Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2008-05-03 15:21
Hi Chuck,
I'm 59 and in the same boat as you, minus the high pressure teacher. My teacher is wonderfully supportive and doesn't force me to play in recitals, although she is encouraging me to play in her June student recital, with a duet of my choosing with her. There is no way I would take on a piece that was too difficult to play in public, and your teacher should not do that with you either; why make performing an awful experience for you? It doesn't make sense.
I started last August and am near the end of Gekeler Book 1, and on #10 of the Barret progressive melodies. So we are not dissimilar in where we are, although I guess I'm behind you somewhat. I'm trying to move up to a stiffer reed, and my chops collapse after 10 to 15 minutes, which is frustrating because I don't get enough practice time. I was able to play for an hour on a softer reed.
I think teachers do not understand two things about adult learners (ok, maybe we're middle-aged learners.) One is that things like finger patterns take a lot longer to sink in than they did when we were 20; and the other is that our muscles take longer to strengthen than when we were 20. We have the intelligence and perseverance to progress but our bodies lag behind. We have to be patient with our bodies and allow them to go at the pace that works for them.
Funny, I started playing the horn at 45 after having been a violin major in college. I was astonished how long it took to settle into the new instrument, both with the muscle strength/endurance needed, and how long it took the finger patterns to become automatic. Now that I am quite a bit older, I'm not surprised at this and am approaching it with patience. I'm lucky that my teacher is on board with allowing me to progress at the rate that I physically can; frankly, if my teacher were making the demands yours is, I'd simply refuse. I already challenge myself at 100% and do not need the stress of a challenge coming from outside, that I don't feel I can meet. This is supposed to be fun!
EBH
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