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To the teachers with adult students, what would you recommend now?

I finished Alfred’s Basic Adult All-in-One Course, Book 3 some time ago, 2 years maybe if memory serves. I haven’t taken lessons since and have moved from the area so I do not have a teacher in my new location.

I feel like I’ve become stagnant and would like to progress, getting back into a more formal program to move forward. I’d like something I can work on/through without the aid of a teacher due to some personal reasons.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Patty, what sort of music would you most like to play? Pop songs, cocktail jazz of the past, simplified classical arrangements, real classical repertoire? Or perhaps a mixture?
Is notated music your interest, or improv?

I'd be curious to know the "personal reasons" why you wish to avoid a teacher, unless you just can't afford private weekly lessons. I can't imagine another valid reason, when you say you are looking for a formal program.

But we can certainly help you out with some repertoire suggestions, once we know what area of piano music grabs you.

Hi Peter, thanks for responding. Let me first tell you what don't like: jazz and pop. Generally, I'm more of a sacred/traditional girl but have recently discovered the compositions of Catherine Rollins and Martha Mier, both of which I'm enjoying. I don't have a lot of experience with the classics, although I am fond of (simplified)Tchaikovsky.

My reason for not wanting to commit to lessons right now is because I'm working on my B.S. I know my limits and I don't want to spread myself too thin. Some weeks there may be several days that the piano sits idle while I'm cracking the books.

Weekly hour lessons and no teacher at all aren't the only possibilities.

Seeing a good teacher every 1 to 3 months is a viable option. It isn't traditional, and it will take some searching to find the right one. But it would give you some focus, some motivation, avoid or correct some of the worst habits, and prepare you a bit for when you have more time.

Patty, if you manage to find a teacher who specializes in - or is at least comfortable with - the adult learner, that person will well understand that there are weeks in which you won't practice at all, and won't judge you for this. But you might still consider the weekly lesson scenario: you'll play the piano more if you do.

But at Tim says, you could also just check in with a teacher now and again, rather than the customary weekly commitment. I would suggest at your level of playing that such lessons should be no less frequent than once a month.

Another idea is simply to take a single lesson with one or more local teachers - not a free audition, but a paid lesson - and use this time for that person to help you find suitable repertoire you can pursue on your own. It's easier to do that in person, at the piano, rather than here on the Internet.

But you're on the right track with any of the well-crafted music of Catherin Rollin and Martha Mier.

P.S. Sent you an email.

Tim, thanks for the suggestion. That isn't anything I had even considered. I was of the mindset that lessons are every week.

Peter, I received your email and will investigate your recommendations. Thank you.

In the brass playing world, it's not unusual for adults to get a checkup every three months. This is especially true of professional performers but becoming more common for amateurs as well.

PattyP, you may go through a lot of teachers who refuse to teach you once every 3 months, but I'm sure that you will find one that suits your needs (perhaps one whose studio is already full and so taking on a student once in a while like this is fine with them).

Yes, very few teachers will let you do that; it doesn't let the teacher get to know your tendencies very well, especially if your lesson is only half an hour.

You can always try online lessons; you won't have to leave your house, but most teachers will still want a commitment. I started teaching online a while ago and it works out quite well.

(Basically, all you need is a webcam/smartphone/iPhone.)

A half hour lesson is fine on a frequent basis, but we're talking deliberately planning infrequent but regular lessons. So it will need to be an hour.

A person with time limitations will not be adequately prepared for the next lesson in just a week. (and older people sometimes learn more slowly anyway) There is a risk of going off in some wrong direction and building a bad habit - but at least in 3 months you'll get directed back on course, and that won't happen at all without a teacher.

My teacher required the initial lesson be two hours, so he could thoroughly evaluate my playing and future needs. After that we've had hour lessons.