Are 30 minute lessons enough?

justinthyme · #1 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.

tomg123 · #2 July 10th, 2007

Too be honest, if a teacher isn't willing to spend more then a rigid 30 minutes i would forget them. Most teachers i ask say they often go over the half hour

Doug · #3 July 10th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomg123

Too be honest, if a teacher isn't willing to spend more then a rigid 30 minutes i would forget them. Most teachers i ask say they often go over the half hour

The problem is though, that most teachers are booked up and so if they go over, it eats into the next lesson. If there's a no show for the next slot, my teacher has no problems going over, but if the next student is waiting at the door, I try to wrap things up at the right time.

But to the original question, I guess it's a personal thing and depends on the types of things you're learning. After half an hour, I usually have lots of stuff written down to work on. And i'm the kind of guy who prefers to spend time alone going over something new rather than trying it in front of the teacher.

But the guy before me (I arrive early to listen in to his lesson) is learning jazz improvisation over chord changes and he just increased his lesson to an hour slot.

scotty_b · #4 July 10th, 2007

As a teacher, I feel that 30 minutes is enough for most people. I keep a diary of all my students lessons and needs/wants from me as a teacher. I aim to have all lesson materials ready for their lesson, so that after I ask them how there week was we are straight into playing. If I am going to have something new to introduce, i make sure it is photocopied or printed out for the lesson. This saves time and makes them think I am organised!

Stratrat · #5 July 11th, 2007

Too bad you're half a globe away, Scotty....you sound like a great instructor, it's just a little too far for me to commute for lessons!

tomg123 · #6 July 11th, 2007

Oop's i should have known there were teachers here

i guess just like back in (way back) in my school days i didn't like home work

justinthyme · #7 July 11th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratrat

Too bad you're half a globe away, Scotty....you sound like a great instructor, it's just a little too far for me to commute for lessons!

He's only a short flight away from me tho! Do you do home visits Scotty? lol

scotty_b · #8 July 11th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomg123

Too be honest, if a teacher isn't willing to spend more then a rigid 30 minutes i would forget them. Most teachers i ask say they often go over the half hour

From the other side of the fence, it is important to establish boundaries for the teacher as well. If I have several students in a day I try and stay on time, but if someone doesn't show then I am happy to give more time to someone if they need it. However, some people seem to epxect that they will stay for as long as they want. I have just taken on someone who is at the end of my Monday night schedule, and he seems to think he will stay until he is ready to leave. The first time he came over we went for an hour, which I didn't mind as I was learning a lot about him and where he as at as a player, etc. But the problem is he now expects he will stay for as long as he wants. After 45 minutes the other night I wrapped up, and he pulled out a book he wanted to start on, and his initial question from that book was going to take at least 10-15 minutes to explain the theory behind it to him. He was then annoyed when I said no, we can start with that question next lesson.
It goes beyond time constraints too. The number of people who asked to take home my guitars, CDs, my amp, effects etc in the past was ridiculous. I lost so many books and DVDs/videos from lending them to students. I now establish such boundaries very early on, and I aim to be polite and courteous at all times, but I keep some distance from most of my students. The moment they see me as one of their mates to hang out with tends to mean they will respond differently ie turn up when they want, try and borrow things, cancel at the last minute because a better offer came up.

r1p32 · #9 July 11th, 2007

From my experience, as someone who takes lessons, 30 minutes can be fine. I began taking vocal lessons and it was something I was completely new to. And at first I was also unsure if 30 minutes was enough. But my teacher turned out to be really great and I was learning and improving a lot. Of course that was providing that I practiced. Now I'm getting a little lazy with the practice so the improvement isnt how I'd like. I guess its one of those things you get what you put into it.

justinthyme · #10 July 11th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty_b

From the other side of the fence, it is important to establish boundaries for the teacher as well.

Quite right - its a 2 way street.

carol m · #11 July 11th, 2007

I knew I had a good teacher when I nervously (my first ever guitar lesson) went over to sit on the sofa and I kicked over his $3000.00 classical guitar.... and he still wanted to see me again the following week (and no, he wasn't desperate for the money!) Pity his teaching wasn't better though...

busaclub · #12 July 11th, 2007

I think by the time you knock on the door,say hello, go inside, sit down, ask him/her about their dog or cat (if he/she has one)take out your guitar, talk about what you have been doing since the last time you were there and what your about to do now your 30 minutes are well a truly up !

tomg123 · #13 July 11th, 2007

There's this blues guy where i am (really good) who gives lessons on the side (30 bucks half hour) he said he often loses track of time and knows a half hour is short. I would consider something like that where its kinda like a teacher you pay and fun too, but as of now i,m not considering lessons. I do see tho where if someone has to go to the next student, or they want to keep it strickly business as just their way i completely understand

scotty_b · #14 July 11th, 2007

Once again it comes down to what you are looking for. I cannot afford to go overtime most days. I have 12 people in a row on Tuesdays, 11 on Wednesdays and 9 on Thursdays.
As they are all one after the other I need to stay on track.

LeeB · #15 July 12th, 2007

for me personaly 30 mins was too rushed. 60 mins was too long and 40 mins was just right. In the very beginning, when twinkle twinkle was a massive undertaking, 30 mins was plenty