance

I've heard everything from my fingers are too fat, too short, too long, takes too long, too hard, you name it, any excuse not to learn. None of this makes sense to me.

My father always told me "always be a student, never stop learning, don't be an ostrich with his head in the sand". He was always reading scores, doing research and playing all kinds of music - mostly classical, Gilbert and Sullivan and musical comedies from what I can remember growing up. My father was an accompianist.

I went to college at night and the Professors always said that adults make the best students for the very reasons posted in the replies on this site and this applies to what we are all pursuing.

Thanks!!!!

For people to make comments like that, in the 21st century, when everyone is having to constantly change and adapt for their jobs, is very peanut brained indeed. All I can say is if they want to be stuck in their primitive thought patterns and tiny-minded ruts, leave 'em to it.....they're the losers!!

I'm very happy that there are so many adults learning to play an instrument, sing and dance.

I've heard everything from my fingers are to long, to short, to fat, it's too hard, takes to long and every other excuse in the book.. what nonsense. When I was going to college a night, more than one professor said that he enjoyed teaching adults for the very reasons written in the messages posted here.

Thanks!!!

No, it's never too late - I'm in my fifties, started cello five years ago and, rather to my astonishment, have just passed grade 7 with merit. I love every aspect of playing, whether scales, studies or pieces and to have to stop would be like cutting off my arm!

Dear Moderators

Please could we have this topic pinned at the top of the Adult Learners Forum? It's such an important message, and we can't repeat it often enough......

Thankyou

Katyjay

I'll second that. It's really important that all adults learning a new instrument - regardless of whether they already play anything else - knows that age is absolutely no barrier to their progress.

I agree with you 100% - you said it best!!

I was going to second this but I'll settle for fourthing it (is that even a word...?!) - it would be great to have this pinned.

I must say I really love teaching adults for all the reasons above. They really do practise - after all it's their hard-earned money! The only thing I've found is that the enthusiasm tends to drop off after a few months and they start practising less. Naturally they all have other commitments, families, usually full-time jobs, and while they can sustain half an hour or even an hour a day's practice in the early stages, it takes a real obsession for them to continue with that level of practice for more than a few months or a year.

None of my current adult students want to do grades, which is a shame as it tends to be a very good motivator. Other good motivators are the will to get good enough for chamber music, but that does take a while and they need to keep going to get that far!

There's a woman in her 60's who works in my local music shop. She took up the viola (with another teacher) about 3 years ago and is steadily working through the grades - she's now working on Grade 3 and I think she's wonderful. She practises away day after day...

One of my adult students came for a lesson today and I have to say I'm very proud of him. He's in his early 30's, has only had 12 lessons but is doing very well. I've never had a child progress as quickly as him though I've had other adults progress at exactly the same rate; what they have in common is intelligence, a great desire play the violin, no kids making demands on their time, and a willingness to practise at least half an hour a day most days.

He's already playing quite complex pieces at Grade 1/2 level, knows all the Grade 1 scales and arpeggios, and is about to start slurring. This is someone who couldn't even read a note of music before!!! It just shows what can be achieved when the desire is there.

I'm taking on a beginner in her 50's soon, so - no, you're never too old to start!

Violinia

Well I started learning to play the violin 8 months ago at the age of 25, while learning to read music at the same time, and doubt I'll ever regret it. Not sure why I wanted to start particularly now, maybe because I now have the money to finance lessons and definatly to see whether I could do it!

I had about 1 to 2 months worth of lesson when I was 3/4 years old and found it difficult (I wasn't using a shoulder rest then, my teacher never mentioned there existence so my parents were non the wiser and was also playing a left handed violin), hunching my shoulders up all the time to hold the violin. So I quit and never played another instrument because I thought I didn't have any musical talent.

Now I'm loving it, one of my neighbours, I luckily found out is a professional musician (handy that ) , so I found my teacher through him. He and my teacher didn't/don'treact at all incredulously to the fact that I, as an adult wanted to learn the violin.
In fact my teacher say's she loves to teach adults becasue they are so much easier than children. Well I do practice daily for at least 30 mins and it is paying off. I've just finished book 1 out of 5, and have been told I'm one of her faster pupils. But I'm still doubting that I'll do grades, I think though I could manage grade 3 (pieces alone).

Now I'm hoping to do join some kind of orchestra in London, maybe ELLSO? We'll see. I know adults can learn an instrument from scratch and learn to read music, people should not be put off this, too old business, its not as if I intend to become a professional!, I just regret not having the chance when younger and at school (because music there, for me, was a waste of time)

Kraz

Repeat after me:

I am old when I stop learning;
When I stop learning, then I am dead;
I am not dead therefore I can learn;
I can learn therefore I am not old.

Hope my two-bit worth can inspire at least one forum mate.

Cheerio then...

Grand choeur,

Thankyou for such wonderful words. If I had a printer, I'd run a copy and frame it. My father always said, "always be a student, never stop learning".

Hi Kraz.....yes do join ELLSO, they are a fantastic collection of people, will make you very welcome, and the experience of playing music with others is what it is all about. Well done so far

Grand Choeur, that's great!

I felt the 'thought palindrome' when I read the entire thread and empathised with some who clearly had some doubts in their minds. As a teacher and semi-adult-student (LOL) I felt that I could not leave the thread without trying to inspire at least one mind.

'Age is only a number'; remember that in cognitive development there is the concept of 'readiniess' which doesn't always relate to one's age.

Keep your minds open, draw on your problem solving skills and as the younger folks might say 'just do it'.

Happy learning and even happier music making.

Cheerio mates

Yes well said Grand Choeur.

Another thought has sometimes inspired me as I grew older - put your current age into the brackets ---

I am not defined by (age):

I define what (age) is.

I agree wholeheartedly with you maggiemay.

You know what's interesting? My island sees lots of tourists of all ages and I dont know if its our tropical weather but I am yet to see an old one. Even some who are physically challenged are out and about more than their younger counterparts.

A friend of mine is wont to say - Be good to yourself, no one else has the power to make you happy... At first I didn't quite agree, but when you cogitate on it, it does make sense. I tell myself, if I need Joe Bloke's approval to be happy then I have a real problem.

Cheers

Like that a LOT, maggiemay!

So if there are so many of us "oldies" out there why am I always,embarrassingly, the only adult sitting in the waiting room at exams .....?

Just luck of the draw on the allocations. While sitting in the waiting room with some of my violin students, I saw at least 5 'mature students' arrive for exams.

You are not an "oldie" in the exam waiting room, you are an examination candidate - end of story.

Negative thoughts do nothing for your self-image and they only hinder one's growth by conditioning (negatively) the mind.

And whats wrong with being an oldie? I have never thought it a negative thought. Being the age I am has many benifits experiance being one of them. My mind is ageless and has no limits because experiance has told me this is true.

I can still compete against those younger than me I many need to change the goal posts and the playing field but my mind knows this is possible. Be proud of your age and the achievements it represents. Enjoy the thrill of learning in the knowledge that you are definatly not too old and not because a teacher, a younger student, or other oldies have told you that you can but because you mind and soul have !

I agree with you but I think that that philosophy disqualifies you as an oldie.

Damn right! Honestly I worry at all the youth of today - they should be out stealing cars and writing on walls

The scariest experience of my life was taking my Grade 2 theory a few weeks back and walking into a hall with 250 (mostly) eleven year old (mostly) girls - which makes for an uncomfortable experience for a big bald 40 year old man to deal with believe me!

-=Andy=-

Surely you're kidding me!

Never mind, Andy! You come and take your G5 theory with me. We can laugh at our ripe old 'wise side of 30' age together!!!!

Note that: We are the WISE side of 30, not the 'wrong' side of 30, (or 40 or 50 or whatever).

Crumbly old 33 year old: (NOT!)

Elisabeth

I think he was, yeah!!!!!

Even if that were true, think of this way: Perhaps you're one of the few who are there out of their own choice, who are not likely to give up when they leave school and/or get bored with their violin etc. We're there because we WANT to be!

Doesn't matter to me if most people who learn music seem to be younger. Perhaps many older ones who learn don't take exams anyway. They don't seem to do any better than us anyway!

Go on, get a distinction and wipe the floor with the lot of them!!!

Elisabeth

Thanks elisabeth, yes - of course it was a joke but also a little prod at the people (not on here) who want to make generalisations about age - "kids aren't as good as they were in our day" and "it must be hard starting playing piano at your age".

Apart from the horror of being in a room with 250 girls it was pleasantly reassuring that there were so many young people who are getting pleasure out of music.

-=Andy=-