“We live in a world where
99¢ is too much for a song, but $5 is acceptable at Starbucks”
- Peter Jutras, Ph. D., Editor in Chief for
Clavier Companion
The Future of Pedagogy, Summer Summits
Conference at The Royal Conservatory of Music July 7, 2012
This is a sobering fact,
but it helps teachers to realize where musical interest lies today. At first
this may seem depressing to music educators, but there is some interesting
facts behind such a trend. Dr. Jutras presented some of these facts at this
year’s Royal Conservatory of Music’s 2012 Summer Summits: Professional
Development Seminars for Music Teachers. With many adult students at The Music
Embassy, I listened intently to be able to give our staff the tools to make
lessons for our adults fun and fulfilling.
We live in a world where
services are expected to be customized and affordable for each individual. Misto,
skinny, non-fat, venti, no-whip...we go through the trouble learn and conform
to Starbucks lingo just to get it a caffeinated beverage specifically to our individual
liking. After ordering, baristas often put the name of the customer identifying
their unique beverage. When ordering at a restaurant, we expect plenty of
options, portion sizes and the option to modify all for a reasonable price. And
if the quality is not what we liked, we expect the meal to be replaced and
discounted. Expectations have reached an all time high in customer service,
especially as business adapt to tailoring to individuals.
Ultimately, music studios
are a business, and they are expected to provide a service. Our adult students
are clients who expect certain results within a reasonable amount of time. This
is especially a challenge with adult schedules! Unlike the younger clientele,
they have many more responsibilities that eating, sleeping and going to school.
With limited time to practice, how are music teachers expected to guide adult
students to reach their goals?
Let’s take into
consideration another valuable fact. According to a study (performed by Peter
Jutras himself) the number one reason why adults take lessons: they just wanna
play!! Most music teachers are musicians themselves, and often take this privilege
for granted. Other teachers who have been raised with Conservatory standards
have appreciation for spending years on a solidifying a technical foundation,
especially when they reap the rewards of musical proficiency. However, as
active musicians, this hindsight can be ineffective and not applicable for the
adult students of today.
Music teachers, or
service providers, must fully understand the goal of each individual adult
student, or client. If someone just wants to be able to jam with other fellow
amateurs or join in campfire circles at their friend’s cottage, then the focus
should be centred on the theory of common chord progression and developing a
repertoire of common standards. If another wants to build music appreciation to
enjoy (and understand!) an opera or symphonic performance, then the lessons
should be centred on music history highlights, active listening and learning to
play themes and motives from an upcoming performance in a local venue. If the
goal is to be able to have the tools to learn music independently, then the
teacher should focus on music fundamentals such as sight reading, rhythm,
pattern recognition, and physical ability. Whichever path the client chooses,
the service provider should set realistic and achievable goals and supply the
tools necessary to achieve them.
At The Music Embassy, we
have thoroughly enjoyed the company of many adult students since we’ve opened
our doors. As director, I have found it a joy to see that our brand is
approachable by many adult customers. It’s so exciting to welcome those who
want to make long life dreams come true, to bring back skills unused for many
years, or simply to enjoy music to the full and enhancing everyday life. Our
flexibility on scheduling can accommodate many adult schedules: mornings,
afternoons, evenings, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Our practice tips can help you get the most of your sessions - contact us today to find out more!