OMG... what have I done ?

Jaden · #1 09-09-2006, 04:22 PM

OK - years ago I used to teach guitar for a shop - can you believe it

I also used to teach privately...

well, it drove me absolutely bonkers dealing with some really weird people who would always tell ya that after 3 months of playing... they didnt think that learning the major scale was important

so I got fed up and chucked all of my teaching material away and gave it up...
tonight I agreed to teach someone from scratch.... WTF was I thinking, its a slippery slope

ANYWAY !!!!!

having thrown all my teaching material away and not wanting to work too hard on generating new stuff... is there anyone who could help me out or point me in the right direction for a kind of teaching plan ???

EG:
week 1 - EADGBE and E to E (octave) note names
week 2 - learn the chords of E, and D
week 3 - buy guitar teacher a case of lager

etc...

I would be eternally grateful !

Jaden

**GilkyBear** · #2 09-09-2006, 05:03 PM

I would start with one of these. They are laid out pretty logically. If you use it, you can let him work at the stuff at home on his time withou you too.

http://www.theorylessons.com/
http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/
http://www.guitarknowledgenet.com/

Planeflux · #3 09-09-2006, 05:21 PM

First of all, what is his/her age? Regardless (and especially if the "student" is a youngster), I'd start out with something fun and catchy. The first thing I was taught was the 'Smoke on the Water" intro riff on a single string.

When he/she is able to nail the riff decently, I'd teach a few more pentatonic ones and then go on explaining the scale used (in a overly simplistic, comprehensible way), etc. Then you can go for major/minor scales, followed by basic chord shapes and simple, memorable progressions.

Most importantly, it's important to keep him/her going and not giving up in frustration. Otherwise, it's just wasted effort, unless you're only interested in the money.

EDIT: I forgot to mention note names, tuning, etc. - I think it's best to teach that under the way. I'm sure a lot of people would find lessons solely consisting of theory boring.

Jaden · #4 09-09-2006, 05:49 PM

I have 2 (prospective) students - one 20 years old and a complete beginner.. and one 27 years old been playing for a year - also wants to play only the acoustic without the use of a pick....
not really my bag !

Mystical Potato · #5 09-09-2006, 06:15 PM

You know what? My guitar teacher of 3 years has buggered off to Italy with his gypsy jazz band - an put a good word in at the shop for me to take his guitar students (gulp) so here I am, waiting to start next week, in even more of a predicament than you!.

On a side note, my last lesson consisted of fingerpicking excercises - clawhammer stuff moving onto countrified style stuff - maybe you could try that on your acoustic loving student!

Also what should I do/not do regarding starting as a teacher, anyone who has some tried and tested advice should really consider helping

.

Jaden · #6 09-10-2006, 04:00 PM

potato - you really are in a worse state than me !

at least you have had guitar lessons though - I havent..... self taught

good luck mate !

anyone ? lesson plan ideas ?

**GilkyBear** · #7 09-10-2006, 05:59 PM

If you google "music theory for guitar" or a few variations of that, maybe throw in "lessons", you will get more hits than you know what to do with and some are really well done.

Sabre · #8 09-10-2006, 06:03 PM

When you get to the powerchords and barre chords section of learning, teach them the barre chords first, they will find powerchords extremely easy; worked for me!

wallie! · #9 09-10-2006, 09:55 PM

If you get them to bring cd's and tabs in each week with songs they want to learn it will make your job easier.

If you can't think of anything to teach them, show them a cool lick :P

phantoms · #10 09-10-2006, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatisshredding

potato - you really are in a worse state than me !
at least you have had guitar lessons though - I havent..... self taught

good luck mate !
anyone ? lesson plan ideas ?

The http://www.zentao.com/guitar/ site posted above is what I've been using to learn. Laid out into lessons, but also has a ton of useful stuff on the front page. They also have a forum.

sniperfrommars1 · #11 09-11-2006, 12:17 AM

Ive done it myself mate and i know exactly where your coming from, handpicking your students is the only way to be, and i do know of a few local cats who refuse to teach students who arent willing to listen. Ive turned down a few jobs at stores due to issues involed with dealing with the kids who just want to slouch off during mommys forced music lessons.

Jaden · #12 09-11-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniperfrommars1

Ive done it myself mate and i know exactly where your coming from, handpicking your students is the only way to be, and i do know of a few local cats who refuse to teach students who arent willing to listen. Ive turned down a few jobs at stores due to issues involed with dealing with the kids who just want to slouch off during mommys forced music lessons.

yea, you been there

Well,,,,,, I planned the first lesson for the total beginner and ive sorted about 6 lessons for the fella thats been playing for about a year....
I dont want to stick to a rigid plan for every student cos they are all different with different tastes and abilities...

any more suggestions would be useful but, wish me luck !

**GilkyBear** · #13 09-11-2006, 04:37 PM

A suggestion: Hover over them with an electric cable, when they hit a sour note, simply touch the electric cable to the strings. Instant obedience...

jemplayer55 · #14 09-11-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilk420

A suggestion: Hover over them with an electric cable, when they hit a sour note, simply touch the electric cable to the strings. Instant obedience...

Only someone from that military mindset could come up with that..... however, it's probably pretty effective.

On to the lessons...... It sounds like you'll be boning up on your theory at the same time. I would start the beginner off on a simple guitar method study program, look at something like Mel Bay's "Modern Guitar Method". Decide if the student will grasp lessons using standard notation or are they going to pick it up quicker with "tabs"..... but be sure to teach both!!!
Start each lesson with at least 10:00 min. devoted on the students current musical interest and using that to springboard into your chosen lesson plan. (you know..... why "smoke on the water" is composed with these chords and this scale) You've got to teach both music theory and technique to both students based on what knowledge they currently possess. A lot of newer guitar methods come with Cd's or DVD/VHS material to help the student and you. Or you could elect to break out your lesson plan to achieve only what the student is looking to improve. Technique, theory, composition, performance.... it's a little more involved than just jumping into the fire and saying you'll teach someone guitar/music. Especially if you've never taken any formal lessons yourself. Oh..... and good luck, your playing should improve too!

Jaden · #15 09-11-2006, 05:48 PM

yes, having had no formal lessons myself you are right, but... I doubt the "value" of teaching standard notation when guitar tab is so easy and so available - especially with guitar pro and other programs about.

years ago when I was teaching I would gauge the students interest and learn one of his type of songs... then teach it back to him with the associated theory... eg scale tone chord progressions etc.

yes, my playing - or theory awareness should improve

and im looking forward to the challenge of having to do things "properly" again.

just wish I'd had the money to afford lessons all those years ago !