Honestly there has never been an easier time to learn to play the guitar, or any other instrument for that matter. From the very basics to the most advanced techniques of guitar playing, there are literally thousands, if not millions, of resources out there on the internet that can help you realize your guitar ambitions. However, there is still a lot to be said for signing up for some old-school guitar lessons. And there are a few things that you need to look for when picking a teacher. Today, Guitar Girl dives into the seven most important qualities that you should look for in a guitar teacher.
Passion
The amazing thing about passionate people is that their enthusiasm can be contagious. Remember, signing up for serious guitar lessons is a long term commitment. Ideally you want to be learning with someone who gets you excited about playing the instrument and not someone who makes you dread the thought of your weekly lesson.
Stylistic Compatibility
To be honest, the level of importance of the stylistic compatibility of your guitar teacher depends on the level of seriousness with which you approach learning guitar. If you all you want to get out of learning the instrument is being able to play along to some of your favorite songs any good guitar teacher will be able to give you a solid foundation that you can build on. However, if you have your mind set on shredding like Yngwie Malmsteen, it really wouldn’t do for you to sign up for lessons with a teacher that specializes in Jazz or Flamenco.
Patience
Learning to play guitar can be a long and demanding process, and you ideally want someone who is patient enough to make sure that you move along at a steady but comfortable pace. It’s far too easy for a promising student to be discouraged by a teacher that expects much more than the student is capable of delivering.
Drive
That said you also want a teacher who is able to push you to your limits, without making you loathe the learning process. If you’re serious about mastering your instrument, you don’t want someone who’s going to mollycoddle you and take two years to teach you what you should ideally be mastering in six months.
Professionalism
It’s one thing to be a serious guitar player, but it’s a whole different ball game being a serious guitar teacher. Learning to play the guitar is in some ways like learning a martial art and you want a teacher who can instill a sense of discipline and structure to your learning process. And this is where a teacher’s level of professionalism is crucial. Learning from someone who is unprofessional and haphazard will inevitably rub off on your own guitar playing.
Playing Ability
Not every good guitarist makes a good guitar teacher. But it is impossible to be a good guitar teacher without being a good guitar player. When you’re starting your journey of learning guitar, you want someone who lives and breathes the instrument and knows every nuance of playing it.
Success
When evaluating a potential guitar teacher, you should always look up on their past students and gauge how successful they are. Sure, even bad teachers can sometimes have musical prodigies that go on to do great things on their own, and sometimes even the greatest of teachers can have hopeless students. But on average, a guitar teacher’s students’ levels of success are often an excellent indicator of how good a teacher they are.
Mastering the guitar can be a long and grueling process, but it is also an incredibly rewarding one. And finding the right teacher can go a long way in ensuring that you enjoy the entire journey. Pay attention to these seven qualities when evaluating your potential teachers and you will definitely find the right teacher for you.