Why older students (teens, adults, and seniors) can be successful music students
Posted by: merismusicalmusings on: July 5, 2009
More developed cognitive abilities, such as reasoning and analyzing -they can understand the purpose of specific playing techniques and how they lead to the long-term goals. Also can take a lot less time to get to an intermediate level: what might take a student who started at the age of five to reach a solid intermediate level of playing, can often take an older student 1-2 years.
More experience with the world, especially in the concept of a steady beat, they have been experiencing music much of their lives to have a sense of a steady beat . They can cognitively make the connection to what they see and what they hear.
The ability to portray a variety of feelings, important in many styles of music. There are many pieces that portray deep sadness or grief, something most children have not had experience with, and often don’t until at least their teens.
Young children often do things without thinking; older students can learn to plan ahead. This is helpful especially when learning how to practice.
Learning is more student directed than teacher directed (though the better teachers may combine both the student’s goals and theirs). The student is there because they want to learn for themselves, not because someone is making them. (though for sme students, it’s good to make them take lessons)
The students are physically larger, most instruments were designed with adult men in mind, though some instruments are designed better for smaller or younger musicians (curved head joints on flutes, reduced size string instruments, smaller tone holes on some clarinet models, and adjustable thumb rests.
Meri's Musical Musings 
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