An Appreciation of Adult Amateurs

Matthew Harre

Why is it that the young person's accomplishment seems so impressive but a similar accomplishment by an adult does not? Why it is perceived so differently? It certainly doesn't have to do with the magnitude of the learning accomplishment. If anything, the adult's accomplishment would be even more spectacular.

- Matthew Harre 


This man runs a website called Musical Fossils. I found it really inspiring, actually. My project is about teaching students of all different ages, and he talks about the appreciation of adult amateurs. I think that is so important. Just as he said, why are people so much more impressed by a young person's accomplishment when an adult has to work just as hard, if not harder? 

I love what he had to say about a couple former adult students of his. They shared with him their thoughts on taking lessons as an adult. They talked about the passion they found in music, even though they didn't know why they were still taking piano lessons. One of them talked about how as she first started playing things that sounded remotely like music, the rhythm was uneven, some of the notes were wrong, but she was "beside [herself] with glee". 

That's something teachers have lost. We have become so obsessed with perfection in the field of music. We are upset when we find that we are sometimes limited, even after years of practice and hard work. Amateurs are surprised when they do something right, while the teachers are surprised when they do something wrong. Years ago, the teacher was the amateur. Through time, teachers forget the excitement that creating music can bring. 

A friend of mine is an amazing pianist and avid song-writer. She gets frustrated if she doesn't start and finish a song in one day. I, for one, am very impressed by the work she does and the music she creates. But I think it's ridiculous that she gives herself a deadline for it! Progress in music takes time.

It's just crazy looking back at how far I've come. I remember taking lessons when I was 8. I absolutely hated it. I only went to lessons because my teacher was my friend's mom and we got to go swimming afterwards. Now, I play the piano every single day. Music has been something I have been blessed with, and this project is really helping me appreciate it more. Sure, sometimes I complain about always being the fall-back when somebody needs an accompanist. But taking a different perspective right now, I should be grateful for the development of this talent of mine. My mom is the one that made me go to lessons, and my older siblings are the ones that set the example and showed me how great the piano is. Thanks to them, music is a special part of my life. And I love sharing it with others. It's reassuring to know that it's not too late for the adult amateurs to develop skills at the piano. Music touches a deeper part of people than anything else.