Help!!

paintangel · #1 August 11th, 2006

I have a quetion..I was telling a friend...actually my daughters violin teacher about this site and she suggested I should consider giving guitar lessons.I have had three people in the past few months ask me if I would teach them to play.I've given art lessons over the past 12 years but the demand is down now. The idea of giving guitar lessons is kind of exciting but I'm a little apprehensive as I'm mostly a rhythem player and don't have a lot of guitar theory. I'm actually signed up for classical lessons this fall and am taking violin with my daughter. I absolutely love playing and it definately gives me the reason to find time to play...any advise out there? I sure could use some in put. If I did give lessons they would probably only be to those few who recently asked...have very nosey neighbours and on the next street over there is a licensed music school in a house.so....don't want to cause any waves in the neighbourhood.

WernHalen · #2 August 11th, 2006

Music lessons are a great way to learn to play the guitar better yourself. It will force you to get to grips with terms and techniques before teaching them to your students. It can be daunting as well, if you dont have the temprament to teach it can be very difficult.

One thing i would suggest is to make sure you set goals with your students and then analyse those goals in line with their abilities. You can then come up with an action plan to get to their goals in the shortest possible time. You might need to revise your plans regularly... Give them home work that would be challenging and dont teach them anything new till they have dont their home work. That way you know you are not wasting your time with people that dont want to work at getting better. If they are having problems with a technique break it down into smaller exercises that would make it easier to learn. Force them to buy a metronome, it is possibly the most important tool while learning any type of music.

Get paid for the lessons... Not because you want or need the money but then you know they re not just wasting your time... plus then you might actually save up to get that axe you always wanted.

Dont worry about starting waves in the community. If the school is so good you wont get any students...

Fretsource · #3 August 11th, 2006

It's a great idea. Don't be afraid to give a few (paid) lessons to those who have asked. They know you are not a professional guitar teacher and won't be judging you as one. As Wern says, it's a great way to improve your own playing and understanding of the guitar and music in general because it forces you to think of it more deeply in order to explain it.
Also your experience teaching art will stand you in good stead. The principles are the same.
And any theory questions you can't answer, just get on to us - same day delivery guaranteed.

paintangel · #4 August 11th, 2006

Wern and Fretsource, thank you for the great advice. Unless my own frustration in learning something gets in the way, I don't think I'll have a problem with temperment Wern, I work as an Educational assistant with special needs kids.

(Often with severe behavior issues.)And used to work in Nursing home as an LPN...so patience is almost my second name.
My big concern is where to start and how quickly to introduce things. I don't want to be like the teacher I had...I mean he got me playing, and thank hin for that cuz I love my guitar

...it's my passifier

but I know now there is soooooo much more then what I can do.
Definately it will help me to learn more as I keep ahead of them. Thanks for letting me contact you with questions. I'm sue I'll have some. As for charging for lessons, since I'm not a pro teacher, how do I charge? I pay presently myself $16.00/ half hour for my daughter's violin, but her instructor is a pro. Where would I start with that?
Again Thanks for the input, you guys are such a friendly bunch here..I'm so glad I found this site.

WernHalen · #5 August 14th, 2006

On the money issue I cant really help you since i never went for any lessons myself and we dont work in Dollars so

About introducing things to the students... let them lead you to a degree. Stick to the basics for a while till they have it down pat... THen you can start getting them into the more technical stuff... The better they know the basics the better they will fare at the more difficult stuff, but you know that probably.