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Session 5

Session 5

Ambassador of Strings & Wings
Country flag
Well this morning after three and a half years, I have parted ways with my Instructor, I have tried numerous times to talk with him in a Civil manner to no avail. He keeps trying to teach me styles of music I am not interested in playing. He knew from the start what I wanted to learn because we discussed it . He was good with that in the beginning, But as time went on , he wanted to teach me theory beyond what I wanted to learn, then he wanted to teach me finger picking, then he wanted to get into Classical. So the last couple of weeks I have been trying to speak with him about it and he tells me he doesn't want to hear it. For me I started playing guitar for fun. I've always wanted to play Classic Rock and that's what I intend to do. I learned many good things from him and am thankful for that. I just called a fellow here in town who has been playing and teaching guitar for many many years and is very close to my age. He is a great guitar player, my wife said he used to live on the same street she used to live on. Said he was always a happy go lucky guy. So I contacted him over the phone, told him a little about myself and what I wanted to achieve we seemed to hit it off. He was upbeat had no problems with the things I wasn't interested in. We have our first visit next week , I'm hoping we can come up with time availability from May to October because of my cottage time. One thing I believe in if you have an Instructor that wont teach you what YOU want to learn, and play, part ways. To me there is nothing out there that will turn an individual off from playing guitar, than a Teacher that wants to teach you what they think. If I want a hamburger with no bacon, that's what I want I'm paying for it. I am one of those guys who will move forward and I will find someone who will teach me. And will continue to teach me in ways that are enjoyable.
 
When you can snatch the pebble from my hand, then you are ready, Grasshopper.
Hope the new guy works out.

I wanted a round of lessons for my birthday.
I hear I'm getting an hour floating in a relaxation tank thing.

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Session 5 said:
Well this morning after three and a half years, I have parted ways with my Instructor, I have tried numerous times to talk with him in a Civil manner to no avail. He keeps trying to teach me styles of music I am not interested in playing. He knew from the start what I wanted to learn because we discussed it . He was good with that in the beginning, But as time went on , he wanted to teach me theory beyond what I wanted to learn, then he wanted to teach me finger picking, then he wanted to get into Classical. So the last couple of weeks I have been trying to speak with him about it and he tells me he doesn't want to hear it. For me I started playing guitar for fun. I've always wanted to play Classic Rock and that's what I intend to do. I learned many good things from him and am thankful for that. I just called a fellow here in town who has been playing and teaching guitar for many many years and is very close to my age. He is a great guitar player, my wife said he used to live on the same street she used to live on. Said he was always a happy go lucky guy. So I contacted him over the phone, told him a little about myself and what I wanted to achieve we seemed to hit it off. He was upbeat had no problems with the things I wasn't interested in. We have our first visit next week , I'm hoping we can come up with time availability from May to October because of my cottage time. One thing I believe in if you have an Instructor that wont teach you what YOU want to learn, and play, part ways. To me there is nothing out there that will turn an individual off from playing guitar, than a Teacher that wants to teach you what they think. If I want a hamburger with no bacon, that's what I want I'm paying for it. I am one of those guys who will move forward and I will find someone who will teach me. And will continue to teach me in ways that are enjoyable.
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I wish you lived closer!!!!

When I sit down with a student, we tune up before the hour starts and I give a 10 minute "debrief" to answer questions, so your hour doesn't get lost in the sauce. I also have a stable of guitars they can choose from - 1984 Ibanez DT555, Gibson SG, Fender Stratocaster and several Von Herndon Originals...
 
jtcnj said:
When you can snatch the pebble from my hand, then you are ready, Grasshopper.
Hope the new guy works out.

I wanted a round of lessons for my birthday.
I hear I'm getting an hour floating in a relaxation tank thing.

giphy.gif
Click to expand...

When you can walk the rice paper and leave no track, you will be ready...
 
Robert Herndon said:
I wish you lived closer!!!!

When I sit down with a student, we tune up before the hour starts and I give a 10 minute "debrief" to answer questions, so your hour doesn't get lost in the sauce. I also have a stable of guitars they can choose from - 1984 Ibanez DT555, Gibson SG, Fender Stratocaster and several Von Herndon Originals...
Click to expand...


That would be nice!!! Do most Instructors in U.S do hour long lessons? Here most are half hour. What would average cost be for one hour lesson in your area? Here it is $22 for half hour.
 
jtcnj said:
When you can snatch the pebble from my hand, then you are ready, Grasshopper.
Hope the new guy works out.

I wanted a round of lessons for my birthday.
I hear I'm getting an hour floating in a relaxation tank thing.

giphy.gif
Click to expand...




Thanks.
 
Session 5 said:
Well this morning after three and a half years, I have parted ways with my Instructor
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I know this can be a little like a divorce. My first teacher and I got on very well. I'd be the last for the day and after an hour we'd move into his house, he, his wife and I would talk about the old days and drink wine until late, was great BUT his teaching program moved faster than my absorption program. It was hard to kill that off but we are still friends and bump into each other occasionally. The recent program I joined is only half hour and it feels like ten minutes, I'd like longer but the next class is in the waiting room :-(
 
Session 5 said:
That would be nice!!! Do most Instructors in U.S do hour long lessons? Here most are half hour. What would average cost be for one hour lesson in your area? Here it is $22 for half hour.
Click to expand...

Most instructors offer half hour or hour sessions for the student to choose when they sign up for lessons.

Pricing can vary quite a bit, depending on the instructor and where you are.
 
I think it's a good idea that your changing instructors. Music is about enjoyment, and if your not getting the most of your time and money a change is in order.
I took lessons briefly as a kid. The teacher was a family friend, and he was a fantastic player and teacher. But, he was a jazz performer. Not my thing. The theory is important, but we couldn't relate on the playing....and, being a kid I didn't know how to end it. Fortunately he began to sense my less than enthusiastic attitude and he gave me the window to escape.....and I did.
 
Session 5 said:
Well this morning after three and a half years, I have parted ways with my Instructor, I have tried numerous times to talk with him in a Civil manner to no avail. He keeps trying to teach me styles of music I am not interested in playing. He knew from the start what I wanted to learn because we discussed it . He was good with that in the beginning, But as time went on , he wanted to teach me theory beyond what I wanted to learn, then he wanted to teach me finger picking, then he wanted to get into Classical. So the last couple of weeks I have been trying to speak with him about it and he tells me he doesn't want to hear it. For me I started playing guitar for fun. I've always wanted to play Classic Rock and that's what I intend to do. I learned many good things from him and am thankful for that. I just called a fellow here in town who has been playing and teaching guitar for many many years and is very close to my age. He is a great guitar player, my wife said he used to live on the same street she used to live on. Said he was always a happy go lucky guy. So I contacted him over the phone, told him a little about myself and what I wanted to achieve we seemed to hit it off. He was upbeat had no problems with the things I wasn't interested in. We have our first visit next week , I'm hoping we can come up with time availability from May to October because of my cottage time. One thing I believe in if you have an Instructor that wont teach you what YOU want to learn, and play, part ways. To me there is nothing out there that will turn an individual off from playing guitar, than a Teacher that wants to teach you what they think. If I want a hamburger with no bacon, that's what I want I'm paying for it. I am one of those guys who will move forward and I will find someone who will teach me. And will continue to teach me in ways that are enjoyable.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%. I stopped taking lessons as a kid for pretty much the same reasons. I learned more about the music I cared about sitting alone and playing along with a stack of records than any formal lessons every could have given me. I think I consider Jimmy Page a better guitar instructor than any guy down the street, no offense to any of you that give formal lessons. But what really taught me the most and NO teacher can give you, is just getting in a room and playing with other people.
 
Yes there would be a benefit playing with others I do, but not in a band setting, but at one point I would like to get together and jam with some guys for fun once a week. And like you say playing along with music etc. I have learned a lot on my own as I practice 2 hrs a day. But I give credit to my Instructor for giving me some tools. The problem was he didn't want to give me more tools that I wanted to achieve where I wanted to go. He wanted to give me tools in areas I wasn't interested in. But I am looking forward to having a meeting with another Instructor who I spoke with briefly over the phone . He is well known in this area I live, he seems positive very upbeat. Time will tell after our visit, the few things we spoke about were encouraging, we seemed to be on the same page. Maybe part of the difference is we are closely the same age.
 
I've been playing guitar for over 30 years now and when I started I was self-taught. My first guitar was a black Strat copy and I bought a Jimi Hendrix book to learn all the different blues scale patterns which was very helpful. I did take Classical guitar classes way back in high-school and I found it very helpful in reading music and not tablature which is much easier. I guess I saved lots of money by not taking private lessons so I could buy more guitars.:)


;>)/
 
gasket said:
Slight chance he has a plan requiring the material you don't like to get you to the place you want to end up at.
BUT if it's come to you deciding to part ways he should tell/show you his purpose now.
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gasket, I am not the type of guy that wants to be a teacher of music, or play guitar in a theatre setting, Theory for guitar is mostly what I prefer, not as much music theory. And although I can write a song with chords, I am not interested in writing music with notes, sharps ,flats. If I was 15 again possibly I might want to do this, not now at my age. I want to play and sing the songs from my younger years, Learn Licks, do Tablature, work on timing , do Scales, Power chords, chords This is my focus. Right now I can play many many, songs right now I am very pleased at where I am at, I want to hone the skills I have now. Strumming patterns is another one and I have some others as well. What I am not interested in, is having an Instructor who wants to mold me into what he thinks I should be . That is what this fellow was trying to do with me, so I pulled the plug on him.
 
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