Is there such a thing as musical instrument lessons for adults?

[Blueberreh]

I would feel a bit silly going along to one, a quick google says there are a few but do they expect you usually to have a basic understanding? I haven’t learned since school but I’d love to pick up the guitar and I’m not very good at teaching myself via YouTube! Has anyone been to an in person one and would you suggest one to one or group? Thanks

My DH started guitar lessons about 3 years ago aged 55. He'd never played before. Bought a guitar on impulse and the rest is history!

Same with my friend. Couldn't read music and had never played an instrument in her life. She started one to one violin lessons for her 60th birthday and a couple of years later she's playing with other musical folk at open mic nights. Go for it.

OH! Should say whether you do one to one or group classes is personal choice. One to one ensures well, just that, one to one attention but a group is more fun and you build confidence playing in front of other people from day one, so you never have that eek, I'm in public feeling.

Yes of course- IME most teachers teach both adults and children. Totally normal and you don't need any prior knowledge. I would suggest 1-2-1.

Definitely
my mother is an instrument teacher and has had adult pupils

if you’re interested in piano I’d recommend simply piano app but you need a piano obviously
i would say that it’s easier to learn as a child, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible as an adult. The average adult is likely to be more committed than the average child.

I started piano lessons last year at 45 years old. I had played another instrument as a child, but never got very far, and always REALLY wanted to play the piano. My teacher teaches both children and adults. He's excellent and I've come so far in just a few months.

Of course! A good instrument teacher should be able to teach adults as well as children, though it's worth checking that they have experience with adults so that their teaching methods and resources aren't all geared to children! 1-2-1 is obviously more expensive but should be mich better tailored and almost certainly easier to find than group but it's worth checking locally (try your local library and community centre etc) as you may be lucky. Think about what sort of guitar you want to learn (acoustic vs electric) and what sort of music you'd like to be able to play as while teachers may cover both they will generally lean towards one or the other.

Yep, I've always wanted to learn the piano and was given one as a gift for my 40th. I could read music but was only used to reading in the treble clef from days as a child learning the cornet. Two hands and a Bass clef was all new! Fast forward 5 years, 'ive been having an hours' lesson a fortnight and trying to practise for 30 mins most days. Now playing Grade 5 pieces and loving it and getting frustrated equally!

Thank you everyone! You’ve convinced me it’s not too late to give it a go

I'm mid thirties and considering piano lessons in a few years when the kids are a bit older :)

I’d say the opposite and easier to learn as an adult, more experience and learning skills!

most are 1 to 1 so no problem at all as an adult

Definitely check that the person has experience teaching adults and be prepared to switch teachers if you don't like their style/feel like you've learnt all they can teach you. You'll already know what good music should sound like, which many small children don't, and so lots of beginner teaching is geared around getting them to understand that, whereas you want someone who'll give you interesting but easy stuff to practice.

I learnt to play the cello a few years ago with a great teacher (I could already read music) and once I have more time will go back to lessons.

A lot of adults I know still play and some have taken lessons after not playing an instrument since childhood.
1-1 is better than group in my experience as the teacher can match the lesson better to your skills and areas to develop.

The app simply piano also has one for guitar. Watch a YouTube video about it.

Absolutely yes - I started playing the cello about four years ago as an adult absolute beginner (I had played some instruments as a child and could read music at a very elementary level, but had never played a stringed instrument).

I found a lovely local teacher for 1-2-1s, played her student cellos initially, hired one for a year or so until I was sure I liked it (they're bloody expensive), then bought one!

I'm never going to do my Grade 8, but I now play occasionally in a very amateur local orchestra group - we mostly get together for pleasure, but have done a couple of performances.

As a total beginner, I would recommend private lessons to begin with, especially if you can't read music, but you can then very quickly join a group.

My oldest student has been 72! You’re never too late to give it a go!

Absolutely. You can basically call up any music teacher and ask if they teach adults. A lot do. Some don't.

The apps and YouTube videos are useless. Get an instructor and you will learn faster.

I passed grade 6 piano as a child. I can read music and know what guitar chords are supposed to be. I managed to follow ukulele videos and tab and managed to teach myself to strum and pluck a little. Even I find the guitar videos frustrating. I tried a bit when DC learned and I gave up. It’s so much better when you have someone around who can show you things and tell you what is wrong.

I started piano at age 32 while my children were small because I really needed some creative outlet time that I could do at a moment's notice. I had 1-2-1 weekly lessons and could play Chopin waltzes and Beethoven sonatas after 7-8 years. My only regret is to not have an excellent memory and have to relearn pieces that younger people would probably have retained and the ability to play in an orchestra - which would require a professional level probably! However I adored the lessons and worked very hard .

Go for it!!

I wouldn't have been able to do it without the app. (Simply piano)

It is 100% at your speed. It listens to you and instantly highlights where you've gone wrong.

In real life I would feel embarrassed for an instructor to see me take 3 days to 'get' an easy chord, but with the app you can take as long as you want. And you haven't 'wasted' £50 on a lesson, where you haven't made any progress.

I think as someone who has attained grade 6, even as a child, you're not in the same boat as an actual beginner.

@ThatFraggle my problem is I find it frustrating to be very slow at changing cords on the guitar. I can hear I slow down between chord changes and not keeping up. I also don’t seem to be strumming properly.

I have not tried simply piano but have got the ABRSM aural app for DC and soundwise from a Ludivico book. The aural one is hopeless if you use the scoring but good for having lots of exercises. Soundwise is supposed to feedback on how you play but no better than me recording using my digital piano and me listening to myself. A lot of it is listening to your own playing.

What I’m saying is I can tell where I am not good. What I can’t find is someone to see if I’m on the right track. An instructor can give better feed back and you can learn faster. I don’t think you need three days to get an easy chord with an instructor for example.

A PP said she played Beethoven sonatas and Chopin Waltzes after 7-8 years of learning as an adult on the piano. This is really amazing progress and I doubt the same amount of time on an app or YouTube can get you that far.

I'm a music teacher. I have had adult pupils over the years.

DH teaches an instrument and has adult pupils as well as kids. He's told me before that he likes teaching people who come to him as a complete beginner.

Go for it.

At my group piano/keyboard lessons there was a woman who’d just passed her grade 3 piano - around 3 years previously she’d never touched a piano in her life. She was probably late 40s/early 50s but obv. I didn’t ask!