Grouch overload

I am tried of people bitching at me. My new classes include several with a lot of older, crotchety people. A few of the classes amazingly have participants who have been taking part for 10 or even 20 years. I find that pretty incredible. A lot of the ladies (and men) are kind and helpful and appreciative. But there are a few grouches who are driving me crazy.

Of course they tend to be right up at the front of the class pointing out what they think I am doing wrong or how they usually do it. Now, intellectually I know I am a good, experienced, knowledgeable instructor. I have been doing this 11 years and am clear and easy to understand. I put a lot of work into my classes and always switch them up. But emotionally, sometimes some of these grouchy women make me feel like crap.

One of my classes in particular has a lot of women in their 60's and 70's. Most of my normal music would not appeal to them, so my supervisor gave me a stack of CDs of music better suited to their taste. On Monday I popped in one of her selections and got my class moving. A couple people were loving it, bobbing happily along to It Had to Be You. But there were a few vocal naysayers. One came up to me during a break and said, "40's music?? We're not that old!"

Another lady came up and said, "Thank you so much for bringing this music. We loved it."

Then after class, a cohort of the first grouchy lady came up and said she didn't like the music and that I should even bring "hip hop and rap." Um, no. Not for this crowd.

I would say a majority of the ladies enjoyed the music, but it is hard to ignore the vocal minority. I don't ever remember approaching an instructor with anything but a compliment and never a comment about their choice of music. I don't think these participants realize the amount of work and preparation I put in for their class for not very much compensation.

It's frustrating of course, but I am trying to be patient and understanding and not defensive. Are these few ladies just particularly grouchy or do we all get outspoken and grumpy as we get older?

--MM