Frequently Asked Questions and What You Should Ask.

The most frequently asked questions:

1. How much are lessons? Probably the top question and the one that should be much lower on the list. As with any other purchase, you get what you pay for. Do you really want to take lessons or have your child learn from the cheapest teacher? While price is no guarantee of quality it's certainly wise to be leery of someone with ridiculously low prices. 
2. At what age should my child start guitar lessons? Most guitar teachers will start a beginner at age 7 or 8. There are some programs, Child Bloom and Kindermusic that start them younger. The critical decision here is how you as a parent will react when your new student doesn't practice as much as you think they should. The most important part of learning guitar at this age is for the child to enjoy the lessons. Nagging, reminding, and scolding them does much more harm than good. 
3. Am I too old to learn guitar? In most cases, no. As long as you have desire and time to practice, you'll do fine. Setting realistic goals, being patient and finding time are the biggest obstacles adults face. 
4. What guitar method do you use? Most teachers will start you off with a book of some sort, get you moving around on the guitar, and then gear the lessons more to the style of music you'd like to play. Be wary of the teacher that uses the same approach whether you're 7, 17 or 70. 

What questions should you ask?

1. What kind of music do you play? Lots of teachers advertise that they can teach you any style of music you'd like, but be aware that it doesn't mean they're equally good at all types of music. This is most important if you have a specific style of music in mind. While there is some overlap, there are different techniques, licks, (small musical phrases), and sounds that define the music.
2. Have you worked with children before? Some teachers can't or don't want to teach younger students, so be sure you ask if you have a young child. 
3. Are you comfortable or qualified teaching my special needs child? There have been many instances where we've had parents register their child and then almost as an afterthought mention that they have ADD, a learning disability of some sort, or an emotional problem that we'll have to deal with. It's very awkward for the teacher to find this out after the fact.
4. What qualifications do you have? While a college degree is nice, it shouldn't be the only consideration. When I hire a teacher I look for a combination of education, teaching, performing experience and a genuine interest in teaching. Our students trust that we know what we're doing and we can't let them down.