Should I take a lesson? How do I find a good teacher?

I found my teachers to be lacking in patients and dedication....

Is there any way I can search on the internet for teachers in my area?

..... I've reached a point where I feel that my playing is not improving at all.  What could I do to continue improving my playing ability?

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Should I take a lesson? How do I find a good teacher?

Taking private lessons is one of the best ways to start learning an instrument. It’ll give you a certain guidance and direction and a model you can emulate. You’ll not only get an instant feedback about your playing, but your teacher can also suggest several solutions to your problems properly. As for locating a teacher, here are some ways:

1. Word of mouth
Word of mouth seems to be always favored by many people. You can get an assurance and comfort knowing that the teacher is working for someone else. Talk to your friend, family, or neighbor who can recommend you a good teacher.

2. Adult School or Junior College
Adult School or Jr. college may be some of the best places to test the water to see if this is something you'd like to really commit yourself to. Fees are reasonable, classes are relatively small, and you get to meet people with the same interest and playing level. Check out your local schools to see if they offer guitar classes for beginners. 

3. Music Stores
Music stores offer music lessons for many musical instruments such as piano, guitar, flute, bass, wind, and trumpet. Look up the yellow pages or visit several local music shops.

4. Ads.
Though it's hard to really tell  about the teacher from an ads. or flyer, you can still call and ask if he/she offers a free trial lesson. 

Whatever ways you use to locate a guitar teacher, interview and, if possible, take a free trial lesson from at least a couple of different guitar teachers before you decide. A teacher is different from another in his or her approach, experience, teaching style and personality. Tell them you’ve just started out and ask how he or she would teach a beginner. What materials do you use? Do you have any lesson plan? Where and how do we start? What is your policy? What are the fees? Etc. Then, compare the results and choose the one you feel you can get the most out of and feel most comfortable with. Just remember that a good teacher doesn’t necessarily have to be a hot player, but more importantly he or she should be someone who is patient, well organized, and caring. He/she should be someone who motivates and teaches students effectively and with enthusiasm.

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I found all my teachers to be lacking in patience and dedication. They don't make suggestions or exercises to help my finger movement. My current teacher just wants to listen to how I've accomplished the previous week's assignment and makes another assignment for the next week. Is this typical? Would I be better off go find a better teacher?

While many students have positive outcome from the lessons, some may have similar experience like yours. As mentioned above, a teacher has his/her own unique teaching approach and background that are different from another. The same teacher may also teach a beginner very differently than teaching an advanced student. For instance, some teachers feel that one's progress depends largely on student and how much he/she practices and does the weekly assignment diligently, especially when starting out. So, many of them organize their lesson mainly as a checking point where the teacher checks if: a student has mastered the assignment; the student has done it correctly; there was any problem; it's time to move on, etc. On the other hand, a student can use each lesson not only to gather information or solution to his current problem, but he can also regard it as an incentive to force him to practice each week. The latter can become quite important particularly for students of young ages.

While it’s difficult to generalize what is the right or wrong approach when you have several factors and variables to take into account, one thing is common to all and true: a teacher is there to help you out and that’s what you pay him/her for. If you feel you are not getting enough out of your lessons and money you feel you should and if you are not totally satisfied with the way things are going, discuss openly with your teacher. It usually leads to better mutual understanding and results. If it still doesn't lead to the direction you want, maybe you can try somebody else. Searching through Internet certainly works, but word-of-mouth can be often reliable and easier. Talk to your neighbor, friend, or relatives. If there is any college nearby, call and see if a professor teaches privately or if he can refer you a good teacher. Also, check out Adult school or vocational school where you can take classes inexpensively and can find both a good teacher and playing pals to practice with. 

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Is there any way I can search on the internet for teachers in my area?

Try http://www.teachlist.com or http://www.musicstaff.com which  both allow you to search private teachers in your area.  Or, search "Music Teachers Association" in your area by Yahoo, Hot Bot, MSN or other search engines.  Through these associations, you may get a reference or a list of guitar teachers who offer private lessons near your home.

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I've been playing guitar for about two years now without taking a lesson.  I've reached a point where I feel that my playing is not improving at all.  What could I do to continue improving my playing ability?

In one way or the other, everybody reaches a point where one feels he/she is not progressing at all. Some people may find a hint or clue in an instructional book, or while talking to friends, or listening to CD. Even going to a live concert may break through this so-called staggering period.

As someone who has gone through and struggled the same process as you are in right now, a private instructor can often give you valuable advices about how you can move up to the next level. He/she may show you a certain direction or particular lessons to overcome your weakness, for example. And, he/she could motivate you in many different ways while giving you a variety of ideas that you might not have been able to come up with yourself had you continued studying all by yourself..

Whatever you decide to do, it may be a good idea and worthwhile for you to sit down and set aside some time now to brainstorm and get a clearer idea about your goals:

1. What exactly do you want to play or accomplish with your guitar?

2. What kind of guitar player are you trying to become?

3. Who is your role model? Who do you want to play like? How close are you right now to him/her?

4. What do you think you need to do in order to achieve your goals? What do you think your present weak areas are?  What do you need to do to overcome those weaknesses?   Learn more guitar chords?  Theory?  Scales?  Learn to read music? Improve your musical ears?

5. What kind of player do you see yourself or would like to be in six months from now, or a year from now, 3 years, 5 years, etc.?.

Brainstorm your thoughts and write them down on a piece of paper.  Do it regularly, add new ideas and organize them in a folder or something.  Instead of wishing vaguely to become a better musician, knowing and setting your goals clearly will enable you to pinpoint exactly what to practice and plan a more precise and detailed action which hopefully will allow you to be a better player than now.

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