Are 30 minute lessons enough? - Page 2

justinthyme · July 10th, 2007

Hi guys

I'm about to resume guitar lessons this morning, but with a new teacher. I'd be interested to know, both from the point of view of members taking lessons, and also from the guitar teachers here if you think 30 minutes for a session is long enough - and perhaps why? Maybe I'm a little slow, but my own preference would be for 40 minutes, say. Am I alone here? It always seems like time is up just as I'm about to get to something important. Any tips for maximising the returns in the half hour available?

Cheers.

Intelligence3 · #16 July 13th, 2007

Students asked to... BORROW YOUR GUITAR? Wow, that's absurd.

I recently started taking lessons. We are meeting for an hour every other week. It's hard for me to pay for an hour a week, and my career cuts into my practice time. This way it's a good lesson, and I don't feel rushed to practice all week long.

GotDeeBlues · #17 July 13th, 2007

I have no problem with the 1/2 hr, make sure I'm tuned up and have loosened up a bit before going out, have gone over everything from the week before, and am ready to start right away. Small talk is knocked off while pulling out the guitar and getting the music out and on the stand. When I first started, my instructor had open time following my session, and we often ran as long as 45 min, or more either working on the lesson or just talking things out. Now he's booked after me, but has on occassion when I stopped in the shop held a few impromtu quickie lessons on things I wasn't getting. Good guy, no clock watcher.

Black&Blue · #18 July 15th, 2007

My teacher prefers to go for an hour. I find this works well for me- as we get to cover a range of issues and look at a problem from a range of perspectives. We are covering improv/soloing at the moment, and the longer format does give us time to look at introducing different exercises to deepen my trick bag. I agree finishing on time works best for all concerned.

justinthyme · #19 July 15th, 2007

I have found another teacher to try out. He answered all my questions on the phone and even asked when I was done if there was anything else I wanted to discuss. Good impression. 30 minute lessons again, but maybe if the time is used well...

Here's hoping!

BackToBlack · #20 July 15th, 2007

30 minutes is enough it you get a good QUALITY of practice in. Its like working out-you can get in some good quality 30 minute excercising in as opposed to 2 hours of messing around. To me, its all about quality over quantity. Seriously focus and go at it hard for 30 minutes and that can be great practice.