Teaching senior citizens is quite different than
teaching children or younger adults. While seniors
can be highly motivated students, they must often
overcome physical and emotional challenges not
typically faced by younger students. For example,
many seniors suffer from physical problems such as
failing eyesight and/or hearing, arthritis,
backaches, body aches, and other problems.
Emotionally, many seniors face problems such as
depression, frustration, lack of challenge or purpose
in their lives and so on. Compounding the problem of
these differences is the fact that most piano method
books and teaching approaches have been designed for
children. Even method books that have been designed
for adults are often unsuitable for seniors due to
very small print, inappropriate choice of repertoire,
etc. Therefore teachers who teach senior citizens
must not only understand the unique characteristics
of these students, but then must also adapt their
methods, materials, and teaching strategies to suit
the needs of these students.
teaching children or younger adults. While seniors
can be highly motivated students, they must often
overcome physical and emotional challenges not
typically faced by younger students. For example,
many seniors suffer from physical problems such as
failing eyesight and/or hearing, arthritis,
backaches, body aches, and other problems.
Emotionally, many seniors face problems such as
depression, frustration, lack of challenge or purpose
in their lives and so on. Compounding the problem of
these differences is the fact that most piano method
books and teaching approaches have been designed for
children. Even method books that have been designed
for adults are often unsuitable for seniors due to
very small print, inappropriate choice of repertoire,
etc. Therefore teachers who teach senior citizens
must not only understand the unique characteristics
of these students, but then must also adapt their
methods, materials, and teaching strategies to suit
the needs of these students.