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The Joy Of Teaching Music To Adults, String After String..... 

A few years ago, as the first low-cost Lyre was ready from luthier Giannis Stathakos, a product that he decided to create, at first, because of his personal need to own a Lyre, the first two students appeared, asking mainly to learn music. One of them saw one of my posters and she knew that this is the instrument she was looking for, without even knowing what was the name of it. 
I was very happy, also wondering, how could I teach an instrument that I am self-taught? On the same moment I was feeling confident enough, that I could create a class, since I have been teaching music from my 20s. 
My students in Lyre are, most of them, over the age of 40. It is an immense joy to meet these beautiful individuals, who for different reasons each one, never had music classes as children, or had a painful experience with some rigid music system......Each one of them has different abilities, and different points that needs support, but all of them share the passion of learning, expanding and expressing self.
Now the method......well this is the most creative and challenging thing for me. Different method for each one! Yes, this is the only way I feel that the music class serves my fellow student. Any time I went into the process of using the same piece or technique from another student, the class was not enjoyable, nor for me neither for my adult student. Feeling and following the likes and dislikes, the level of pressure that each one can take, the music that resonates with his/her being, the pieces that he/she liked as teenager......All these are the keys that my adult student offers me, to support the unlocking of the musical abilities. In the long run all learn the same stuff, but from a different point of view.
Yes, eventually the fingers will be equally striking the strings, the plectrum will come on time, the double fingerings will be light and fast etc.
The process is so interesting for me.....The same piece I write every time in a different way, for a different person. Even the tonality changes from Lyre to Lyre. Now, I have a notebook full of different versions of Seikilos Epitaph, or Greek traditional songs.
And then.....light in the eyes.....the class has finished, and I see my adult student, so delicate as a child and so proud, for having expressed, and string after string having connected with inner song.....

Dedicated to all my past, present and future students

From the depths of my heart


Thank you!!!!!!