Teaching

[guitarsimon]

I'd like to start teaching guitar. Can anyone recommend a website where i can find good chord/scale charts for printing off?

[Sir Axeman]

Google for them...they're about, I just dont use them. For my tab and chords I just draw tables and boxes in word and write the tab/chords in.

[tonyteach]

I would suggest downloading powertab whereby you can create your own material and it has a chord dictionary

Word of advice - create your own teaching materials tailored to your pupils needs - if you use materials culled from online sources why does a pupil need to come to you for lessons - they can just use a website

[Sir Axeman]

If they were that way inclined they could anyway!! There's a wealth of tuition books/dvds etc available today as well as the online stuff. Bottom line is people are lazy and want to be shown how to rather than having to figure it out themselves. And thank God for them!! May God bless me with more of 'em too!! Haha! A lot of guitar students wrongly (but as a matter of factly) want you to show them how to play their favourite songs etc...and being shown for them is easier than themeslves working through a tab book etc. Of course a good teacher will not only show them what they want, but will also illustrate the scales/chords etc used and how that guitarist used those to come up with those famous classic songs we all wanna learn. I think a tutor that just teaches theory and technique on its own apart from practical song examples is a pretty boring tutor.

Flipside of all that is I do have some studes that just want me to show them how to play this and that...and i'll show them but explain why this n why that as I go...but still sometimes I know I'm wasting my breath cos its in one ear and out the other. I can show them a song..and solo then stop them mid way through playing say the chorus or verse and ask them "what is that chord or scale your playing on now?" and they'll have no answer...it frustrates me but sometimes there's nothing you can do except give them what they want and tell them that even a monkey can do that!!

[stringsthings]

way to go, simon ..... teaching can be very rewarding

[guitarsimon]

Originally Posted by tonyteach

I would suggest downloading powertab whereby you can create your own material and it has a chord dictionary

Word of advice - create your own teaching materials tailored to your pupils needs - if you use materials culled from online sources why does a pupil need to come to you for lessons - they can just use a website

I don't mean to use it to teach directly from, more to give the student a reference.

[guitarsimon]

Originally Posted by Sir Axeman

If they were that way inclined they could anyway!! There's a wealth of tuition books/dvds etc available today as well as the online stuff. Bottom line is people are lazy and want to be shown how to rather than having to figure it out themselves. And thank God for them!! May God bless me with more of 'em too!! Haha! A lot of guitar students wrongly (but as a matter of factly) want you to show them how to play their favourite songs etc...and being shown for them is easier than themeslves working through a tab book etc. Of course a good teacher will not only show them what they want, but will also illustrate the scales/chords etc used and how that guitarist used those to come up with those famous classic songs we all wanna learn. I think a tutor that just teaches theory and technique on its own apart from practical song examples is a pretty boring tutor.

Flipside of all that is I do have some studes that just want me to show them how to play this and that...and i'll show them but explain why this n why that as I go...but still sometimes I know I'm wasting my breath cos its in one ear and out the other. I can show them a song..and solo then stop them mid way through playing say the chorus or verse and ask them "what is that chord or scale your playing on now?" and they'll have no answer...it frustrates me but sometimes there's nothing you can do except give them what they want and tell them that even a monkey can do that!!

Thanks for your advice, it was very helpful.

[tonyteach]

I would not disagree with Sir Axeman - he obviously has a system which suits him
I would however suggest checking out the following

1 What type of guitar do you intend to teach - if it is purely rock or blues this might limit your teaching - no reflection on your abilities but versatility helps to sell more lessons
2 Teach kids or adults or both - if kids get a CRB check done - the RGT do them and it is worthwhile joining just for that. You will need it anyway sson to teach kids

3 Teach at home or in pupils homes - get insurance if you intend to teach at home - look at joining hte Musicians Union as you get it as part of the membership

4 Marketing - how are you going to get business - the guitar shop route does not work for me as they all do teaching in my area. Look at investing in a reall professional website and update it frequently

5 How much are you going to charge - there is a very large price range depending on the area you teach in. The average in central London is £30 in the provinces £25 or so and oop north it is about £20 paid out whippet food I believe

Best of luck at it - you have picked a really good time to start
Finally and this is MOST| important TELL THE INLAND REVENUE what you intend to do - don't let them find out