Start Guitar Lessons in Phila
What it takes to start guitar lessons
Whether you are beginning guitar for the first time, someone who hasn’t picked up an instrument in a very long time, or a parent looking to give their child an advantage in life, learning to play the guitar is a fun and rewarding journey that anyone at any age can enjoy. The question you may have, however, is “Where do I begin?” Keep reading to learn the basics of selecting an instrument, finding the best teaching medium and selecting an instructor that’s right for you or your child.
The right instrument
Learning guitar can be an uncomfortable process. Building strength in your fingers is hard and developing calluses on your fingers can be painful. One thing that can ease that pain is a guitar that has been properly set up and maintained. As a guitar ages various things can happen that will often move the strings away from the fingerboard and make the instrument harder to play. No one wants to make a big investment only to find that the guitar is not for them, but when selecting a guitar, ask the shop about their buy back policy and also how well the instrument holds its value. By finding a place that will buy the instrument back or selecting something that will be easy to re-sell, you end up getting back the money you would have saved by buying the inexpensive or used option.
The right method
There are hundreds of ways to learn to play the guitar. Books, DVD’s, online instruction, etc. The one method, however, that stands above the rest is one on one lessons. The free and cheap methods will do the job but one vital piece missing in the process is getting feedback. Having an experienced guitar teacher watch you or your child play and provide constructive criticism is one of the best ways to be sure that not only are you learning but you are learning right. Teachers are also great because they can assess a student’s level of skill and provide material at a level that challenges them just enough to want to improve.
The right instructor
The guitar has become so popular over the years, and it seems that everyone knows how to play. Therefore, the more people there are playing, the more people there are teaching. So how do you select the right teacher for the job? When looking for the right instructor there are several important questions that you should be asking. Does this person have the level of experience necessary to teach my child or me? How much experience does this person have and how many students do they currently teach? How patient are they? A teacher may be good at playing but teaching is a whole other story. Teaching requires patience, experience and a good attitude. To get the most for your money be sure you find a teacher that has all these qualities.