As an adult learner, I've noticed a big difference in the way children vs adult learners are regarded, with the former being taught in a way to maximize their potential to become a professional musician (including music education and music therapy, not just performing), whereas adults are kind of just seen as perpetual amateurs/hobbyists.
It seems the reason behind that is because, regardless of the instrument (voice included), the vastly prevailing school of thought is that it's almost impossible for someone to ever become professional-standard level skilled, if they didn't start as a kid.
But I wonder, what exactly is the missing gap? I know kids' brains have more neuroplasticity, but adults still have some as well, or they wouldn't be able to learn anything new at all.
So is there something in particular that adult students missed the window on? Is it the sense of pitch? Rhythm? Phrasing? Fine motor skill control?
Obviously kids have more time to practice than most adults do, but I don't think that's why adult learners are considered to have a lower ceiling of potential skill.
Realistically, I know that even for talented people who started young, it's astronomically dififcult to actually make a career out of music.
But I think for me, I feel a desire to at least work my way up towards having a professional level skill, just for my own sense of personal mastery and my desire to produce beautiful music. I would even love to teach music, if I ever do manage that level of skill.
But I'm getting the sense from the overall music community that adult students aren't really taken seriously as potential musicians, which makes me wonder if my goal is completely unrealistic.
So I'm curious as to why exactly.
Submitted March 31, 2024 at 10:51PM by Spirited_Language532 https://www.reddit.com/r/Learnmusic/comments/1bsriyn/why_exactly_is_it_considered_impossible_for_those/?utm_source=ifttt