Adult students are much more interesting to teach.
Naturally, this line might, and perhaps SHOULD read:
I'm much more interested in teaching adult students than children.
There...I've said it. You can beat me as you will. (Course, I might just beat back.)
I believe one of the differences between teaching children and teaching adults is that you have to elicit the cooperation of adults. You must explain to them WHY they are doing what you ask, as well as what's in it for them. You can't just stand on your authority as a (all bow) PIANO TEACHER and ORDER the job done. Adults won't stand for it. They know what they want and feel just fine wanting it. My practice takes this as a positive. I simply ask adult students what they want and then work out a way to give it to them. Doesn't take a lot of convincing, since they already agree with the end result. My job, as an expert, is to show them how to get from Point A to Point B is a fun and successful fashion. Thus, 95% of interviews end with a new student.
Along the way these adults will encounter lots of barriers. However, one of these barriers is never "Am I following my own Muse, or some agenda of the piano instructor?" You can see the difference, anyone of you who has taught children (by the way, I've taught about 1000 in twenty years, so I'm not just makin' my lips flap.)
Another item is the quality of conversation with adults. You can learn lots of stuff, not the least of which is what factors have been influencing their piano study during the past week. Kids often respond to their teacher's questions with a shrug and, "I don't know." They aren't lying - they really don't know for the simple reason that they are kids. They are still getting the hang of this living stuff. Things happen, they often do not know why. Thus the piano instructor is in the dark. Is it a lack of practice? Bad practice? Doesn't like the song? Fails to understand something I said three lessons ago? Who knows! And you can't really find out.
Adults might not know what it all "means" but they CAN give you the info you need to recommend the right course of action.
Also, do you like quick results? Results you know are successful? Adults learn fast (although they usually don't think so - most have come to the opinion that if they aren't Mozart they are talentless!) There's nothing like seeing progress to let you know that you have what it takes as a piano teacher ! And no recitals are required - adults will TELL you and SHOW you their progress. You won't have to dig for it.
Finally, some of these adult folks might just become personal friends. I have several that I have made over the past twenty years, including my best friend, as well as the lead vocalist on my new CD, plus some other folks close to me who now live in other cities and still keep in touch. I am touch with zero of my 1000 children. They grow up, they grow apart. Sad but inevitable.
Well, that's it. I am the lone teacher in my town who specializes in adults. I know of a few others in other parts of the country. But I have to tell you...
OUR TIME IS GONNA COME !
Adult piano students are the wave of the future, even though the piano teaching world is loathe to admit it.
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