Beyond middle C: Adults 'tickle the ivories' at River Campus piano lessons

During Christmas with her family last year, Pat Boyd announced her plans to learn how to play Christmas carols on the piano by the following year.

"It's just something I always wanted to do," Boyd says of learning to play. "I didn't like the piano lessons as a child, and I didn't practice. I'm going to try to do better now -- 70 years later."

Boyd, of Cape Girardeau, is among several adults strengthening their piano playing skills at a weekly class taught by Susan Hatley at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

The hourlong lessons on Tuesdays started in June and will end in August. Hatley says up to 16 adults could have registered for the course, which has a $120 fee, and she's hopeful a second 10-week program will be offered this fall.

"Maybe we can expand it to where we have a beginning class, and this class can go a step ahead," she says.

Hatley got the idea to start an adult piano class in Cape Girardeau after reading about a similar program in St. Louis.

The adult piano class at the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University. (Laura Simon photo)

"It's been very successful," she says. "So many students, they've had piano experience in their background. But they quit, and they haven't kept it up. Then there's always that burning desire: I wish I would've stuck it out."

The classes start at a beginner level, giving everyone an opportunity to learn the basics -- from where to place their hands to how to locate middle C.

"Some haven't had any experience," Hatley says. "And for some, it's been a long time since they played the piano."

Mary McClary, also of Cape Girardeau, says she had a piano at home from a great-aunt. McClary's daughter took lessons; McClary tried to practice on her own, but didn't learn much besides "how to do a scale and what middle C was."

Pat Boyd, right, gets help from instructor Susan Hatley during her adult piano class at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. (Laura Simon)

"I don't expect to give a recital," she says of what she hopes to learn from the class. "I just to want to play."

Scott City resident Brandon DeProw, one of the course's younger students, says he went to Nashville, Tennessee, to study audio production. There, he learned scales using a piano, but he never had any formal training on how to play.

"I've always been interested in trying to play it," he says. "I tried to teach myself with books, but it never really worked out. So I figured I'd try to take a class."

Eddie Wittich, of Cape Girardeau, says after her daughters graduated high school and left home, she also tried to teach herself how to play, but didn't have much success.

"When I saw this flier [for the class], I thought it would be a good opportunity to try again and see if I could accomplish anything," she says. "I think I've learned quite a bit already."

Instructor Susan Hatley runs through an exercise during her adult piano class at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. (Laura Simon)

Wittich says her goal is to be able to play the piano for herself and enjoy it.

"Also, I think it's a very good thing to have for the seniors," she says. "I wish the seniors would take advantage of it, because it gives you something to do at home, to practice. I can sit down, and before I know it, two hours have gone by."

As of June 23, Boyd said she had attended two lessons so far. She hopes she'll be able to follow through with her vow to play Christmas carols this year.

"I have learned and tried to do better with the counting and half notes," she says, adding with a laugh: "We haven't even got started on flats and sharps, so we have that to look forward to."