iStudy Award Winner 2018-2019
Every so often I find it very rewarding to sit down with other musicians, teachers and friends; we chew the fat so to speak. The subject that particular day was a recent award I was notified about.
I receive a lot of feedback from students themselves which is always rewarding. However, it’s also nice to receive them by other means too. So I was pleasantly surprised. In essence, it reaffirms the need for a teacher and the value of an experienced and knowledgeable one.
Why Do You Need A Teacher?
You can learn a lot from sharing ideas and experiences. As a tutor there is one thing you learn right from the start: experts don’t know everything, they are always still learning. From Paco de Lucia to Eric Clapton, from Bob Dylan to Santana, they will all tell you the same thing. Music is a lifelong project.
For sure, there are those people who are resourceful; there are those who can turn their hand to almost anything using the skills they already have.
However, for the rest of us there are well defined paths to follow. Which path we need to take depends very much on our experience and abilities, but there was one more thing I wanted to impress upon the reader. A good teacher knows how to adapt methods and show the student what they need to know and do by adapting to their way of learning.
How We Learn
On this particular occasion we were discussing learning anything online. The likes of how You Tube fit into this general landscape. A guitar player himself and linguist he had some very good observations. There’s a few observations I want to pick up on that came out of that discussion:
• What happens when there isn’t a video that addresses a particular aspect? What do you do?
• What happens if the video does not address what you need in its entirety? How do you find out the additional information you need?
• Even worse than not being able to find what you really need is what happens when you get the wrong end of the stick. What do you do when you are deluded about an aspect of doing something and wish to correct it?
What’s missing? Interaction, personal guidance, resource libraries for inspiration and instruction and, the full support that comes with an experienced tutor and mentor.
Acquisition Of Playing Skills
He was speaking of language acquisition and because he plays guitar too he knew, like myself, it isn’t something you acquire via some curious form of osmosis: there are a lot more things going on.
Music is most certainly a language, not in the same sense as speaking English or Spanish or some other language, but its constructs and patterns, its development and nurturing require a similar persistence and attention. You don’t think so? When was the last time you learned a new word? When was the last time you were challenged by something you read?
Like learning a new chord, a new rhythm or particular method of musical expression, practice and tutoring are both essential to ensure you move forward in the right way, either that or be prepared to end up somewhere you don’t want to be. In the words of George Harrison: if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.
Practice & Instruction
The thing is we are learning all the time, but not when it comes to things that are easy, like making a cup of tea! We’ve already practised that! It’s easy too. Like learning a new language, or a vital skill you need to enhance your life, or an aspect of professional development for your employment it’s important you get it right. Knowledge, commitment, practice and development are all important.
You Tube is great for learning the highway code but I wouldn’t want to drive on roads where nobody else had actually driven on one! It is important with some things that you are instructed in the ways of doing it by a real live human being with hands on experience if you are to get it right!
So, there are some hands-on skills you need in life which have to be taught to you by a real person, someone who can ameliorate what is in the book you’re reading; someone who can distil a hundred pages into one moment of instruction!
Getting To Know the Student
When all else fails it is usually something that isn’t connecting with the student. If you don’t get it and you’re putting in the work then one thing you should never do is blame yourself. The art of teaching is to develop techniques and methods of demonstrating said techniques and practice routines which permit the student to learn in their way. The how to make you understand conundrum is all in the teachers lap.
Not all people learn the same way. In some ways it is like math. You see it performed one way only to discover another which you understand and can cope with. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is not a way forward but it is a way to frustrate a learner and put them off learning for life.
Teaching, Learning & Resources
Let’s face it, when you hear a tune you want to play for the very first time what is it you do in order to pick up a guitar and play it? Turn to You Tube or maybe one of those play it in a day types of book?
Let’s be honest about something, if anything is worth doing then it generally looks like and is hard work. This can be made even harder by taking the wrong advice or the wrong turn or misunderstanding what is being told or shown. It can be made a whole lot easier and a taster lesson may just convince you of that.
So you have to ask yourself a question; are you going to learn a musical instrument properly or by a method analogous to climbing into a car to go on a journey without a map, plan or a full tank of fuel!
You need:
- A plan.
- A guide.
- The resources.
- A mentor to keep you focused.
- Simple objectives.
At Teach Guitar Preston you’ll find everything you need.
So You Want to Learn Guitar?
It’s great to be recognised for what you do and awards are great but teaching, like learning, is a never ending journey, a life of experience as well as teaching ability; it’s all key to ensuring a student is motivated and his or her ambition fulfilled, their appetite fully satiated.
If you have a desire to learn guitar or develop the skills you already have then a taster lesson or block booking is the way to go.
What do you need to do? Simply complete the form below or call me direct it will be a pleasure to speak with you and competently enhance your musical objectives by providing you with the materials and skills you need in a relaxed and focused manner.
Contact Me Now At Teach Guitar Preston
Use the contact form below and I'll get back to you. Or, give me a call on 07979-710-400.
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