Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum Piano teachers who refuse to take "beginner" adults

There is a wide gap between 'you play this or else' and 'play anything you want, no matter if you learn anything'. As there is a wide gap between 'never getting to play anything I like' and 'never playing anything I don't absolutely love'. If we really want to learn, of course we must listen to what our teacher has to say about what is appropriate for the level we are at, and what we need to learn. But I also think it would be very possible to find music that will satisfy both requirements.

If it wasn't obvious, I'll hurry to state that above story was not meant as a criticism of my teacher (I volunteered), or any teacher. Merely as an example of how some of us may feel about certain music. And I am fully aware that other people love that particular piece. We're all different.

I will also say, that some of the pieces I've worked on wasn't my favorites as I started but has become so. And I have nothing against trying something new or unfamiliar. I just don't want to spend any length of time with music that absolutely rubs me the wrong way.

join a church and you are covered.... :-\

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/ex-church-pianist-covered-by-ministerial-exception

From the teacher's point of view, it's best to have students whose goals, learning styles, etc., overlap with the teacher's teaching strengths and preferences.

Teachers want to have success with their students. "Success" can be defined lots of ways: a student winning a competition or getting through the end of a piece at the recital (without melting!). Some students will never pass an exam but will learn to appreciate music, and maybe for a lifetime enjoy playing. Some students may dislike piano but may at least learn to show up every week on time for the lesson and remember to bring the sheet music.

I've taught for 25 years (not music). I'm a "good teacher" but know I certainly have more success with certain types of students. For instance--since we're talking about age-- I love little children but far rather teach teenagers. Would I be willing to teach a class of little kids? Maybe, with more information. I'd have to feel that we'd have some possibility of success before I moved completely outside my comfort zone.

If a teacher is reluctant to take on adult students, find out why. I think some of the concerns here could be solved with a good discussion.

Find a teacher who complements you. It may take a few trys. You don't need an all-purpose teacher, you need one you can learn from.

Re: playing music you don't like. If my teacher feels a piece is really good for me, I'll do my best to get the most out of it. If I really can't stand it (for me, Clementi), she won't require the maximum. There's so much music out there!

I think that's important for learners to grasp.

Most of us like to play the music we like - which is often also the music that we're comfortable playing (and good at). But we also need to develop other skills which may not be found in our preferred music, and which will stand us in good stead in the future.

If I was to choose only what I liked to play, I'd have played nothing but Chopin and Rachmaninov as an advanced student (having already gone through my Mozart and Beethoven phase.....). But my teacher got me to play Schumann (which I came to love) and Debussy (which remained a curate's egg for me ), and their music not only broadened my horizons, but also improved my technique and musicianship in several ways.

Brian,

I think you're right in essence but here it is moot. Piano teaching is not an open to the public, retail establishment. It a form of privately contracted consultancy. If an architect doesn't want to draw commercial buildings, he doesn't accept the contract. When I was doing adult literacy work, none of the paid teachers in the adult school where I worked taught in K-12. They CHOOSE to work with adults only and the k-12 teachers are specialists in teaching children.

Kurt

I was asked what I want to learn, and I gave more or less of an answer but I didn't really know. I still don't know, but little by little I am getting ideas of what I need to learn first or the most (those ideas change now and then though )

When we start we have no clue the many things there are to be learnt.

Hasn't this thread about gone over?

Brian, your point about discrimination is interesting, but I agree with those who have presented arguments against it. My understanding is that age is only a protected class over age 40 and anyway it doesn't apply to pediatricians or kindergarten teachers.

You are correct. As to whether the law applies a general exemption of this protected class to music teachers, that is not so clear.

I think it would be wise for music teachers to at least know the tennants of this law, if only to protect themselves.

I need to take lessons with you, John! In my 5 years of lessons my scheduled time and days have been changed 7 times to accommodate the schedules of children!

My scheduled day was switched to Monday, even though Mondays are really bad days for me. I did this in order to stick with my current teacher. It's been bad so far, I've missed two lessons per month since October, on average. I've also been paying for 4 lessons per month that whole time.

I'll admit to not being an ideal student. My first love is the mountains. I hike every weekend, so that costs practice time. I take many long weekend vacations during the year to explore and climb peaks. (One of the reasons Mondays are bad for me)

I don't practice as much as I should. After working all day, I tend to run out of steam in the evening and rarely get in a full hour. Usually 40 minutes. Living in a condo, I won't play after 9 PM, so that's another restriction.

But I enjoy it. Piano is my consolation during the week. I enjoy my lessons and learn something new, either about music, piano, or myself every week.

Despite the scheduling snafu, I stick with my teacher, because the last thing I want to do is to have to break in another teacher!