AlChuck Posted May 10, 2004 Share Posted May 10, 2004 All you out there that teach... how did you get started? I have been a guitar player for over thirty years and over the last couple I have spent a lot of time learning jazz harmony and improv, working my reading skills up to where they are finally getting reasonably decent, and so on. For a while now I've been thinking of trying to find some ways to make a little money on the side through playing and teaching. I've been thinking I should get the playing thing to a certain level to build credibility before I start thinking about teaching... but some people have recently said, why wait? And it occurs to me that one of the best ways to really learn something is to teach it to others... So basically I'm just wondering about what folks' opinions are about this. Should I wait? Should I start now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Jazz Posted May 10, 2004 Share Posted May 10, 2004 do it now. talk to your local retail guit shop and see if they have room for another teacher. then pickup beginning and intermediate students to get the hang of it. it's a really great, frustrating, rewarding, pain in the ass adventure. a lot like having kids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted May 10, 2004 Share Posted May 10, 2004 I've heard your playing Al. You're a damn fine player. Get busy teaching if you want to. You don't need to be Larry Coryell to start teaching. Keep in mind, most of the people you teach are going to be beginners. That said...first thing...define your market. Anyone who starts teaching guitar is going to be bombarded with 10-15 year old kids, most of whom have no clue as to why they want (or if they want) to play, other than it looks cool. As I said...I'm familiar with your level of expertise. Are you going to go nuts showing 20 kids basic exercises and chords? Do you want to teach beginners? Most...perhaps 95% of the kids (in my experience) who start taking lessons will quit after a month with barely anything more than what they came in with. Do you want to teach more advanced students? This might be more rewarding, but, there's definitely a thinner market out there. Also, at more advanced levels you might find people a bit more picky about what they want to learn. Theory? Technique? What technique? Jazz? Classical? Country? All or none of the above? Then there are the wannabees...the "I want to learn only Dimebag Darrell stuff". I have a lot of ideas about teaching...most of which the established teachers on this board disagree with. Most of the people who have come to me for lessons are total beginners...which is what I based my lesson strategy on. First of all, I want to have fun. Nothing wrong with that...I want to make my time rewarding for me. To accomplish that, I want to see progress in my students. In order to do that, I need to see that they're having fun learning. Easy relationship...I have fun if they're having fun. Spending 5 hours a night teaching 10 kids how to play "Row Row Row Your Boat" on the E and B strings isn't fun to me or them, especially after spending 10 hours a day at my regular job. For me, I found the best way to maximize my time and have fun was to teach a beginning "adult ed" guitar night class at the local high school continuing ed center. I concentrate on giving them chords. Stuff they can take to the bank and play songs with. Not "everyone take out your Mel Bay method books and let's play from the notes"...and this is where most established teachers disagree with me. Gotta learn from a method book. Right. So, someone's gotta be different. If my students quit after a month or two, they know I-IV-V chord changes in the open chord keys...which is something they can have fun with. If a Mel Bay kid quits after a month, he knows a couple of one or two string etudes. The choice was easy for me. Then, the one or two folks that want to study further can do so. I guess that defines my approach, rope 'em in by giving 'em enough so they can have fun...and the few who want to go further will do so. I'll shut up now. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A String Posted May 10, 2004 Share Posted May 10, 2004 As previouly mentioned, most students will be beginners. You will spend most of your days teaching the notes on the first four frets and listening to "Ode To Joy". Then after that, half of them will leave for the summer and never come back. But the ones that stay...My friend, I have students that have been with me for years. There is one girl inparticular I should mention. She showed up many years ago. A young teen with dirty hair hanging in her eyes. Eyes that were mainly focused on the floor. After learning the basics, she started bringing in tapes of songs she wanted to learn. Started bring in books by her favorite guitarists. (One of them was Jewel.) As her self confidence peeked and her playing became amazing, she started to come out of her shell. Started dressing better and feeling good about herself. She was the best student I ever had! Learned very quickly. She thanked me for what I had done for her and for making her feel good about her self again. This is why you should teach. The sooner you start, the better. Craig Stringnetwork on Facebook String Network Forum My Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 man, Astring that is cool. that is reason enough to teach. to help someone grow like that is more cool than being a superstar. you have actually touched someone! cool! http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 Yes it is...A String. So I'll relay my favorite story about one of my students. Brothers Brad and Brian came to me in 1996 for lessons. Brad was a normal kid, rather quiet. The boys' mother took me aside and told me about Brian. Brian was a bit on the "special" side. I have a place in my heart for those people. I raised a special daughter. Brian couldn't remember things. He was rather prone to loud and a bit odd outbursts, which his brother Brad and buddies would snicker at. At first I didn't think I was going to be able to teach Brian. I'd show him how to play something, and a second after showing it to him, his hand would be in a completely different place. I told his mother that I most likely wouldn't be able to teach him. The next week, Brian came with some reprinted and blown up chord charts to the chords I'd given him. Made it easy for him to figure out where to put his fingers. The kid had determination! Oh, meanwhile, guess who lost interest and stopped coming to lessons? Right. Brad. Not Brian. He never missed ONE lesson, in six years. And I spent a lot of time working with him. The crowning glory came when I was invited to Brad's graduation open house. When I arrived, there was a young teenage gal about Brian's age. She perhaps seemed just a very slight bit "special". She was Brian's girlfriend. She didn't know me from Adam...but she yanked my hand and led me toward Brian's room. She beamed with pride and said..."That's my boyfriend" pointing to Brian sitting on the floor with his Epi Les Paul..."and you should HEAR him play guitar...boy is he GOOD!!!" A special kid. Picked on in school. Snickered at by his brother. And here was the one thing that gave him some self-esteem. Brian's joined me onstage several times since then. No...he's not a world-class guitarist. But he can follow damn near any change you throw at him, and can play a fair bit of lead, too. I am A-1 first class proud of that kid. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadStrum Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 I really think that these are the best things that can happen to a teacher - to really give someone something rather than just guitar chops. Way to go guys! Pier. * Godin Freeway Classic * Seagull M6 * Timothy S10J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Base Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 Those are quite touching stories guys I have been teaching my friends 13 year old for about a year, keep thinking I should actually learn a bit more about teaching and try putting more of a structure to it. Al, maybe if you aren't entirely sure you;re ready, you could do this, just find one or two students, maybe family friends kids, and take it from there. Ok, you're using them to work out your teaching method, but they're getting some free lessons out of it and you'll discover if it's something you want to pursue. Everybody wins!!! Fa Fa FA Fa fa fa fa fa FA fa FA FA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 wow Tedster, that is a rockin story. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlChuck Posted May 12, 2004 Author Share Posted May 12, 2004 I appreciate all the good advice and the anecdotes and all. I could use some of those experiences, Tedster, I'm feeling a little bereft these days. I think I'm going to start thinking about how I would approach it... then make up some signs, and check some of the local stores... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 Not sure what it's like in San Mateo...I had an easier time, as I was in a smaller town. I just put a little ad in the local weekly paper, and the phone started a-ringing. I just taught in my home for the most part. If you do that, it helps to have a nice little quiet room away from the family noise. Keep some supplies onhand, strings, picks, whatever else you might need. I found that for me, the group approach worked better, if they're all starting from scratch. It also maximizes your time to not have to teach the same thing over and over again to 10 different kids. Of course, the learning curve will be different for each student, so you'll want to modify accordingly. Another good thing about the group approach is that it won't take you long to assess each student's skill and ambition, and for those with more of those qualities, you can recommend private lessons. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincinnatirock Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 The easiest way to get your foot in the door as a teacher is if you shop at the store you want to teach at. The owner or manager is a lot more likely get you on a schedule if they know you by name or face. One of the most important aspects of teaching is being able to relate to the student and being polite to the parents if you are teaching younger kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 Yet ANOTHER great thing about the group approach... No matter how disciplined you are, you're likely to let a student get away with little timing flubs, little corrections. Okay, maybe MAJOR flubs. But with a group...they have to fight to keep up. It forces 'em to stay afloat. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knunchucksammy Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 I was doing mobile lessons for a while, and let me advise to not do it. It is hard to charge enough to make it worth your while, and it makes you look bad when you hit some traffic (if you are in a big city) and you end up being late. I also find it a lot easier to concentrate when you can sit in once place and not have to worrier about "A route" so to speak. I have been wanting to make a thread about this also and I was thinking that maybe we can start another thread that is more specific on WHAT things you teach your students and HOW to keep those kids that don't practice, that want the ability without the work, interested. I am going to be teaching again, and I am going to try to live off of just teaching. I live with my lady in an apartment, and if you teach full time or close to it, you can make a bit of money. There is so much demand for it here in San Diego. My major dilemma, and help me with this one, is if I am too young or not. I am 21 years old, and for a lot of studios that is really bad. But what I was thinking is to teach from my apartment. I have really nice furniture and I live in a nice area so I suspect that wouldn't look too bad eh? Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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