by Columbus Music Schools on 04/01/15
You’ve probably heard people say wistfully, “I wish I’d taken music lessons as a child.” Or, “I wish I could play an instrument.” Perhaps you’ve even thought it yourself. The assumption seems to be that because you didn’t learn at an early age, you are somehow too old to master an instrument now. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. While early music education is indeed a gift, there is no reason that adults cannot become musically proficient, regardless of their age. In fact, many of the skills that have made adults successful in their careers and lives translate over into music study, making them outstanding students. Here are just a few ways mature folks can actually be at an advantage over kids when it comes to music lessons.
So if you have thought you were too old to learn an instrument, think again. There’s no time like the present. At Columbus Music Schools, we understand both the joys and challenges of learning a musical instrument no matter what your age. Our individualized instruction is designed to meet your needs and goals, not accommodate a one-size-fits all approach. Megan Yankee, our Student Services Coordinator, can discuss the best music lesson options for you in greater detail. You can reach Megan at megan@ColumbusMusicSchools.com or at 614-500-4403. She is looking forward to answering your questions and welcoming you to one of our studios soon!
You’ve probably heard people say wistfully, “I wish I’d taken music lessons as a child.” Or, “I wish I could play an instrument.” Perhaps you’ve even thought it yourself. The assumption seems to be that because you didn’t learn at an early age, you are somehow too old to master an instrument now. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. While early music education is indeed a gift, there is no reason that adults cannot become musically proficient, regardless of their age. In fact, many of the skills that have made adults successful in their careers and lives translate over into music study, making them outstanding students. Here are just a few ways mature folks can actually be at an advantage over kids when it comes to music lessons.
- Motivation: Most adults choose to study music to satisfy themselves, not because they feel compelled to meet someone else’s expectations. This actually gives them a far greater advantage as students over children, who are often taking music lessons at the behest of their parents. Personal motivation has been shown to have positive cognitive effects, allowing students to actually learn more quickly.
- Patience: Adults know that accomplishing long-term goals takes time, a concept that younger students often struggle with. They don’t expect overnight success, and have realistic expectations of the time and effort it takes to achieve proficiency.
- Discipline: Even though many older students lead very busy lives, they have developed time management skills that allow them to carve out regular time for practice and to make their time spent practicing more effective. Better focus and a disciplined attitude often put adults at an advantage to younger students.
- Experience: Adults have far more experience listening to music, which makes it easier to learn how to play it. That lifetime of exposure often allows mature students to grasp chords and groupings of chords more easily. They also have less trouble understanding abstract concepts, such as how specific notes on a scale relate to each other.
So if you have thought you were too old to learn an instrument, think again. There’s no time like the present. At Columbus Music Schools, we understand both the joys and challenges of learning a musical instrument no matter what your age. Our individualized instruction is designed to meet your needs and goals, not accommodate a one-size-fits all approach. Megan Yankee, our Student Services Coordinator, can discuss the best music lesson options for you in greater detail. You can reach Megan at megan@ColumbusMusicSchools.com or at 614-500-4403. She is looking forward to answering your questions and welcoming you to one of our studios soon!