Adult music learning

Adult music learning Chief Executive Barbara Eifler discusses music education for over-18s

If before COVID-19 we might have struggled to explain the value of adults connecting and making music in a group, the lockdown has now proved conclusively how important the human, emotional and musical dimensions of leisure-time music groups are.

Even adults previously not in a group are joining online choirs and dusting off their trumpets, so this seems the ideal moment to talk about Making Music’s Adult Music Learning Manifesto, which we launched to great acclaim just before everything shut down.

It was born out of a recurring frustration with the exclusive concentration on music education for under-18s that we encountered in the music industry. Our instinct told us – and our survey and focus groups recently confirmed this – that adult music learners are different to under-18s: they are not all of one kind; their barriers, challenges, expectations and starting triggers vary; and current music teaching does not fully engage with or cater for these differences.

The tsunami of research studies showing the benefits of adults actively participating in music throughout their lives has even convinced the likes of the NHS and the government’s health secretary. But are the conditions in place for adults to become - or continue - as active music participants? Now we are able to make the case more cohesively, there is lots more that policymakers in local or national governments can do to enable access for all.

So, what does the manifesto ask for?

Manifesto for adult music learning

A) Every adult in the UK is able to actively participate in music: access and inclusion

B) Adult music learning is supported with infrastructure, information, recognition

C) Under-18s education encourages lifelong music-making

We refer to adult hobby musicians as ‘adult music learners’ – but why? Do we all define ourselves as ‘learners’? Probably not but whether having formal lessons, watching online guitar tutorials or following the instructions of our choir leader, we are all learning; some of us more consciously, others more informally or imperceptibly.

Among the many differences between under-18

What kind of adult music learner are you? These are the various types of adult music learners we identified. You may be more than one, in respect to different aspects of your music participation.

1. Trained to be a professional performer, xxxxnot earning a living as one, now plays as xxxxa hobby 2. Used to sing or play as under-18 and has xxxxcontinued without break into adult life 3. Used to sing or play as under-18 and xxxxhas continued, adding one or more xxxxother instruments 4. Used to sing or play as under-18 and xxxxhas stopped, usually between ages of xxxx15-22 5. Used to sing or play as under-18, xxxxstopped and has started on same xxxxinstrument again 6. Used to sing or play as under-18, xxxxstopped and has started again on a xxxxdifferent instrument 7. Never given the opportunity to make xxxxmusic as an under-18, starts with no xxxxpre-conceptions 8. Had negative experience as under-18 xxxx(eg told not to sing), so has overcome xxxxreluctance and over-18 music learners, the main one seems to be that we are so conditioned to perceive our lives in terms of linear progress that it is difficult for us at an older age to accept that it is ok not to be as good on the piano as we were at age 17; for our own child or youngest employee to be technically more accomplished on the saxophone; and to enjoy ‘standing still’ with our singing or playing, without having to aim for a distant goal all the time (except that of knowing your part for the next concert – or else!!).

The psychological barriers may be the biggest obstacles we have to overcome as adults, but there are plenty of other challenges, too. Some of those are more easily addressed: affordable instruments; teachers to cater specifically for our needs; information and resources available to all; and accessible spaces in every community for people to practise or come together to make music; and more.

We can also come together to ask policymakers to consider this area of activity when planning towns, when looking at adult education, when investing in research.

It was cheering to see how much can be done, now these simple asks have been formulated. And how many organisations and individuals have already come forward to pledge a contribution to making active participation in music more accessible to more people. What can you do? Read the manifesto and make a pledge at makingmusic.org.uk/ manifesto

Photo:

Learning the saxophone on Make Music Day at Westminster Music Library

Credit:

Rey Trombetta

“... it is difficult for us at an older age to accept that it is ok not to be as good on the piano as we were at age 17.”

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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Selected Artists Guide will be published in September.

To ensure that groups can still book affordable artists for performances beyond the lockdown, we have extended the deadline for subsidies on the 2019 Selected Artists and Philip & Dorothy Green Young Artists (PDYGA) to 31 August.

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