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Aspiring Teacher


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Posted

Hello! I've been playing guitar for 16 years, and have recently been thinking about trying to take on some students. I've had very sporadic lessons throughout my life, most of which happened when I was 12. So I don't have much "lesson" experience to draw on.

 

I gave a couple free lessons to my friends/family members, just to see how it went. The results have been different, but definetly a good learning experience for both me and (to a varying degree)the student. So I've been considering giving some free lessons to a few people who want to learn, just to get a grip on the situation, before I start charging people money.

 

So a few questions for teachers, or students who have had teachers they really liked:

1. Do you put together a "Practise Routine" for your students?

2. How did you begin teaching lessons? I'm interested in how it went for other teachers at first.

3. When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?

Any other advice would be great, so feel free to just throw anything out there that'll be helpful, thanks.

 

Lazylyghtning

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Posted

Hello! I've been playing guitar for 16 years, and have recently been thinking about trying to take on some students. I've had very sporadic lessons throughout my life, most of which happened when I was 12. So I don't have much "lesson" experience to draw on.


I gave a couple free lessons to my friends/family members, just to see how it went. The results have been different, but definetly a good learning experience for both me and (to a varying degree)the student. So I've been considering giving some free lessons to a few people who want to learn, just to get a grip on the situation, before I start charging people money.


So a few questions for teachers, or students who have had teachers they really liked:

1. Do you put together a "Practise Routine" for your students?

2. How did you begin teaching lessons? I'm interested in how it went for other teachers at first.

3. When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?

Any other advice would be great, so feel free to just throw anything out there that'll be helpful, thanks.


Lazylyghtning

 

 

I'll address your questions and then pose a few of my own.

 

1. Do you put together a "Practise Routine" for your students?

I did not give my students a routine but I did expect them to learn the material that I gave them.

 

2. How did you begin teaching lessons? I'm interested in how it went for other teachers at first.

I started teaching cause I needed the money. It was strange at first- like jumping off of a cliff. I got more comfortable the more I taught. Most of my students were beginners so we spent a lot of time on basic technique, reading tab, and them learning songs they were interested in. Students/ parents that were serious I taught how to read music. I didn't waste my time with most students though- reading music on the guitar requires a lot of hard work and I couldn't seem to get my students to practice very much.

 

3. When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?

The more I taught the more comfortable I was saying, "I don't know". I would mostly transcribe on the spot but on occassions I would take stuff home and write out tab for them. Taking stuff home was hard work sometimes and it might not be worth the effort for you. I only did that for special students and most of the songs people wanted to learn were very easy to write out on the spot.

 

Some decisions you have to make

1. Will you teach tab or make all of your students learn to read?

2. Will you teach beginners or different levels?

3. Will you focus on a particular style or teach various styles?

 

If you are looking for specifics: 30 minute lesson

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Posted

Thanks for your answers and suggestions CBLjazz, the questions you posed are pretty much for me to answer for myself, but I'll post them here anyway!

1. Will you teach tab or make all of your students learn to read?
I suppose it depends on the student, how serious they are, and how motivated they are. Going off your post and my personal experience, I think it may be hard enough to get the students to practice at all, let alone learn to read. So for the most part, TAB.

2.Will you teach beginners or different levels?
I want to start with beginners to intermediates. At least until I get some experience.

3. Will you focus on a particular style or teach various styles?
Pretty much all styles of music, though my slide and fingerpicking are pretty shabby.

And with my third question:
When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?

I didn't necesarily mean a song I couldn't transcribe, but more a problem they're dealing with. For example, in a lesson I gave a friend, he had a problem with timing...which I don't remember ever really having a problem with, it just sort of developed through other things I was working on. So I made up some exercises to do with a metronome...hope they work!

The 30 minute lesson breakdown looks good, I've read some other stuff here stating that the management of that time is pretty important in lessons.

Thanks again!
Lazylyghtning

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Posted

I suggest you go to the National Guitar Workshop and take a lesson.Tell them what your doing but take a lesson then repeat the same steps.They are the foundation to all good teaching in one way or another.They will teach you to teach.You would be supprised who you see there also.


Hello! I've been playing guitar for 16 years, and have recently been thinking about trying to take on some students. I've had very sporadic lessons throughout my life, most of which happened when I was 12. So I don't have much "lesson" experience to draw on.


I gave a couple free lessons to my friends/family members, just to see how it went. The results have been different, but definetly a good learning experience for both me and (to a varying degree)the student. So I've been considering giving some free lessons to a few people who want to learn, just to get a grip on the situation, before I start charging people money.


So a few questions for teachers, or students who have had teachers they really liked:

1. Do you put together a "Practise Routine" for your students?

2. How did you begin teaching lessons? I'm interested in how it went for other teachers at first.

3. When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?

Any other advice would be great, so feel free to just throw anything out there that'll be helpful, thanks.


Lazylyghtning

 

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Posted

Thanks for your answers and suggestions
CBLjazz
, the questions you posed are pretty much for me to answer for myself, but I'll post them here anyway!


1.
Will you teach tab or make all of your students learn to read?

I suppose it depends on the student, how serious they are, and how motivated they are. Going off your post and my personal experience, I think it may be hard enough to get the students to practice at all, let alone learn to read. So for the most part, TAB.


2.
Will you teach beginners or different levels?

I want to start with beginners to intermediates. At least until I get some experience.


3.
Will you focus on a particular style or teach various styles?

Pretty much all styles of music, though my slide and fingerpicking are pretty shabby.


And with my third question:

When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?


I didn't necesarily mean a song I couldn't transcribe, but more a problem they're dealing with. For example, in a lesson I gave a friend, he had a problem with timing...which I don't remember ever really having a problem with, it just sort of developed through other things I was working on. So I made up some exercises to do with a metronome...hope they work!


The 30 minute lesson breakdown looks good, I've read some other stuff here stating that the management of that time is pretty important in lessons.


Thanks again!

Lazylyghtning

 

 

Sounds like you know exactly what you're doing.

You just need experience and with experience you'll gain confindence.

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Posted

Great insights.

One thing I haven't seen (or missed it)--charge for your lessons. Don't give anything away for free. You've already given some sample lessons to friends/family: Let it end there. Your services will be taken more seriously when you charge for them.


And with my third question:

When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?



Almost every problem students have can be traced back to fundamentals--timing, for instance, can be improved with a metronome and tapping the foot as well as slowing the tempo. Most try to play everything as fast as they can.

Good luck with the teaching! Sounds like you're on the right track. Getting a biz started can take some time, so hang in there. :thu:

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Posted

1. Do you put together a "Practise Routine" for your students?

2. How did you begin teaching lessons? I'm interested in how it went for other teachers at first.

3. When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?

Any other advice would be great, so feel free to just throw anything out there that'll be helpful, thanks.

 

 

1. No, no "practice routine," because every student is just so different.

2. I was working at a crappy music store for $7/hr, and saw all these people walking to the music school next door to take lessons, so I thought I'd give it a try. They gave me about 20 students all at once, and I'd never taught anyone before, so "jumping off a cliff" is a perfect description.

3. Just break it down - almost everything can be broken down to smaller parts. Especially with beg/int students, which is all I have.

 

Anyways, I love teaching, but it does take a lot of effort. As for tab versus regular notation, just depends on the kid. I always show kids beginning tab before notes though, so they can get their left and right hand all working together before they start trying to worry about if Every Good Boy Does Fine.

  • Members
Posted

Hello! I've been playing guitar for 16 years, and have recently been thinking about trying to take on some students. I've had very sporadic lessons throughout my life, most of which happened when I was 12. So I don't have much "lesson" experience to draw on.


I gave a couple free lessons to my friends/family members, just to see how it went. The results have been different, but definetly a good learning experience for both me and (to a varying degree)the student. So I've been considering giving some free lessons to a few people who want to learn, just to get a grip on the situation, before I start charging people money.


So a few questions for teachers, or students who have had teachers they really liked:

1. Do you put together a "Practise Routine" for your students?

2. How did you begin teaching lessons? I'm interested in how it went for other teachers at first.

3. When a student has a problem with something that you've never had to spend much time on, do you just make up a practise routine for it?

Any other advice would be great, so feel free to just throw anything out there that'll be helpful, thanks.


Lazylyghtning

 

 

I've not taught, but can share experiences of being taught:

 

I'd say it's important to have material to take home - tab/music/lesson notes etc. Otherwise you're expecting the student to remember everything you showed them (and that's unlikely to happen). If you show someone something - e.g. how to sweep pick, send them home with exercises/etudes that work on that technique!

 

I'd also say it's important to be tested on what you've been learning that week in the following lesson... not being tested is almost demotivating - if a student has bothered to put the effort into properly learning something the teacher should be bothered to listen and (if needs be) suggest areas for improvement the student might not be aware of.

 

Lastly - have your sh*t together before the lesson; there's nothing more annoying than a directionless lesson from a teacher who can't remember/isn't interested in what they showed you last week and hasn't decided what you should learn this week.

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Posted

If you are looking for specifics: 30 minute lesson

  • I spent the first few minutes tuning

  • The next few with them explaining why they didn't practice

  • The next few with them scuffling through last weeks material

  • The next few with me giving corrections and suggestions

  • The next few with them trying- often in vain- to follow my suggestions

  • The next few wriiting out new material and/ or listening/ transcribing a song for them.

  • The next few getting a check.

  • Lesson over.

 

I love it.

 

CB, you are the MAN.

 

:lol:

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Posted

1. No, no "practice routine," because every student is just so different.

 

 

I use a practise routine myself. Where I spend a certain amount of time doing specific kinds of practise, scales, fingerpicking etc... It helps me manage my practise time, and also helps me improve things I suck at.

 

So I put one together with my sister in a lesson, so she would have an idea of how to divide her time, and if she does it, she's going to progress.

 

My question is, is this a standard practise? Do you guys do this with your students/teachers? Or do you just let the students divide it up themselves, or should I just be happy they spend any time at all practising anything?

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