My first objective is to establish the student’s goals for his or her guitar lessons and music overall. It’s important for me to know as clearly as possible what the student is trying to achieve in order to determine the best strategy for teaching each individual. Next, depending on the student’s goals, I will work with then to develop a plan to help them best achieve their goals in the least amount of time. In general, the initial focus is on the fundamentals of playing the guitar - technique and specific skills. At the same time, I encourage all of my students to learn to read music as I believe it opens up a valuable archive of knowledge to them. As soon as the student has reached a functional level of playing and sight reading we can branch out into other areas of interest. At this point, I often divide lesson time between the development of more advanced skills and learning songs.
I recommend a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes daily practice for beginning students and a minimum of an hour for more advanced students. Begin each practice session by reviewing material covered in previous lessons as a warm-up and then spend the remaining time carefully practicing the material covered at the last lesson. Ideally, create a practice routine where you practice at the same time and location every day. Make your practice sessions enjoyable - be creative and take advantage of whatever motivational strategies you can think of. For example, practice right after dinner with a mug of hot chocolate, and a photo of your favorite musician on the wall for inspiration. A clear vision of what you want to achieve, consistent daily practice, and regular attendance will speed your progress and help you achieve your musical goals.
I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with fellow aspiring guitarists.