Teaching Tips

[The Pecker]

One of my good friends who co-owns a guitar shop here in my town asked me yesterday if I would like to begin giving guitar lessons at his store. He said I could just start out at beginner if I want. I do want to do this, but I am only 14, and my mother said I had to get a job after this summer, and homework... ugh. Anyways, I am interested in what I should start to teach first. I don't want to start with too much theory, cause I believe that would bore most beginners, so what should I start teaching them other than major chords? Just wondering if you guys have any good teaching suggestions or techniques. If so, please post em! Thanks.

[silent-storm]

have a good amount of camp fire'ish sing along songs where you just need some open chords and a bit of rhythm in order to play. This is all a lot of beginners are looking for. Make sure you get them playing songs right away, it'll keep them interested. Also being able to figure songs out yourself is key because you can then just ask them what songs they want you to teach them.

[DemonSorcerer]

"...Give them fresh fishes and they'll eat today...teach them how to fish and they'll eat forever"

Although our comrade may be right, it's wiser to teach them how to use their ears in a musical context so they can learn the songs as time rolls by...focus on the importance of rythmic playing, as rythm, (along with melody and harmony) is the main thing in music...teach them proper technique, and stress on playing IN TIME with the music itself...so the things they play sound right and flowing...

That's a starting point, i guess...

David

[SkinnyDevil]

I am interested in what I should start to teach first. I don't want to start with too much theory, cause I believe that would bore most beginners, so what should I start teaching them other than major chords? Just wondering if you guys have any good teaching suggestions or techniques.
As I've said here & elsewhere in the past, make sure you teach by some method. Doesn't matter so much what the method is, so long as there is a consistent plan to address all the fundamentals of playing. Take a look at the Suzuki Method, or various methods offered by Mel Bay or the Progressive series. Whatever fits with your notion of learning & playing.

How did you learn? What was difficult for you, and what came easily?

My personal method focuses on teaching them to play the instrument first; understanding concepts only after they are playing basic chords & riffs...and a few strum-along songs.

As an aside, ask yourself IF you're qualified, and if "no" why not? If "yes", then why? Do you know the basic major & minor open chords? Open position 7ths chords? Standard G "anchor" chords (G, Cadd9, etc.)? Can you couch this information within the context of songs?

There is a lot more to teaching guitar than just showing a student a few chords, but if you play well and have a passion for music, I'm sure you'll do a great job. Go get 'em, cowboy!

[smallbusrider]

Before anything, figure out what their goals are. Then, while teaching proper technique, have them do everything to reach their goals. They could just want to downtune the e string to d and play one finger chords. Thats fine, chances are, after they reach that goal they will want to reach another . If they want to be a lead player, start off teaching the CAGED system of chords and pentatonics. If these are beginners, they will be taking baby steps-have them set small goal and get the bigger picture later. If they want to learn songs, have them try to learn by ear for the following week and see what they get. Then you can show them the right way.

[dmsstudios]

Joe Satriani started teaching when he was 16 or 17. (Steve Vai was one of his students.) Anyway, Satriani made a comment about how he would often learn a new trick or technique, and then a week later teach it to his students.

That's great that you have this opportunity. Be sure to remain a student yourself, and stay one step ahead of your students!

[keith_uk]

I have been teaching for almost 3 years. I was only 17 when I started. The best piece of advice I can give is BE PREPARED. Dont expect to just teach for an hour without any plan. Make a lesson plan before every lesson. Start by listing your goals at the start (what you want to teach them) then break this down into very small steps. The good thing is once you have that lesson plan you can use it again and again with new students.

[forgottenking2]

I have been teaching guitar since '98, only a year after I started playing. And while I didn't do everything perfect from the beginning I tried and kept my mind open. I think the most important thing I learned back then was to learn from my students. Even now, no matter how much of a beginner that student is, there is usually something he/she can teach you (even if that something is "the virtue of patience" lol ) . It's better if you start out with only a few students that way you can prepare your class to the max and really focus on the individual needs of the student. Once you get a feel for how things work (it'll take a while 'cause students are different from each other) and it takes you less time to prepare, you can increase your load.

As far as what to teach; it really deppends on the student. In the past, I made the mistake of thinking that I could change the world of guitar by teaching everyone the "right" way. Guess what? There is no right way, the "right" way very much deppends on what are that particular student's goals. He might not care about tritone substitutions and 7#9 chords or he might not like Yngwie or Steve Vai, so what's the justification (valid enough for you to keep the student) to put him through the "torture" of theory and practicing technical excercises? He might be just a happy camper if you teach him a few chords and have him play along say The Beatles' "Yesterday". The same thing is true if you get someone who wants to improve musically and all you do is walk him through tabs of songs, you might not keep that one either.

So be observant. Learn how to read people. Most students are not likely to tell you that they are not happy with your teaching they will simply stop coming. So try and read the slightest sign of disatisfaction on their part and change your approach. Ask questions; make sure they are happy with what you are doing, and if possible explain why you do things. One of the greatest turn offs (for me as a student) is a teacher with an attitude of "shut up, I am the teacher, just do what I say" . So be kind enough to explain the reason why they should run those chromatic exercises even when you are not making them :) .

There is so much to teaching really that someone ough to write an article about it. It could even be a colaborate effort since we all work different markets and people are different. I'd love to hear for instance Eric's experiences in Europe. Maybe it'd be an idea to toy around with.

Anyways, I gotta go to work. So I hope this helps.