Ageing with classes

SINGAPORE - You can teach an old dog new tricks. And the silver brigade here is proving this as more of them pick up new skills right through their 70s.

Even disciplines such as piano and ballet, which are traditionally deemed to be beyond older learners as they demand mental and physical agility, are drawing more seniors.

Play By Ear Music School in Victoria Street, which was set up in 2003 and offers pop piano classes for adults, has seen a rise in the number of students aged 40 and above. They now make up about 25 per cent of the school's 400 students, up from 10 per cent in 2003.

Founder Andrew Yau, 34, says older people are more open to learning the piano these days due perhaps to the rise of social media.

"Some of them may have been exposed to the Internet and YouTube, where they read or watched videos about older people learning the piano and they decided to try it out too."

Adult ballet, too, has been attracting older students in community clubs.

Ballet teacher Yu Shu Huai, who started a class for about 10 adults at Kebun Baru Community Club more than 10 years ago, now teaches at five other CCs.

He has about 60 students in all, of whom more than 95 per cent are aged 50 and above.

Mr Yu, 58, who also teaches ballet to younger people, finds older adults are more committed than younger ones.

"They seem to have a greater sense of responsibility. They seldom miss a practice or a performance, even if they have minor aches and pains. Some will reschedule their family gathering or a holiday so that they won't have to miss classes."

RSVP Singapore - The Organisation of Senior Volunteers, a non-profit organisation of senior volunteers, has also seen "a noticeable increase" among seniors who want to learn more about infocomm technology, especially in "lifestyle" courses such social media and digital photography.

Its executive director, Mr Edmund Song, 59, believes this is partly due to the "prevalence of small, handy electronic devices in everyday life", and also because the seniors want to keep up with the times as well as with their children and grandchildren.

Many of the seniors interviewed say they were prompted to pick up new skills later in life to fulfil a childhood dream. Others simply want to keep themselves occupied after retirement.

Research has shown that it is never too late to pick up new skills.

Dr Philip Yap, a senior consultant at the department of geriatric medicine at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, says: "In the past, we used to think that the brain stopped 'growing' in adulthood. But now, we know the brain has sufficient reserves to continue to be malleable throughout life."

Through constant engagement and stimulation, he says the brain responds by making new synapses (connections) and growing new neurons (brain cells) and picking up new skills and knowledge.

But he notes: "Given the effects of degeneration, older brains may take more time and effort to learn new skills."

He adds that research also shows that even stroke patients who suffer brain damage and those with early dementia can regain lost skills and pick up new ones.

Mastering a new skill brings about social and mental benefits too.

Mr Gerard Ee, 63, chairman of the Council for Third Age, which advocates active ageing and lifelong learning, says: "Seniors can also interact with their course mates. This promotes social wellness and helps them stay connected."

leawee@sph.com.sg

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