FAQs
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I first started teaching guitar when one of my friends asked me to come talk to her little brother (who had previously seen me perform with my band) about being a musician. I talked to him once, and soon after I was meeting with him regularly to show him new things on the guitar. This went on for several years, during which time I picked up a few more students. Eventually, a teaching position opened up at the lesson studio where I had been a long time student, and my instructor recommended me for it.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
I teach them to play guitar and to understand music! This can involve teaching basics of guitar, expanding on existing knowledge, or sometimes just helping them learn their favorite songs. The most obvious goal of taking guitar lessons is that of learning to play the instrument and make it sound pleasant. Many of my students come in having never played guitar before, so I make sure they understand how to use correct technique to get the best sound out of the instrument. Many students have also taken lessons to improve their previously learned abilities. These lessons usually involve more complex and advanced theory, as well as development of a personal playing style. Finally, a less noted benefit of taking guitar lessons, is the mental exercise and development that inevitably accompanies music learning. When studying music, the learner is required to use and further develop their capacity for abstract thought in order to understand complex ideas like notation, rhythm, chord building, and others.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
When looking for a music instructor, it's important to find someone who is well versed in the instruments they are teaching, and is also experienced in teaching. Generally, I would advise people to avoid teachers who play their instrument as a hobby, or who only teach an occasional lesson on the side, as they don't likely have a very broad range of knowledge or teaching experience. In addition to musical expertise, friendliness and accessibility are of utmost importance in an instructor of any kind. A virtuoso guitar player could be an awful teacher if he or she had no patience or compassion.