| Guitar teachers come in all shapes and sizes. Some | | | | Good: Makes you feel okay that mistakes are made. |
| are trained professionals, with a background in music, | | | | Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, |
| as well as education. Others may be skilled guitar | | | | and mistakes are how you learn. |
| players who are moonlighting as instructors on the side. | | | | Questions: Silly, or Smart? |
| Either way, your teacher's background is not the only | | | | Bad: Makes you feel stupid for asking basic questions. |
| factor that determines whether or not he or she is the | | | | Your teacher snickers, rolls their eyes, or otherwise |
| right guitar teacher for you. | | | | makes you reluctant to ask questions. |
| Don't waste your time and money taking guitar lessons | | | | Good: Lets you know there is no such thing as a |
| with the wrong teacher. To determine if your guitar | | | | stupid question. You can ask him or her anything you |
| teacher is a good match or a bad match for you, ask | | | | are wondering about learning guitar, and you'll get a |
| yourself these 7 questions. | | | | clear, non-judgmental answer. |
| What's the agenda? | | | | What's the homework? |
| Bad: Has his or her own idea of what you "should" | | | | Bad: Says, "go practice everything and I'll see you next |
| learn. Your personal musical interests and goals are | | | | week." Or, "go practice and come back when you've |
| secondary to his or her prescribed plans for you. | | | | got it mastered." |
| Good: Wants to know your musical interests and your | | | | Good: Sends you home with a clear plan of action as |
| goals, so as to help you chart a course of study that | | | | regards what to practice, and how. Picks up where |
| will result in your learning to play your desired style of | | | | you left off at your next lesson. |
| music on the guitar well as quickly as possible. | | | | Are we having fun yet? |
| What's the pace? | | | | Bad: Your teacher errs on the side of keeping your |
| Bad: Has a pre-determined idea of how much material | | | | guitar lessons super fun and easy. Guitar lessons |
| to give you, and at what pace you should be able to | | | | should be fun, but this is not just a jam session or a |
| master it. You are just another recipient of your | | | | social hour. You are there to learn. |
| teacher's standard schpeil. | | | | Good: Challenges you. Your teacher believes in your |
| Good: Is skilled at assessing your personal learning | | | | intelligence and potential, and gives you well targeted |
| style, and tailoring your guitar lessons and practice | | | | opportunities to rise to. Your lessons stimulate you and |
| assignments accordingly. Your lessons do not move | | | | inspire you to work hard and learn more. You progress |
| too fast, so as to leave you feeling overwhelmed. | | | | more quickly than you thought was possible, and that's |
| Your lessons do not drag, so as to leave you bored. | | | | really fun! |
| What's the point? | | | | How good could I become? |
| Bad: Thinks your paid lesson time is really just an | | | | Bad: Causes you to feel discouraged or hopeless |
| opportunity to play you a private concert of his or her | | | | about your ability to learn guitar. Your teacher acts like |
| favorite tunes, and/or listen to a monologue about | | | | a guitar snob, far beyond where you'll ever hope to be |
| whatever he or she wants to talk about. | | | | as a guitar player. |
| Good: Checks the ego at the door. Your guitar | | | | Good: Inspires you. Your guitar teacher is a role model |
| teacher's job is to help you learn to play guitar, not to | | | | for you. You respect how your teacher embraces |
| show off what a great player they are. | | | | music in his or her life. You value how your teacher |
| Mistakes: Embarrassments, or Opportunities? | | | | shares openly both the joy and the discipline of making |
| Bad: Expresses judgment or impatience when you | | | | music. You aspire to become a better guitar player, |
| make mistakes, and makes you feel embarrassed or | | | | and your guitar teacher is a guiding light. |
| ashamed. | | | | |
