Senior Citizens Learning Piano and Child Only Plays Old Pieces by Georgia Zoe Schohl
Q. I'm a senior citizen who has been taking lessons on and off during the years. Right now I have not been taking lessons for a few years. The problem is that I do not seem to progress like I think that I should. I see kids learning piano and playing advanced pieces so easily in just a couple of years. It really is discouraging for me to see that happening because I have to work so hard to sound musical and learn my favorite classical piece, like Moonlight Sonata.
Piano means a lot to me, but I've been distracted by health and family problems which has occupied months, even several years of my time. During these times I have been too depressed and tired to play piano. I would like to try again this time. I like the teacher I took lessons with a few years ago but I'm embarrassed to contact her because I stopped abruptly. What do I say to the teacher about starting lessons again? How do I tell her that I want to progress more quickly? I'm ready to make the commitment to practicing more this time.
U.D. Traverse City, Michigan
A. The first thing I can tell you is not be discouraged. As you well know, as the years go by there are many personal obstacles and problems people have to deal with. There is no way to get around it and everyone is distracted by some problems in life. It is admirable to me that you want to stick with your goal of learning some classical pieces that you love. Now that you have some time to commit to practicing and playing your piano, so now is the time to start again.
As for your question regarding contacting your old teacher of a few years ago about starting up again:
Go ahead and call for lessons again. Your teacher is used to people stopping for awhile and starting up again. This happens frequently with adult students as they get caught up in their busy lives. There is nothing embarrassing or unusual about stopping for a few months or even years. I bet she is wondering what happened to you and if you are still playing!
As for your last question, once you contact your teacher tell her about wanting to progress more quickly. It is all really up to you and how you utilize your practice time. She will probably assess your level of playing and figure out what you need to work on. Only your teacher can answer that question--so give her a call and get started again!
Q. I notice that when my 10 year old son practices he spends a lot of time playing old pieces and does not like playing new assignments for the week. He gets very upset with me and makes excuses about learning new music. He never used to be that way so I don't know why this is happening. It is getting to be a real battle because it looks like he is wasting his practice time.
K. A. Lampi Los Angeles, CA
A. How long has your son been taking lessons? In the beginning when students are first learning they want to progress as fast as they can because they enjoy learning new pieces. Your son is probably reaching a plateau where he is going into the next level which means there are new more technically challenging pieces.
Often students will feel more comfortable playing old pieces because they are probably learning new, difficult material that they find is hard to learn.
The teacher may not be aware of this so let the teacher know what is going on. If you let the teacher know, he or she can spend more time with the new music to make sure your child is understanding it better. You also may get some tips from the teacher to get your son to play his assignments.
But don't completely discourage him from playing or reviewing his old pieces that he likes playing. I find that many students have forgotten pieces they learned a few months ago because they don't like reviewing old pieces. So tell him to save it at the end of his practice time---but get the assignment done first.
Piano means a lot to me, but I've been distracted by health and family problems which has occupied months, even several years of my time. During these times I have been too depressed and tired to play piano. I would like to try again this time. I like the teacher I took lessons with a few years ago but I'm embarrassed to contact her because I stopped abruptly. What do I say to the teacher about starting lessons again? How do I tell her that I want to progress more quickly? I'm ready to make the commitment to practicing more this time.
U.D. Traverse City, Michigan
A. The first thing I can tell you is not be discouraged. As you well know, as the years go by there are many personal obstacles and problems people have to deal with. There is no way to get around it and everyone is distracted by some problems in life. It is admirable to me that you want to stick with your goal of learning some classical pieces that you love. Now that you have some time to commit to practicing and playing your piano, so now is the time to start again.
As for your question regarding contacting your old teacher of a few years ago about starting up again:
Go ahead and call for lessons again. Your teacher is used to people stopping for awhile and starting up again. This happens frequently with adult students as they get caught up in their busy lives. There is nothing embarrassing or unusual about stopping for a few months or even years. I bet she is wondering what happened to you and if you are still playing!
As for your last question, once you contact your teacher tell her about wanting to progress more quickly. It is all really up to you and how you utilize your practice time. She will probably assess your level of playing and figure out what you need to work on. Only your teacher can answer that question--so give her a call and get started again!
Q. I notice that when my 10 year old son practices he spends a lot of time playing old pieces and does not like playing new assignments for the week. He gets very upset with me and makes excuses about learning new music. He never used to be that way so I don't know why this is happening. It is getting to be a real battle because it looks like he is wasting his practice time.
K. A. Lampi Los Angeles, CA
A. How long has your son been taking lessons? In the beginning when students are first learning they want to progress as fast as they can because they enjoy learning new pieces. Your son is probably reaching a plateau where he is going into the next level which means there are new more technically challenging pieces.
Often students will feel more comfortable playing old pieces because they are probably learning new, difficult material that they find is hard to learn.
The teacher may not be aware of this so let the teacher know what is going on. If you let the teacher know, he or she can spend more time with the new music to make sure your child is understanding it better. You also may get some tips from the teacher to get your son to play his assignments.
But don't completely discourage him from playing or reviewing his old pieces that he likes playing. I find that many students have forgotten pieces they learned a few months ago because they don't like reviewing old pieces. So tell him to save it at the end of his practice time---but get the assignment done first.
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