3 Common Mistakes in Choosing a Guitar Teacher

So you have finally decided that you want to play guitar. It’s no longer a thought. It has become more than that. A decision has been made and you’re going to finally do it. You may have already gone out and purchased a guitar and you say to yourself “Now what, what am I going to do with this thing?”. First of all, I congratulate you on making this decision. Most people only dream about it and think that they “want to” but never take action. You are no longer in this category. Even if you haven’t purchased a guitar yet the fact that you are reading this has probably catapulted you out of \ the “just dreaming” category and into a new category of taking action. Ok, so now what? There are many options, Youtube, free resources online, books, video courses and finally…… finding a  guitar instructor. If you decide to select getting a  guitar instructor (which I highly advocate, not because I myself am in the guitar teaching business plus you most likely will never be my student unless you live in the New Haven CT area) it always yields the fastest results if the correct teacher is chosen to match the students needs. ALL GUITAR TEACHERS ARE NOT EQUAL. Unlike a can of Coke where it’s the same exact product 10 miles away at a grocery store or around the corner at the gas station, a guitar instructor’s ability to get you results vary depending on the teacher. Here are some tips on how to select a guitar teacher that will get you the best results.

Selecting a teacher based on location for convenience may lead to having a negative impact on your progress. The “close to home” instructor may use an outdated teaching model that has been proven to be less effective. Also, basing your guitar learning experience on price can yield similar unsatisfactory results. There is most likely a reason why it’s so cheap. Having a teacher that get’s results faster will save you time and money.

Many guitar teachers are fantastic guitar players and accomplished musicians but may not have the skills or training to be a great teacher. Be sure to ask how they have been trained or educated on being a GUITAR TEACHER not just a player.

Guitar playing styles/genres are varied and diverse. Even for the most accomplished guitar player it would be impossible to be an expert in every style. Just one style may take a lifetime to master. Be skeptical of those who say they can teach “all styles” effectively and with expert confidence. Would you take your Porsche car to a Honda dealer to get it fixed? Hire a plumber to do an electrical job? Stick with the expert that will serve your needs the best.

About the author: Mark Turko is a professional guitarist with over 25 years of playing and teaching experience in Connecticut. If you are interested in electric or acoustic guitar lessons in the New Haven CT area please be sure to contact Mark