Really good point about personality being important. Also, I'd like to add that students these days seem to be even more needy for instant gratification. I saw this first hand when I taught ESL. Few people are willing to put in the required work. My first instructor played classical music but he understood what I was really interested in and taught me all the basic chords. Everyone wants to play songs, so he told me to get a Grateful Dead guitar book. I didn't even know them that well at the time, but his reasoning was that by just strumming along (on my acoustic) I could learn a lot more chord shapes and the movement between chords, which I did. Unfortunately, I had to stop lessons due to work and we lost contact. When I restarted my next instructor was just showing off on his Strat. That lasted 2 sessions. The next one bombarded me with theory which was way above me at the time, and just discouraged me. Fast forward 35 years and I'm learning electric and taking in-person lessons. I'm progressing really quickly, know my goals and weaknesses, etc., but the hardest part is that I no longer live in an English-speaking country so my lessons are in my third language. LOL. So I also use a lot of youtube to supplement it.
Very good advice. One more thought: is the person a good *teacher*? Someone can have a diverse musical background, years of live performance under their belt, musical degrees, and so forth, but be quite inept at explaining their knowledge to beginning and intermediate players. A common interviewing technique is just to ask a job candidate to explain something to you. Do the same with your prospective guitar teachers.
Korey, your comments about specialists is spot on. I studied classical guitar in college, which is almost a different instrument and culture. I enjoyed it but also wanted to learn blues, country and rock. I had to find other teachers for that. It also requires a student who wants to learn more than just songs. Guitar really comes alive when you can learn it as a language. I’m not there yet but working toward it.
Really great advice. The song lesson instructor is probably by far the most common type of instructor I have found. It was good to hear your perspective on being on the lookout for a method.
I actually booked my first lesson with you the day before you posted this video Korey. I think everything you've stated here is validation of what I believed I was seeing in your other content that motivated me to reach our in the first place. Looking forward to learning with you.
Love your honest instructions. I’m a 65 year old guy who is trying, for the 4th time in his life, to learn guitar. My instructor studied classical but also plays electric and performs here and there. He’s good, but as a retired engineer I’m really wanting more rigor (i.e. objectives, timelines, etc.). I’m not getting that from my instructor. After 1 year of playing I’m disappointed at my progress. Maybe me? Maybe a bit my instructor? I’m not sure. I’ve own both a nylon string and a Martin steel string.
I would start with having him assess your deficiencies and working on those, and putting together a practical practice regimen. I love the 4-year model used in music college, it really gives you a great idea of where all your efforts are leading up to! I have some of that info on my Patreon page.
Thanks for so much good food for thought about going from the always feel good fun mode of playing to making an actual plan to get good for real. So refreshing too that you never once cut to a scene from Whiplash!
@@KoreyHicksGuitar better to just take the sign down vs. create the (mis)conception that you're unaware of basic grammar....How about: "Choosing guitar instructors"
Don't forget every student getting asked this ? after their first lesson. Usually by a friend or family member. Can you play a song yet ? And be serious.
Really good point about personality being important. Also, I'd like to add that students these days seem to be even more needy for instant gratification. I saw this first hand when I taught ESL. Few people are willing to put in the required work. My first instructor played classical music but he understood what I was really interested in and taught me all the basic chords. Everyone wants to play songs, so he told me to get a Grateful Dead guitar book. I didn't even know them that well at the time, but his reasoning was that by just strumming along (on my acoustic) I could learn a lot more chord shapes and the movement between chords, which I did. Unfortunately, I had to stop lessons due to work and we lost contact. When I restarted my next instructor was just showing off on his Strat. That lasted 2 sessions. The next one bombarded me with theory which was way above me at the time, and just discouraged me. Fast forward 35 years and I'm learning electric and taking in-person lessons. I'm progressing really quickly, know my goals and weaknesses, etc., but the hardest part is that I no longer live in an English-speaking country so my lessons are in my third language. LOL. So I also use a lot of youtube to supplement it.
Very good advice. One more thought: is the person a good *teacher*? Someone can have a diverse musical background, years of live performance under their belt, musical degrees, and so forth, but be quite inept at explaining their knowledge to beginning and intermediate players. A common interviewing technique is just to ask a job candidate to explain something to you. Do the same with your prospective guitar teachers.
@@montyhindman excellent point!
This is 💯 truth. Nothing in life worth having ever comes easy. And the guitar is the prime example of this. Great advice 👍
Absolutely!
This really makes a lot of sense.
Korey, your comments about specialists is spot on. I studied classical guitar in college, which is almost a different instrument and culture. I enjoyed it but also wanted to learn blues, country and rock. I had to find other teachers for that. It also requires a student who wants to learn more than just songs. Guitar really comes alive when you can learn it as a language. I’m not there yet but working toward it.
Really great advice. The song lesson instructor is probably by far the most common type of instructor I have found. It was good to hear your perspective on being on the lookout for a method.
I actually booked my first lesson with you the day before you posted this video Korey. I think everything you've stated here is validation of what I believed I was seeing in your other content that motivated me to reach our in the first place. Looking forward to learning with you.
Fantastic, and I’m looking forward to working with you, Dave!
Good advise here👊
Love your honest instructions. I’m a 65 year old guy who is trying, for the 4th time in his life, to learn guitar. My instructor studied classical but also plays electric and performs here and there. He’s good, but as a retired engineer I’m really wanting more rigor (i.e. objectives, timelines, etc.). I’m not getting that from my instructor. After 1 year of playing I’m disappointed at my progress. Maybe me? Maybe a bit my instructor? I’m not sure. I’ve own both a nylon string and a Martin steel string.
I would start with having him assess your deficiencies and working on those, and putting together a practical practice regimen. I love the 4-year model used in music college, it really gives you a great idea of where all your efforts are leading up to! I have some of that info on my Patreon page.
Thanks for so much good food for thought about going from the always feel good fun mode of playing to making an actual plan to get good for real. So refreshing too that you never once cut to a scene from Whiplash!
Oh, I thought about it 😂 I heard JK Simmons was actually a music major in college so that helped him get into character
@@KoreyHicksGuitar Lol - how could you not think of it? He did crush that role. Amazing channel 👍Cheers!
Thanks!
Thank you!!! 🙏🏻
Good stuff
@@jamesiepoo23 thank you!
Good advice....but change your signage - "Choosing 'A' Instructor"??!
@@richardholmes8172 I ran out of ‘N’ 😂
@@KoreyHicksGuitar better to just take the sign down vs. create the (mis)conception that you're unaware of basic grammar....How about: "Choosing guitar instructors"
Don't forget every student getting asked this ? after their first lesson. Usually by a friend or family member. Can you play a song yet ? And be serious.
@@michaellandreth1392 yeah that’s frustrating