Should
I take a lesson? How do I find a good teacher?
I tried taking lessons,
and both times I found the 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.
Talk to your friend or neighbor who can recommend you a good teacher. Or, visit several
local music shops or response to ads. from paper and interview a couple of guitar teachers
either in person or by phone. 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, caring, and motivates and teaches students effectively.
ñ TOP
I tried
taking lessons, and both times I found the teachers to be lacking in patients and
dedication. My teachers seem to be only interested in a quick $20 for fifteen
minutes and don't even make suggestions or exercises to help my finger movement, they just
want to listen to what I have accomplished for the week and make assignments for the next
week. Since I progress slowly, do you think I should continue to find a better teacher? --J.R.,
FL
We're sorry to hear your
experience. While many students have positive outcome from lessons, many may have a
similar experience like yours. As mentioned above, a teacher is different from another in his or her
approach and teaching background. The same teacher may also teach a beginner very
differently from 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 done the assignment, if the
student has played correctly, if there was any problem, if 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
and their parents.
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, you should openly discuss it with your teacher. If it still
doesn't lead to anything, maybe the teacher isn't right for you. 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 recommend you any good student. Also, check out
Adult school or vocational school where you can take classes inexpensively and may find
both a good teacher and playing pals you can practice with. The final decision is
yours, but in many cases, private lessons help many students to accelerate their progress.
ñ TOP
Is there
any way I can search on the internet for teachers in my area?
Try http://www.teachlist.com which
easily allows 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.
ñ TOP
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?
Everybody at one point
or another 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, talking to
friends, CD or even a live concert to break through this staggering period.
As someone who have
gone through and struggled the same process as you are right now, a private
instructor may also give you valuable lessons and 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
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.
ñ TOP
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