Photo credit: David Jackmanson
I can’t believe Thanksgiving will be here in one short week! We all have so much to be thankful for. I hope your plans next week include time spent with people you care about enjoying delicious food together. Here at Winterhalter Music our students are practicing diligently for our winter recitals in a little over two weeks. I can’t wait to hear our talented students perform in December.
Last week I discussed some of the wonderful benefits you receive if you take music lessons as an adult. Today I share my thoughts on what you should expect (including the challenges and how to overcome them) if you return to or begin music lessons as an adult.
Challenge #1: It’s not as easy as it seems
Playing an instrument is very challenging, but also can be so rewarding. While it may look easy, it can be quite difficult. Music forces you to use both your body and your emotions. Physically you have to press the keys or strings, blow into the instrument, move your bow, etc. This requires you to use muscles you never knew existed before. Your fingers may not always cooperate with your brain right away. As an adult your motor skills have already developed. While over time you definitely can develop and strengthen these otherwise unused muscles, it’s easy to feel frustrated at first.
Solution: If you don’t pick things up as quickly as you’d expect from a physical standpoint, be patient and kind with yourself. If playing a chord does not feel natural or if you only have the chops to play your clarinet for 10 minutes a day, try not to let it bother you. It has always been my experience that if you keep trying and you are encouraging to yourself, you will eventually get it.
On the positive side, your brain is much more developed than that of a child student, so intellectually, you can pick up the concepts and progress faster than most children can do. That means in no time you’ll be learning those Beatles tunes you always wished you knew how to play.
Challenge #2: Finding time to practice is a challenge itself
Let’s face it, with a job, kids, a house to maintain and all the responsibilities that we face as adults in modern society, you have a lot going on. Finding time to practice between making dinner, doing laundry, shuttling your daughter to ballet class is not easy. Most adult students have the best intentions to practice frequently. Unfortunately though, life gets in the way. It’s easy for a week to pass without you making the kind of time to practice that you’d like to.
Solution: I suggest you read this blog post where I extensively talk about how to make practicing a priority if you are busy. You have to develop a new habit of practicing each week. Developing new habits takes time and patience. Again, if you stick with it and keep trying the techniques I mention in the post (schedule your practicing in advance, make it a routine, use your time productively, etc.), eventually the new habit of practicing regularly will stick and you won’t need to make such a conscious effort to practice.
Additionally I wrote last month about how to practice effectively. Check out that post for even more great ideas to make the most of your practice time.
Now I want to hear from you. Are you an adult who started lessons or picked up (or returned to) an instrument as an adult? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? Leave a comment below. “Like us” on Facebook and subscribe to receive the email newsletter. Contact us if you want more information about taking lessons as an adult. Have a beautiful day!
Sincerely,
Cassie
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