So many senior citizens have signed up for piano lessons at the Older Adult Institute at the College of Du Page that there is now a waiting list. A new teacher has been scheduled for the next session to help meet the demand.
Instructor Suzanne Kautz teaches 45-minute private lessons to a clientele that is mostly 70 years old and up. ”They make excellent students,” Kautz said. ”They pick it up quite easily because the desire is so strong. They`re there for themselves, not to please anyone.”
Kautz said the students love the tunes from their youth. She uses method books that use styles from those eras such as ragtime and blues. ”Many have the original sheet music,” she added.
Kautz has a strong background to draw on in working with older adults. She did her graduate thesis on fine arts education in relation to senior citizens. ”My piano students realize that growth continues,” she said.
”They are life-long learners and very active in a host of other activities. I find them quite inspirational.”
Vicki Keith of Glen Ellyn is a ”very young 70” and a good example. She`s involved in a lot of volunteer work and is an avid ham radio operator.
”I went to Suzanne a year ago and said, `If you think I`ve got potential, I`ll try it. Otherwise, forget it,` ” Keith said. So far, so good. ”I can play simplified versions of `The Entertainer` and `Amazing Grace`
and of course, I do a lot of golden oldies.”
Kautz believes students like Keith have a lot to look forward to: ”Piano is a wonderful way to meet physical, emotional, intellectual and even spiritual needs. You can`t beat its power to affect those domains.”
