Teaching techniques

[MikeS]

I would be interested to hear some forum comments on what a "good" teacher does during a lesson, or what a teacher does during a "good" lesson. I like my teacher personally, but I don't get a lot out of the lesson. I didn't like one-half hour per week so I went to one hour every two weeks. (I think 435 minutes would be about optimum).

During the lesson, he listens and makes a few comments, but there is no structure. Should there be? ( a little time on theory, on scales, on reading, on ??)

How would a good 30-60 minute lesson be handled? Can the student direct the lesson?

[Beumont_suite]

Kinda of sounds like your teacher subscribes to the "hmmm...hmmm...yes...yes...keep that up" with his hand curled curiously around his chin...method of teaching. A good teacher will determine what pieces are at your level, help you work through them directing and fixing your technique as needed. He should also mix a good amount of theory and technical excersises in there, along with a set goal to accomplish for the next lesson. If you don't have musical homework to take home after each lesson that you have to work through you're getting screwed. A good teacher is a mentor that you should be able to follow by example, while he makes you the best player and overall musician you can be with gentle discipline and guidance. He should be able to play really really well too, backing up his teachings with example, played by him on his own guitar.

[GSI Fan]

Very very well put Suite :!: 8)

[jetiii]

It has been many moons since I took lessons and stidied popular/jazz arrangements, flamenco and classical. He wrote everything out himself, music for most stuff and tab for flamenco. He knew all the pieces and could show me how to play them I wound up with so much stuff after a few years I culdn't keep up and still can't. I thought the most effective means was having things written down so you could take them home. None of the stuff was really standard. Other flamenco teachers at the time just seemed to show you stuff and then you had to try to remember it.

[Libre]

A good lesson has some technique, some theory, and some repertoire. I think it's important to set specific and realistic goals. Each of my students has a notebook that I write in, at each lesson. I write the date and then each lesson point, that we are working on. It looks something like this:

9/16/05
-Chromatic scale, im rest and free stroke;
-Sor study #5. Rest stroke on melody line, work on bar chords;
-moveable chord inversions, major and minor forms;
-Romance, first section.

Then, that's what we work on. If more work is needed on a certain point, it is repeated for the next week. When a goal is attained, we move forward with a new goal.

[GSI Fan]

Marc...do you do in home lessons in Chicago by any chance?

[Libre]

Sure! Does your Lear have clearance at JKF or LaGuardia?

[GSI Fan]

You're probably going to find this hard to believe...I let a friend borrow my Lear for the weekend a couple years back and haven't seen him since. Or my Lear!!! You wouldn't happen have one of your own would you?

[Beumont_suite]

Mike, if you do find a good teacher one day please give him the greatest gift a student of music can give...Practice every day and come prepared for that weeks lesson. That was the downfall of every student i had. They just refused to practice, and by their own hand refused to progress.

[classicalgas]

Mike, if you do find a good teacher one day please give him the greatest gift a student of music can give...Practice every day and come prepared for that weeks lesson. That was the downfall of every student i had. They just refused to practice, and by their own hand refused to progress.

An excellent point! Musical lessons are a two-way street. We should always remember that, just as students become discouraged, so too may any teacher, when there is a lack of commitment.

[adeklerk]

Beumont,

I agree with you on the practise. You can advance only as quick as you want to. A teacher can never pressurise you into going faster than is your natural pace. Any teacher can easily see whether you are in it for the love of it or if you are in it because someone is forcing you.

And remember that guitar lessons should also always be fun. Doing any too strictly can stifle your appreciation for it (especially if it is too early).

[GSI Fan]

When I was a very young man I began taking lessons. Like Marc and Suite suggest is important, my teacher was very thorough and goal minded. I loved practricing and showing off for my teacher. He seemed to touch the core of what motivated me to better myself. As a result I progressed quite rapidly. Then adolescence screwed everything up. Thirty years later I decided to revisit my childhood. Bought a guitar, located a teacher (anyone local I could find), and off to the races. Six months later I quit again. I gave up because I did everything for the wrong reason and my teacher was an a-hole. My final brush with fate began a few years ago. The difference this time is I chose the path of NO teachers. I’m the teacher. I learn what I want, when I want, and if it takes extra time I’m intelligent enough to know. There’s no doubt that the right teacher/student relationship will reward you tremendously. In my opinion, my ability to properly self-teach and improve at a staggering pace can be directly traced back to my youth and the joy of weekly lessons with a teacher I can vividly remember nearly 40 years later.

[MikeS]

Classicalgas

Ouch - I wouldn't be surprised if you have hit the nail on the head. Perhaps I have not been dilligent enough to make him care. He is an accomplished professional guitarist, has a great sense of music, and seems to know about everything and everyone I ask him about.

[classicalgas]

Classicalgas

Ouch - I wouldn't be surprised if you have hit the nail on the head. Perhaps I have not been dilligent enough to make him care. He is an accomplished professional guitarist, has a great sense of music, and seems to know about everything and everyone I ask him about.

Mike:
First off, don’t assume it’s you. Remember what others have said, not all great players are great teachers. It sounds like you’re committed to learning but feel there is a need for more structure in you lessons. You asked in your original post “Can the student direct the lesson?” Remember that YOU are paying HIM for the lessons. You have the right to ask for fair return.

Have you spoken to him about your feelings? Asked about 45 minute lessons each week if that is what you think would work for you? About more structure?

Suite stated the teacher should be a “mentor that you should be able to follow by example”, Libre stated lessons should include “some technique, some theory, and some repertoire”, and adeklerk reminds us all that learning should be fun.

If you speak with him about your concerns and all you get is “ho hum” then perhaps it’s time to look elsewhere. But perhaps all he needs is to see your commitment. Challenge him to challenge you!

[MikeS]

Classicalgas

I am always willing to blame someone else :lol:

You have posted a good summary with food for thought. I thank you and will try it out.[/img]

[rdubb]

Mike, if you do find a good teacher one day please give him the greatest gift a student of music can give...Practice every day and come prepared for that weeks lesson. That was the downfall of every student i had. They just refused to practice, and by their own hand refused to progress.

That's because most people want to be baby-sat and be told how good they are.

"Oh, you mean I actually have to put WORK in, daily, to improve?"

Wow I'm cynical this morning :lol: don't mind me, carry on now, carry on....

[Beumont_suite]

There's only so long a teacher can put up with a non-committed student. Not only do you feel like you're stealing their money, but it wastes the teachers time as well. My goal at the end of my teaching stint was to devise a test that prospective students would be required to take to prove their dedication to taking lessons. Kind of like the test a monk would take or something like that. Because all i really wanted in the end was dedication to the instrument that they're coming to my house every week to learn. Was that really too much to ask?