Hi everyone.
I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend.
I hear the question "Can I learn to play the guitar , even at my age?" I hear this from people in their 30's and in their 40's. And the answer is yes! With a qualification: if you'll allocate the time to learn/practice/play the guitar. Just taking lessons isn't enough. And I know everyone knows this, but when it comes to doing it we don't always allocate the time. You need to set aside some regular time almost every day. I say almost everyday because we as busy adults can't always play EVERY day. But we should have the time scheduled and when we have to travel etc, we should get back on the practice schedule as soon as possible.
I can hear you saying "I know, I know". And I know you know. But you have to do it. After playing guitar for 40 years, I wanted to learn a new instrument (for me) to remember what it is like to be beginner adult. So I started to learn the banjo! I spent years standing next to a banjo playing rhythm guitar in small clubs. But I never bothered learning. A few months ago, I bought a banjo and started learning.
It was going well. I was learning rolls and started a couple of songs. I was playing/practicing everyday, even if it was just for 10 or 15 minutes. Then disaster struck; I slipped on the stairs and jammed my left shoulder. Nothing was torn, just bruised enough that I couldn't hold my arm up enough to play banjo. Not at all. So I stopped learning for about 5 months. After some physical therapy my shoulder is great. A few weeks ago I picked up the banjo.
I had forgotten just about everything I had learned; the muscle memory had faded. Not surprised. I started all over, learning some rolls and learning some songs. I now have 2 songs about up to speed and I can fake a few more. I'm doing it the old fashioned way, a little bit at a time.
Even though I'm a guitar teacher and I run my own business as a guitar teacher, I'm just as busy as anyone else. I have lots of things to do when I'm not giving lessons. I have to always tend to my marketing and sales needs. Then there's the books and maintenance of the guitars , etc. Things to do around the house. And I got kids! And three cats! Ok, only Zuko is a high maintenance cat.
So, what I do is I look at my schedule each day and figure out when I can plug in at least 15 minutes of banjo practice. With the way my schedule changes throughout the week, I can't say I can practice banjo the same time every day. But I target about 15 minutes each day. I don't always hit my target. I was never good with shooting at things.
But, and here's my secret, I watch for unplanned practice opportunities. If a student cancels, I pick up my banjo. If I'm home for a lunch break I grab it for 5, 10 or 15 minutes. If Zuko wakes me up at 5 in the morning , after I feed all three of them, I grab my banjo. I have it on my mind that if I get a few minutes, I will play the banjo for a few minutes. As long as other higher priorities have been fulfilled. If you can't do that, then maybe learning an instrument ins't high enough on your list of priorities.
I have a lot of adult students all the way from 21 to 67 years old. And I've noticed that the most successful of them are the ones that consistently find time to play/practice. Yeah, the more you practice the better you get more quickly, but anything consistently will work.
Try it out for a month and see how it works.
Keep playing guitar!
Terry
www.napervilleguitarlessons.com
www.facebook.com/napervilleguitarlessons
www.napervilleguitarlessons.com/ebook
Naperville Guitar Lessons
Showing posts with label be a guitar teacher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label be a guitar teacher. Show all posts
Friday, June 4, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Teach Guitar Lessons
Hi, everyone.
I am always amazed at some of my intermediate students. They have worked real hard and sound pretty good. More importantly they have a lot of fun just playing guitar. They jam with their friends and help others learn some songs. What amazes me is that, when I suggest they should think about teaching guitar, they look at me and say " I don't think I'm good enough! " . That almost dumbfounds me. The first time that happened I just thought it was humility. I later found out it was a little insecurity mixed in with the mystique of teaching.
For some reason, people think there is some magic in teaching others to play an instrument. There isn't. The main element is a strong desire to help other people. I still love to see beginners light up when they start to get it, even after playing for over 40 years and teaching over 30 years. It's one of my greatest joys in life!
Yes, sometimes you have to have an overabundance of patience, you should be organized and the more you know about playing guitar the better you will do. But you will also learn as you go. I have learned more things from my students and from trying to find things to keep it interesting than I ever would have on my own or from another teacher.
The other thing you need is to be a business person. Many guitar ( and piano teachers ) I know are lousy business people. They find a few students but not enough to make it a viable business. They feel they are an artist and can't be bothered with the business side of teaching. Well, without marketing and sales , you don't have a teaching business. You have a hobby. If that's what you want, that's fine. But it's wonderful to have your own business doing what you love to do . I know because I've done both; I've been a slave to others and I've been my own person. You don't have to try to figure out which I prefer!
The three key area you have to work at to be a viable business is Product, Marketing ( subset sales) and Financial. The product is obvious, the more you know about guitar and can organize it the more you have to teach.
Marketing is knowing your potential customer and targeting advertising ( be it Internet, paper or word of mouth ) to that customer; you have to let them know you are there. Then you have to close the deal, convince them that you are their best choice. You do that by showing them what you have and how that will benefit them. If you have a degree in music, you have to show them how that will help them. You can't assume they know, they might just thing you spent a lot of time reading music scores!
Then there is Financial. That covers a lot of things. Like accounting, banking, how and where you spend money, paying taxes (yeah, if you're going to treat it like a business you have to pay taxes), etc. If you don't keep a handle of the finances you can easily get into trouble.
One of the best ways to learn to run a guitar teaching business is to get Rob Hampton's eBook . He covers a lot of information. I swear he has been reading my mail for the last 30 years (jk) because he did everything I did but in a shorter period of time. It took me 30 years to learn some of the lessons Rob wrote about in his book.
Go to www.napervilleguitarlessons.com/ebook.html for more information about one of the greatest jobs in the world!
I am always amazed at some of my intermediate students. They have worked real hard and sound pretty good. More importantly they have a lot of fun just playing guitar. They jam with their friends and help others learn some songs. What amazes me is that, when I suggest they should think about teaching guitar, they look at me and say " I don't think I'm good enough! " . That almost dumbfounds me. The first time that happened I just thought it was humility. I later found out it was a little insecurity mixed in with the mystique of teaching.
For some reason, people think there is some magic in teaching others to play an instrument. There isn't. The main element is a strong desire to help other people. I still love to see beginners light up when they start to get it, even after playing for over 40 years and teaching over 30 years. It's one of my greatest joys in life!
Yes, sometimes you have to have an overabundance of patience, you should be organized and the more you know about playing guitar the better you will do. But you will also learn as you go. I have learned more things from my students and from trying to find things to keep it interesting than I ever would have on my own or from another teacher.
The other thing you need is to be a business person. Many guitar ( and piano teachers ) I know are lousy business people. They find a few students but not enough to make it a viable business. They feel they are an artist and can't be bothered with the business side of teaching. Well, without marketing and sales , you don't have a teaching business. You have a hobby. If that's what you want, that's fine. But it's wonderful to have your own business doing what you love to do . I know because I've done both; I've been a slave to others and I've been my own person. You don't have to try to figure out which I prefer!
The three key area you have to work at to be a viable business is Product, Marketing ( subset sales) and Financial. The product is obvious, the more you know about guitar and can organize it the more you have to teach.
Marketing is knowing your potential customer and targeting advertising ( be it Internet, paper or word of mouth ) to that customer; you have to let them know you are there. Then you have to close the deal, convince them that you are their best choice. You do that by showing them what you have and how that will benefit them. If you have a degree in music, you have to show them how that will help them. You can't assume they know, they might just thing you spent a lot of time reading music scores!
Then there is Financial. That covers a lot of things. Like accounting, banking, how and where you spend money, paying taxes (yeah, if you're going to treat it like a business you have to pay taxes), etc. If you don't keep a handle of the finances you can easily get into trouble.
One of the best ways to learn to run a guitar teaching business is to get Rob Hampton's eBook . He covers a lot of information. I swear he has been reading my mail for the last 30 years (jk) because he did everything I did but in a shorter period of time. It took me 30 years to learn some of the lessons Rob wrote about in his book.
Go to www.napervilleguitarlessons.com/ebook.html for more information about one of the greatest jobs in the world!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Adult Jam 5-1-10
Hi, Everyone.
We had a great time at Jim Trussell's house this Saturday. Jim played drums and I played bass. It really help's having a steady beat to keep everyone in sync; like a living metronome!
You can see photos at www.facebook.com/napervilleguitarlessons
Click on PHOTOS
You DON'T need a facebook account to see the photos.
We're going to try for another one later this month. Stay tuned.
From time-to-time I try to get my adult students together to play some songs and learn a few things. Adults don't always have friends that play guitar so this is a way to get together and play some songs. We usually have someone that wants to perform but it isn't required. You just have to have a good time. No guitar hero/gods are invited; they can go over to Guitar Center and jam with the 16 year olds!
Terry
We had a great time at Jim Trussell's house this Saturday. Jim played drums and I played bass. It really help's having a steady beat to keep everyone in sync; like a living metronome!
You can see photos at www.facebook.com/napervilleguitarlessons
Click on PHOTOS
You DON'T need a facebook account to see the photos.
We're going to try for another one later this month. Stay tuned.
From time-to-time I try to get my adult students together to play some songs and learn a few things. Adults don't always have friends that play guitar so this is a way to get together and play some songs. We usually have someone that wants to perform but it isn't required. You just have to have a good time. No guitar hero/gods are invited; they can go over to Guitar Center and jam with the 16 year olds!
Terry
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
What does it take to learn to play guitar?
Hi, everyone.
For over 40 years, since I started playing guitar, I've thought off-and-on about what it takes to learn to play the guitar. At first, I wanted to know for myself, so I could learn to play. Then, as I started teaching , I needed to know so I could help my students. I've looked at and written all kinds of lesson plans, I've talked to other teachers and students. I've read a lot about it online. If you ask just about anyone what it takes, they will say "practice!". But, from watching my successful students and the not so successful ones, I now know the answer and I can sum it up in one word. Persistence. You have to keep at it. When you get frustrated at the F chord you have to keep trying. Even if you give up for a week or two, you have to get back into it. If you go on vacation, you have to get right back on it when you're back home. It has to be a focus at least until you get closer to your goal, or the level of playing that you want to achieve.
I see it all the time. Kids take lessons and, no matter how easy the teacher makes it, the kid decides it's too hard. He/she thought the teacher would just show them where to put their fingers and they would play like EVH/Orianthi/whoever. Or they go on vacation and they loose their momentum. They give up. But I also see kids and adults stick with it and get better. I work hard to help them over the humps. Ultimately it is the student that overcomes the difficulties. You need to be persistent in practice, in learning technique and new songs. The more you keep at it the better you'll get. You need to know when to take a short rest and how long.
I tell the following story to my students. About a year after I had been playing , a friend of mine ( who played very well ) and I were at a party. We were playing guitar. There was a guy there, a beginner, who was trying to play his guitar with us. We felt he was cramping our style so we acted like he wasn't there. He got the message and stopped playing, annoying us. About a year later I was at another party and, sure enough, that beginner guy was there. Only this time he was playing like an old pro, better then I or my friend. Really showing us up. I asked him what happened. He said, well, since the last party you and I were at (Ha, he remembered!) I lost my job, my girl and had to move in with my relatives. All I had was my guitar. So I played a whole lot, I kept at it and kept trying. I didn't even realize I had gotten that much better until tonight when I played with you guys!
Yeow. We deserved that. I learned two lessons that night. Persistence and don't slam on a beginner. Treat him/her with kindness for someday you may want to jam with that beginner.
Keep at it. Keep playing guitar!
For over 40 years, since I started playing guitar, I've thought off-and-on about what it takes to learn to play the guitar. At first, I wanted to know for myself, so I could learn to play. Then, as I started teaching , I needed to know so I could help my students. I've looked at and written all kinds of lesson plans, I've talked to other teachers and students. I've read a lot about it online. If you ask just about anyone what it takes, they will say "practice!". But, from watching my successful students and the not so successful ones, I now know the answer and I can sum it up in one word. Persistence. You have to keep at it. When you get frustrated at the F chord you have to keep trying. Even if you give up for a week or two, you have to get back into it. If you go on vacation, you have to get right back on it when you're back home. It has to be a focus at least until you get closer to your goal, or the level of playing that you want to achieve.
I see it all the time. Kids take lessons and, no matter how easy the teacher makes it, the kid decides it's too hard. He/she thought the teacher would just show them where to put their fingers and they would play like EVH/Orianthi/whoever. Or they go on vacation and they loose their momentum. They give up. But I also see kids and adults stick with it and get better. I work hard to help them over the humps. Ultimately it is the student that overcomes the difficulties. You need to be persistent in practice, in learning technique and new songs. The more you keep at it the better you'll get. You need to know when to take a short rest and how long.
I tell the following story to my students. About a year after I had been playing , a friend of mine ( who played very well ) and I were at a party. We were playing guitar. There was a guy there, a beginner, who was trying to play his guitar with us. We felt he was cramping our style so we acted like he wasn't there. He got the message and stopped playing, annoying us. About a year later I was at another party and, sure enough, that beginner guy was there. Only this time he was playing like an old pro, better then I or my friend. Really showing us up. I asked him what happened. He said, well, since the last party you and I were at (Ha, he remembered!) I lost my job, my girl and had to move in with my relatives. All I had was my guitar. So I played a whole lot, I kept at it and kept trying. I didn't even realize I had gotten that much better until tonight when I played with you guys!
Yeow. We deserved that. I learned two lessons that night. Persistence and don't slam on a beginner. Treat him/her with kindness for someday you may want to jam with that beginner.
Keep at it. Keep playing guitar!
Friday, February 5, 2010
THE PHONE!
So, I just came home from a long day of teaching. I sat down to watch Criminal Minds and I nodded off. While visions of guitars and sweet melodies floated by, Eric Clapton came to me in my dream and said I had to get the Fender MyTouch phone! When I woke up, I found I had T-Mobile and I was due for an upgrade! Eric was right!
So I now have it and I love it. I never had a touch phone before. My old phone was two years old, very hard to text ( two years ago we didn't text as much). And I've found a lot of ways to use it in my guitar lessons.
I was at a student's house, he wanted to learn Back In Black but couldn't remember how the intro sounded. I played it for him. Then, I spoke into my Fender Fone and brought up a YT vid of AC/DC. Then, I went to Ultimate-Guitar.com , found the tab for him and emailed it to him. Wandgo bango! In the old days (last week) it would have taken two lessons to do that.
I also update my calendar through my Gmail account and it instantly appears on my phone. No syncing, no installation.
I have a tuner with a freq analyzer which is very accurate. And the chord dictionary plays the chord so you can hear it.
I can't wait to find other ways to use it. I told my wife I didn't care if it was a good phone or not, it just looked too cool to not get!
So I now have it and I love it. I never had a touch phone before. My old phone was two years old, very hard to text ( two years ago we didn't text as much). And I've found a lot of ways to use it in my guitar lessons.
I was at a student's house, he wanted to learn Back In Black but couldn't remember how the intro sounded. I played it for him. Then, I spoke into my Fender Fone and brought up a YT vid of AC/DC. Then, I went to Ultimate-Guitar.com , found the tab for him and emailed it to him. Wandgo bango! In the old days (last week) it would have taken two lessons to do that.
I also update my calendar through my Gmail account and it instantly appears on my phone. No syncing, no installation.
I have a tuner with a freq analyzer which is very accurate. And the chord dictionary plays the chord so you can hear it.
I can't wait to find other ways to use it. I told my wife I didn't care if it was a good phone or not, it just looked too cool to not get!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Teach guitar
I have been playing guitar for 40 years and have been teaching guitar for over 35 years. Of those 35 years, the last 6 years have been full time. And it has been the best 6 years of my life!
I would come home from my 9 to 5 office job and tell my wife I should have started teaching guitar full time 30 years ago. One day she said she was tire of hearing that and didn't want to hear it for the next 30 years! So we looked at our finances, we looked at where the students might be and how many I needed to have to break-even and pay the bills. We sucked it up and pulled the plug. And it has been the best decision we have ever made.
I get to set my own schedule, work when I want to. If I need a raise I add more students. I set the rules. If I want to take a nap or run to the store, I do it. And I make a great living.
I get to go into peoples' homes and meet a lot of nice people; I help them do something they want to do; they are happy to see me; I get to play guitar all day long; and I get paid for it! What could be better?
If you want to help people, play a lot of guitar and make a great living go to this link
www.napervilleguitarlessons.com/ebook.html
I would come home from my 9 to 5 office job and tell my wife I should have started teaching guitar full time 30 years ago. One day she said she was tire of hearing that and didn't want to hear it for the next 30 years! So we looked at our finances, we looked at where the students might be and how many I needed to have to break-even and pay the bills. We sucked it up and pulled the plug. And it has been the best decision we have ever made.
I get to set my own schedule, work when I want to. If I need a raise I add more students. I set the rules. If I want to take a nap or run to the store, I do it. And I make a great living.
I get to go into peoples' homes and meet a lot of nice people; I help them do something they want to do; they are happy to see me; I get to play guitar all day long; and I get paid for it! What could be better?
If you want to help people, play a lot of guitar and make a great living go to this link
www.napervilleguitarlessons.com/ebook.html
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