Learning Guitar in 2021
There’s nothing like a pandemic to bring out the inner guitarist in us
We shouldn’t ignore the terrible costs of the pandemic to people’s lives and livelihoods but there are also some things that came out of this crisis that has brought good to us and those around us. One thing that has resulted from the pandemic is that a lot more people have started playing guitar, and music in general.
While the pandemic has had devastating consequences for performers of all kinds who rely on a live audience, its impact on those who play primarily for their own enjoyment has been mostly positive. There has been a significant uptick in the number of people interested in learning to play guitar, as well as people learning to play a different instrument or a different style of music. Of course, part of the reason is that so many people are stuck at home, so why not learn something new?
What is it about playing music that makes it so much more compelling when we are under threat? Part of the appeal is that music is obviously comforting and familiar, but playing music also gives the player a much-needed sense of control, much like baking bread or starting an herb garden. We can’t go to a long-awaited festival or even go to our favorite restaurant or bar but when we open the guitar case, the only restrictions are from within. We are the ones who determine what songs we can’t play or how well we play the ones we already know. And these are the things we can change. Music sets you free and in a world where we are facing restrictions and diminishment everywhere we turn, that sounds like a pretty good idea.
The game-changer during this crisis is the explosion in virtual music lessons. And this change will last longer than finding a cure for COVID-19. In fact, it’s going to change how people learn a lot of things for a long time. Slowly we are getting back to that in-person way of taking lessons but still more people feel safer staying home. And to this, guitar teachers are learning to accommodate their students.
One advantage when taking lessons online, that if you are a beginner and perhaps shy about learning, you will feel more secure going online and coming “face to face” with your instructor. You have the chance to loosen up a bit more and find your footing all from the comfort of your own home. Your instructor will have the ability to pay more attention to what you are learning and what you are struggling with and be able to give you more instruction in a smaller, confined setting.