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Benefits and Limitations of Webcam Guitar Lessons
There are great
videos, books and websites for guitarists of all levels, but none of
them address your specific needs and goals better than a good
teacher. Good teachers prioritize lesson material, clarify difficult
concepts and then apply the learned skills to the music that each
student wants to play.
Many teachers are now offering webcam
guitar lessons to attract more students. Some of the teachers who
offer webcam lessons are not, in my opinion, good or qualified
teachers. At the least, some teachers are not selling themselves or
their services accurately.
The truth is that there are
benefits and limitations to taking guitar lessons using a webcam.
For some students, webcam guitar lessons provide the structure,
education and accountability that they need. Other students may
discover that the limitations outweigh the benefits. If you choose
to take webcam lessons, my advice is to stay away from teachers who
say that webcam lessons are exactly the same as in-person lessons.
Look for an honest teacher and you will be better for it.
Some Benefits of Webcam Guitar Lessons for Students:
-
Transportation costs, driving time and parking hassles are
eliminated
- Lessons are longer since students can tune and warm
up beforehand
- Students have more teachers to choose from on the
internet
- It is more comfortable for students to play in their
own home
Some Limitations of Webcam Guitar Lessons for
Students:
- Teachers cannot play along with students because of
the delay
- Students miss out on meeting other students in the
studio
- It may be impossible to have a real student concert
-
Students must pay using PayPal or checks
- Technology
occasionally malfunctions
What Kind of Students
Benefit by Taking Webcam Guitar Lessons with Me:
1)
Students who are working on solo pieces and need a good teacher to
check their technique can benefit from taking webcam lessons. I
enjoy helping students work out jazz chord/melodies from The Real
Book.
2) Students who have specific questions about theory or
technique can benefit from taking webcam lessons. I like to break
down challenging theory concepts, help students master them and then
put it all together in a tune. Students who are working through “The
Guitar Lesson Companion” benefit by having me check their work when
they complete a series of exercises. That way, they know when to
keep working on a piece, and when to move on to the next one.
3) Self-motivated students who need some structure and
accountability can benefit by taking webcam lessons. If students
have a goal, I can help them develop a plan to achieve it. I break
it down into smaller parts and I hold students accountable to their
assignments. Self-motivated students may not need half-hour weekly
lessons, but they know when they need some help. I help students
when they request it, no matter where they live.
4) Students
who normally take in-person lessons but have occasional
transportation or health concerns can benefit by taking webcam
lessons. If a student is sick (or if I am feeling ill) I prefer to
cancel our scheduled lessons so that we don't make other people
sick. Webcam guitar lessons allow us to stay on track even when it
is not convenient to come in for a lesson.
I do not recommend
that absolute beginning students take webcam guitar lessons. While
webcam lessons are better than no lessons at all, the technology is
not what it needs to be for teachers to be able to deliver webcam
lessons that are as effective as in-person lessons. Be skeptical of
teachers who promote their webcam guitar lessons to absolute
beginners; the market for beginning guitarists is significant, and
many teachers are not concerned with the quality of their work, but
the amount of money in their pockets.
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