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What to Expect at Your First Guitar Lesson
You will probably
be very excited to begin your guitar lessons. Your teacher is also
excited to meet you and learn more about you so that she/he can
adapt to your learning style and help you reach your goals. At your
first lesson, your teacher will most likely take inventory of your
current playing level and experience, talk about your daily practice
routine and help you with your posture and hand position.
If
you have never played an instrument before, you will be given a lot
of information during the first lesson. Don't feel bad if you can't
understand everything, and remember that this is your lesson: It's
okay to ask questions.
If you have been playing the guitar
for a while, your teacher may ask you to play something for her/him.
This is just to give your teacher an idea of your strengths and
weaknesses. Keep in mind that you are taking lessons to improve, so
just do your best. Your teacher may also quiz you to figure out what
you know and where you need improvement. Be honest if you don't
understand something so your teacher can help you.
At your
first lesson, your teacher will discuss your daily practice routine.
It is crucial, especially at the beginning, that you practice every
single day. You will need a quiet place where you can practice each
day for 10-60 minutes. Some teachers will have you record your daily
practice if they feel that it will help you see your progress and
improve specific weaknesses.
One of the most important
aspects of playing the guitar that your teacher can address with you
is your posture. There is not just one correct way to hold the
guitar and position your hands on the guitar that works in all
situations. To keep your hands healthy, you need to position your
body and hands differently in order to play certain notes and
chords. Your teacher will show you specifically how to move your
shoulders and elbows to accommodate the different positions as you
progress.
If your first lesson is a trial lesson, which is my
recommendation, be sure to ask your teacher when she/he needs to
hear back from you if you decide to sign-up for regular lessons.
Evaluate your teacher's professionalism, knowledge,
understandability and your overall vibe. If it felt like a good fit,
go for it. If it didn't feel like a good fit, let your teacher know
as soon as possible. Good teachers know that they are not the best
fit for everyone, and good teachers will encourage you to find a
better teacher for you.
The Student's Responsibility
When
students walk into my studio, I have a responsibility to provide
them with a good guitar lesson. Specifically, that means that I need
to listen carefully to the past week's assignment, provide feedback
and applications for the concepts, and then assign new material that
will help them reach their long-term goals.
But students also
need to contribute to the lessons in order for the lessons to be
effective. It is not enough for students to be on time and talk
enthusiastically about the guitar. Students need to make sure they
understand their teacher's expectations and they have good time
management skills so they can get the most out of each lesson.
At the end of each guitar lesson, I ask my students to agree to
a specific assignment that works with their learning style and
practice time they have that week. I remind them that the quality of
their daily practice determines how well they will accomplish their
goals. While I do hope to inspire my students to practice and reach
their goals, there are limitations to the inspiration I can provide
for them each week.
Guitar lessons are successful when both
the teacher and the student understand their roles. Teachers need to
have a plan for their students and students need to follow that plan
and ask questions along the way. When there are clear expectations,
it becomes easy for students to reach their goals, or if they are
not reaching their goals, they can easily see who is not taking
responsibility for their share of the work.
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