I want to learn guitar…why do I have to sing?

Over time I’ve found that engaging the voice and fingers together actually accelerates the learning process. Almost from the beginning I work with my students to help them recognize pitch and sing along with the songs they learn to play. Singing while playing also appears to be more gratifying for the student than simply rattling off snippets of rock songs without lyrics, the approach usually taken by other guitar instructors. However, my intention is not to make good singers but to make good musicians. A necessary part of that process is helping students gain the confidence necessary to use their voices as a means of expressing themselves through music.