Music education in adulthood: introdutory aspects

Abstract

We observe, through the practice of music education in conservatories, free schools of music and private music lessons in the city of Ribeirão Preto, the growing demand for musical instrument lessons by adults beginners. Without professional aims, adult learners seek to learn a musical instrument for various reasons: to continue their education interrupted in childhood, to accomplish an old desire only possible in adulthood, searching for activities that improve their quality of life, to escape the rush exacerbated day-to-day; the taste for art, among other reasons. Several authors have studied about the music initiation in childhood, however, when it is about musical learning in adulthood, especially in Brazil, the amount of works is still low. This article presents my Master ’s Degree project whose main objective is a study of the processes of teaching and learning music as an adult today, analyzing the types of approaches to teachers who work in piano teaching and adult beginners at the age from 24 to 59 years old, in private lessons, schools of music and conservatories or free courses in Ribeirão Preto. Besides the literature review, I study the related issues about the formation of music teacher and his/her practice through interviews with teachers and students, which contribute to a better reflection of the subject. We confronted the application of different teaching methodologies and a brief comparative analysis of the methods of pianistic initiation for adults.