I've been playing for many years, self taught, mainly a rhythm player but have also do a bit of lead etc.
I decided to get some lessons a while ago because i was aware that a lot of my technique was sloppy and in an effort to get back into regular practice (effectively a 2 year child related break), as well as improve my improvisation (my weakest bit) and get some theory/scales etc. i.e.. the boring bits
The teachers is a really nice chap, has been successful teaching for a long time, and really knows his stuff.
I've had three lessons so far, and I've come out of the last one quite un-enthused. So i've wondering if it's me just being a dick about the "boring" bits or maybe teaching style just not for me, so i'd just like your take on things..
Lessons are blues based even though i'm mainly a rock guitarist but always had a soft spot for blues, i figured that blues would be a good starting point and i would be able to apply to most aspects of my playing. As i said, it's technique, theory and direction i'm after...
First lesson, introductions, seeing where we are, 12 bar in G, Blues scale in Gm, arpeggios in G/C/D.. that was good, got straight in with theory, scales and everything i've avoided in life.
2nd lesson, carrying on here, shapes on the neck, finding roots, not much me playing, mainly him showing concepts. Given a backing track to play over.
3rd lesson, fixed my vibrato, Me playing for a minute over track, then him playing for a while. Lets Jam! 2 minutes of me playing one note while he plays over it. Let in on a secret that most teachers don't teach..
Music swings, when bands play scales they don't do it as robots playing the scale to a metronome, its got feels..
To be fair, of bits of my technique have been improved. I think i came into it thinking it would be something different, i.e, Lets go through these exercises, play this, you're playing this bit wrong, do it like this, now try it again.
Am i being a dick and doing my usual trick of wanting to go faster than i'm capable of? I'm planning on keeping going at least for now, as some of his students are fantastic so he must be doing something right.. am i overthinking this and should just shut up and learn the damn shapes?
Bleaurgh.
Comments
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
"Old dog, new tricks" is the phrase that springs to mind but it's always possible. Quite often if you can practise in your mind, imagining what you're going to do, which notes you're going to play and hearing them in your mind's ear, that's a good way forwards. May sound a little wanky but many of the greatest performers, martial arts experts, engineers, drivers etc use inner practise to learn faster.
“Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay
I then go home and practice what I've been told, fine, but then barely playing during the lesson means that i don't know that what I've been practising is correct?
“Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I'm sure this is not representative of teachers today, just the ones I've come across in the last 20 years. I progressed more with the first teacher than I have with the others combined.
Teaching isn't just about burning in the patterns and shapes, it also about the personal connection you have with the teacher, and how they push you forward. A mutual respect.
If it's not working for you, try a different teacher.
I keep looking for one to match the first, still looking.
Marlin
I tend to show something in context by playing it but then it's back to the student playing constantly with me guiding them through verbally. If they make a mistake I stop them and make them start again. I do constantly have the guitar on my lap but mainly for practical examples.
Rather than backing tracks I tend to play something under the student because then I can switch keys instantly and tempos.
When it comes to theory you can waste a lot of money having a teacher teach it ........ I tend to explain the theory in skeleton outline but the application to other keys and positions on the fretboard should be done as homework unless you like wasting money.
Learning basic keys, modes and the fretboard is probably easier than learning something like Excel in all honestly and it's something you can practice without a guitar in your hand.
The measure of any teacher is whether they can move a student along and improve them. If you don't notice quite an improvement after 6 lessons or so then maybe his style is not for you. Certainly my style of teaching doesn't work for everyone as I'm still learning to teach, it's a real art form !
Also you've only had 3 lessons, so its not a fair assessment on progress, you need to give it at least 6 months to a year to really see any progress (depending how often you're doing the lessons). If its a good tutor just be patient and trust them to do their job. What pisses me off is some learners don't trust me and go off doing their own thing instead of what I advise them to do, in turn this leads to them going round in circles and not getting the basics right (rhythm reading, knowledge of chords and the notes, etc). Eventually they quit as they're overwhelmed on what they've gotta learn and are no further than where they were before.
Learning the guitar is a bastard and is a marathon, not a sprint. Its the same as going to the gym. Can you really expect to gain muscle after just 3 sessions? You need to be going 2-3 times a week for 8-12 weeks to actually see any progress.
Keep working hard and listen to the tutor, if he knows his shit then follow his advice. It'll pay off in the long run. Part of my feat is taking a lot of learners who have already started learning and not progressed as much as they would have liked. They know a handful of chords, 2 strumming patterns (1 is always the swing bluesy one) and maybe 1 position of the minor pentatonic. They can play some tunes but not in time and it doesn't sound very good. Rhythm reading knowledge is poor and they're never sure how long chords are meant to last (1 bar, half a bar, 2 bars, etc).
Fast forward a few months - 1 year and they're a bit more competent with their playing as I've helped iron out bad habits/technique and get the basics right. All these foundations are vital to progress to more advanced playing.
Thanks @Lestratcaster - You're right and i appreciate that it's only been three lessons, and i do plan on sticking with it at least for a while. It's just the nagging at the back of my head wondering if this is the best way of learning and am i really getting value for money. Maybe he is still assessing where i am, (i don't even know tbh) as i have been playing for a long time and i think i'm a competent guitarist and my rhythm is generally very good. At the moment lessons are every 2 weeks as i just can't commit to more due to life getting in the way, so i suppose he might be trying to get as much into my head in the lesson so i can break it down with playing at home.
Guess we will see
All learners that took fortnightly lessons have quit as well, unsurprisingly so I don't do it anymore.
Any time I take on a new learner it takes me a few weeks/months to figure them out as well. I always have this bet in my head as to when they'll quit, then if they've surpassed 6 months to a year I tell them I thought they'd quit within 3 months!
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.