Friday, January 29, 2010

Why I teach guitar

Hi, there.
I've worked a few jobs in my life and teaching guitar is the best ever. I mean, I have cooked chicken at one of the bucket head fast food places, I've driven a courtesy car for a car dealership (several interesting stories there), I've delivered pizzas, I've worked in the steel mills, I've been a customer service rep, salesman, a sales manager, a facilities manager, an operations manager, an IT manager, etc, etc. Within each of those I usually made a good living, at least from the mill job on. But it was never really satisfying. I didn't get the great feeling I do with teaching.

I think I've always wanted to be a teacher or some kind or another. I just always thought it would be in a classroom. But I found in college I didn't like working with a room full of kids. From personal experience, I know that it takes a very special person to do that and do it well. They deserve as much money as they make and more!

I like helping people learn to play guitar. I love seeing someone go from not knowing how to hold the instrument to being able to play songs they like to play. Most people want to learn to play an instrument to play the music they enjoy. That's what I try to help them do.

One of the things I've noticed over the years is that some kids (and adults) feel that the teacher is going to do something magical for them. That I'm going to show them where to put their fingers and they'll play like (their favorite guitar hero here) the next day. It doesn't work like. It takes hard work and a lot of repetition of the correct technique. That's where I come in. I try to make sure the person is doing things right that will help them reach their goals.

But I teach because it makes me feel good.

www.napervilleguitarlessons.com

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