Music Teachers

SOME THOUGHTS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A TEACHER

The qualities/abilities you want in a guitar teacher depends largely on your age and level of accomplishment on the instrument. Adult students have unique needs and can be challenging to work with so prior experience with adult education is definitely a plus. 

Children also have unique needs and ways of interacting with information and authority figures. Prior experience is definitely a plus and infinite patience is a must!

Don’t assume that a teacher who plays well can also teach. Playing ability and instruction are separate areas of expertise and in my experience, usually don’t overlap.   

What to avoid:

  1. — instructors that are 20 something. Most lack the maturity to relate well to children and older adults. 
  2. — instructors that teach snippets or riffs rather than the entire song with lyrics.
  3. — instructors that teach “styles”. Advanced players can study styles; beginners need the fundamentals!  
  4.