Taking lessons as an adult

[bort]

How common is it for adult amateur players to take lessons? Do a lot of teachers avoid this? Or do they just see the positive cash flow as a good thing?

As some background, I was not a music major in college (took the "get a job" route), but I was quite active in the music program there. I haven't taken many lessons before, but did have a semester of lessons with a grad student, and like 3 or 4 lessons with the tuba professor, who you all surely know.

I just fear that playing in community bands and my own independent practicing, while fun, isn't guided enough to help me really advance as a player. I'm looking for something more "serious." I'm not "world class" haha, but I've gotten the "raw talent" speech from more than a few people.

I'm going to turn 30 this year... did I miss the boat? Any suggestions? This may not be the most well-articulated post, but I wasn't sure where to start. I just can't see spending the next 5 years of tuba playing the same way I spent the past 5 years.

Thoughts?

[Rev Rob]

Hi bort, I would say, if you find a teacher you have confidence in, who is willing to work with you, and you are willing to invest the time, talent and treasure in becoming a better tuba player. Do It

After 40 years, I am attempting to become proficient as a tuba player. I received advice from a former high school band teacher to begin with an elementary book and work my way through it. So I started with Rubank's Elementary lesson book and have worked my way through it. Have I completely mastered it? Not yet. I practice for an hour to hour and a half five to six days a week. I have been doing this since April. Would I appreciate taking lessons from someone who is knowledgeable and I trust - YES

What are the possibilities of this occurring in the wilds of south central Montana Better than you might think, but I will have to drive 60 to 100 miles to have a lesson. Doable but not on a weekly basis. But hopefully just often enough to where I can more quickly improve than if I worked at it by myself.

[Dean]

I've never had an adult student, so I cannot be certain...

But, I think I would prefer a studio full of adults over kids. There's something about being paid by someone who makes his/her OWN money--those people actually WANT lessons. I'd trade that desire for youth and even natural talent any day.

Most all the kids I taught (this was years ago now, I've since quit teaching) were just here because they were in band, wanted to make all-state (but didn't want to do the associated work), and the parents paid the $$$.... ugh--I've not had good teaching experiences in the last 8 years!

I am about to start taking private instruction myself (though, not for music), so I say go for it!!!

[jamsav]

It is an unbelievably efficient way to improve and to avoid the development of bad habits. I had lots of lessons yrs ago as a kid and derived benefit from it , but now as an adult, my ability to comprehend and retain is much better. I also have the ability to " sort out " what will help me from what won't. Having played for a long time now, I am aware of my deficiencies and I can articulate my needs clearly, to any instructor.
I continue to improve . I strive to be better at every rehearsal, performance, gig , practice session .
Should I ever have a sense that an instructor is " mailing it in and taking my $ " I would move on...this hasn't been the case .
The guys I have sat with have enthusiastically helped me and I would like to think that they have taken a few things from me.
Listen to those around you . If you like the way they sound or cover a part, or present a particular style , seek them out , ask questions . Most guys will be happy to share what they know for a pittance in comparison to what their own educations had cost....

[bort]

That's encouraging to hear, and I will be contacting some people soon (already have, actually). I'm sure it probably varies from teacher to teacher, but like most things with tuba, I have no expectation of quick success.

[Roger Lewis]

I have several folks that I refer to as my "senior students" who had played a while back and just wanted to become reacquainted with the instrument and become better players, for their own enjoyment. I find that they are great to work with, we have a lot of fun and we accomplish a lot. I usually will see them every month or so and give them plenty to work on to fill the time between lessons. Some of them drive 1 1/2 to 3 hours each way for their lessons so I make sure it is worth their time to make the trip. I charge very little as they have a much bigger investment just in the travel costs.

I'm very proud that one of my senior students is doing a LOT of playing with several local community bands, a German band and he is having a great time. He's getting to meet some really great players out there and getting to enjoy a variety of different and challenging music.

They ask really good questions and then put in the practice time to make it enjoyable for me to teach them.

I enjoy it.

Roger

[vintage7512]

I am a short drive from the BBC (20 minutes) and my situation is very much like Bort's. I wish I had the $150 per hour to take a lesson or two from Mr. Fedderly. I never considered that it could be just once a month, though. It makes a lot of sense from a student's point of view, but the teacher doesn't get that weekly income. I may look into whether he might be receptive to the idea - I could maybe afford once a month, and I do practice a lot so I should be able to improve, if he gave me a lot of assignments for the month. I have kinda hit a wall and need some direction to continue to improve.

[Michael Bush]

As one who has students, both young adult and older (though not in the field of music), I will say that the adults are by far the preferable students, in my experience. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but as a group they are invariably more serious, committed, and disciplined.

It makes a big difference that they are paying the tuition bill themselves, I think. Also, they're not there out of some family or cultural expectation, but because they have chosen to be without any pushing or necessity.

What adult students sometimes lack in native ability or freshness of mind they more than make up in hard work.

I can't imagine it's any different in music.

[MartyNeilan]

FWIW, many outstanding symphony players that I have known still take occasional lessons from other, even more outstanding symphony players.
Many of Jake's students weren't exactly kids when they came to him...

[bigbob]

I'm 66 and taking lessons from a very good teacher... He's patient and gives me challenges in my music!!! That I didn't have during the 18 years I played alone.. I probaly will never play in a band but My interest in Tubas and my willingness to still learn is a very pleasurable experience and certainly clears my head for doing the artwork..bigbob

[bort]

I am a short drive from the BBC (20 minutes) and my situation is very much like Bort's. I wish I had the $150 per hour to take a lesson or two from Mr. Fedderly. I never considered that it could be just once a month, though. It makes a lot of sense from a student's point of view, but the teacher doesn't get that weekly income. I may look into whether he might be receptive to the idea - I could maybe afford once a month, and I do practice a lot so I should be able to improve, if he gave me a lot of assignments for the month. I have kinda hit a wall and need some direction to continue to improve.

Steve, you should find out if Kevin Ladd still giving lessons through BBC? I think the Web site said 50/hour. I've known him for a few years, and he's a fantastic player and a great/very positive person. If I were still in Bmore, I'd definitely give him a call.

This is all good news for me though, so it's time to start making some contacts...certainly no shortage of tubists here in the city.

[Rick Denney]

Some teachers who are in high demand may not take students who are not professionals. If you ask for lessons from a top pro and get that response, don't take it personally. They just have limited time and want to make the most of the time they do have.

But I didn't take my first lesson until I was 26. Did I miss the boat? Yes, in some ways. But the longer you wait, the farther away that boat will be.

Typical college music students get lessons once a week and are expected to devote 15 or 20 hours of practice to the assignments given them by their lesson teachers during the intervening week. This is an unreasonable expectation for adult amateurs, but sometimes the expectation is more on the part of the student than the teacher. Don't schedule weekly lessons unless you plan to devote that kind of time. Roger mentioned monthly lessons, and even that was too frequent for me.

One advantage adults have is that they know what they are trying to achieve with more clarity than young'uns. It has been possible for me to take a lesson and work on what the teacher told me for a year or two (or more), still getting benefit from the lesson long after. Most of the time, I know what I need to do to get better and the problem is just making the time to do it, but when I get stuck, I take a lesson. My lessons have been more conceptual than drill-oriented, and the drills recommended were targeted to address conceptual issues. I've also been told to quit thinking so much, heh.

My teachers seem to enjoy the opportunity to teach hobbyists from time to time. They see adult hobbyists as peers who happen to work in other fields, rather than subordinates in music, and good friendships based on mutual respect are often possible. Just make sure your teacher understands your objectives, and make sure to schedule lessons at a frequency consistent with your available practice time. Do not allow yourself to feel guilty about taking lessons less frequently because of limited practice time--the point of playing as an adult is to derive satisfaction from the expression, not to achieve some arbitrary standard of performance.

Rick "who has taken lessons once in a while for nearly 30 years" Denney

[bort]

FWIW, many outstanding symphony players that I have known still take occasional lessons from other, even more outstanding symphony players.
Many of Jake's students weren't exactly kids when they came to him...

RIght... I think my concern was that adult lessons were more pros learning from older more experienced pros. But clearly that's not true.

[Frank Ortega]

Hey Bort,

I have taught a number of older students and I have always enjoyed the experience. There's a seriousness and honesty that you don't always get teaching younger folks. If you're interested, I'm only 20 minutes from NYC and I do get into the city an awful lot. Drop me a line if you'd like to give it a try.

Best of Luck!
Frank Ortega
frankonj@aol.com" target="_blank

[vintage7512]

I think anyone - even the best of them - can use a coach from time to time. There is no better golfer on the planet than Tiger Woods, but even he has a teacher still. Doing and teaching are very different - I am a teacher-in-training and you would be surprised how many Phd's can't teach what they know, however vast their experience. A good teacher is hard to find, and one who is also knowledgeable and with whom you can personally relate, even harder.

[Larry49028]

I take lessons as a "senior" adult. I didn't play for the 40 years between college and retirement. I decided a couple of years back to try playing again. I made contact with a local tuba professional who has been very patient and generous with me. I really benefit from his wealth of knowledge. I don't have regularly scheduled lessons, but I play and practice until I run into difficulties. Then I take a lesson to correct the problems I've encountered. My instructor not only has helped me play better than I ever have, but guided me through the process of purchasing the perfect tuba for me.

In short, taking lessons as a adult has been a very rewarding experience for me.

[bearphonium]

I, too, started playing again after a layoff, and the tuba was a new instrument to me. I have taken some "beginning" lessons, have been putting those lessons to work, and am almost to the point where I will be looking for another teacher to augment these lessons. With my work commitments, one lesson a month (and not every month) seems to work out for me.

[NC_amateur_euph]

I'm 68 now and started studying privately 5 or 6 years ago.

I'm fortunate to live in a hotbed of low brass talent and even more fortunate to have been referred by the local tuba professor (God) to one of his grad students - then another when the first graduated and moved on and so on. In each case, we set up hour-long lessons on a (usually) bi-weekly basis and it has worked out wonderfully for me.

I don't think the money is much motivation for my teachers; I get the sense that their motivation is more in sharing the joy of the rare "aha" moment and the even rarer time when actual music comes out the bell of the horn.

Each of my teachers has brought something different to the table - all of which I have needed and have been able to pick up on with varying degrees of success. I no longer harbor dreams of auditioning for one the premier service bands but the assignments, drills, tips and encouragement (and don't-ever-do-that-again moments) have advanced my goal of being the best horn-playing musician I can be.

That being my goal, I intend to continue with lessons until the last beat of my personal coda.

[bort]

Great to hear that, thanks for sharing. I hope I am as lucky in 40 years!

[Carroll]

I teach (and have taught) several adult students. Some of them are beginners who have never played anything, some played something else, and a few played erlier in life and are looking to play again. Most of them are great to work with. A few just waste our collective time. One was a Japanese medical resident (in residency with my wife) who traded euphonium lessons for home cooked Japanese meals. He wanted to learn enough to play at TubaChristmas. He had played in a "Euphonium Club" in Tokyo but did not read at all. His cooking was pretty bad. We had a blast sitting together at TubaChristmas. Others took lessons to get up to speed and play in community bands with me. That is a particular pleasure. One of these had become section leader and band president. He plays at church and has a great time behind the horn. I miss living close enough to play alongside him. Another is trying to learn enough to play her father's trombone in community band here.

Most of my students meet with me bi-weekly or monthly and usually barter for fees with Harry and David pears, oil changes, dinner gift certificates, etc.

Take some lessons and enjoy playing again.