7 Questions to ask a Fort Lauderdale Intermediate Guitar Teacher

The guitar is a popular instrument that many people know how to play. Of course, just because you know how to do something does not mean you can teach others to do it too. The world is full of lousy guitar teachers who give lessons just to pick up a few extra bucks in between gigs. Most of them have little interest in or experience with professional instruction. In other words, they are musicians, not teachers. In this article we will discuss seven questions that should make finding a Fort Lauderdale intermediate guitar teacher a little easier.

1. What is your experience?

Any instructor worth his salt should have no problem answering this simple query. Ideally, you would like to hear that he has at least 5 years of experience. If he equivocates and talks about teaching here and there, he’s probably not the instructor for you. As we mentioned, there are lots of struggling musicians that teach students on the side and do so periodically. Most don’t give the job or their students the respect they deserve.

2. How many students do you have?

A serous Fort Lauderdale intermediate guitar teacher should have more than two or three students. A number like 10 or 15 probably means that he is serious about his trade, since, at the very least, it is a part-time profession.

3. Where do you give lessons?

Some guitar teachers work out of music shops or studios and others out of their homes. This is simply a question of convenience. There are plenty of good and bad teachers on both sides. With that said, a teacher that asks you to come to his home rather than to a shop or studio will generally charge lower rates, since he doesn’t have to pay for a brick and mortar store.

4. Can you read music?

Because it is a popular instrument that most people learn to play on their own, many accomplished guitarists cannot read sheet music. This is not a problem for most students because they don’t want to learn about music theory, but simply how to play. However, if you want to start at the beginning, you will need a Fort Lauderdale intermediate guitar teacher who can read sheet music.

5. What is you musical background?

Some teachers are autodidacts and others are classically trained. Once again, it all depends how you want to learn. If you want a firm foundation in musical education, it is best to find a teacher that received professional instruction.

6. What styles do you teach?

Many instructors claim that they are proficient in numerous styles of guitar, but this is seldom the case. More often than not, they spend most of their time playing either jazz, classical, rock, or blues. Not all of them. They may know a few songs in each style to impress beginners, but they seldom have the skills to fool more experienced students. In other words, the answer you want to hear is that a Fort Lauderdale advanced guitar teacher focuses on one or two styles, but may dabble a bit in the others.

7. What is your payment policy?

Some instructors ask for payment in advance for a certain number of lessons, while others are fine with a pay-as-you-go arrangement. If you are confident that you will follow through and complete the lessons, then it may be okay to pay in one lump sum. But if you have any reservations at all, it is always best to hedge your bets and pay for one lesson at a time.