Are Guitar Lessons Worth the Money?

THAT AMAZING GUITARIST NEVER TOOK A LESSON!


I'm sure you know someone who has never taken a music lesson but who is able to captivate an audience by playing the guitar. That's because a lot of people learn how to play the guitar by ear and "feel." There are only a handful of shapes and patterns you need to know in order to play hundreds of songs; so if you learn the feel and sound of those patterns, you can play a lot of music on the guitar without knowing a lot about music.

It is very important for students to develop a good ear and have a good feel for the instrument. In fact, those are probably the most valuable skills a guitar player can possess. But there are a lot of other fundamental concepts that help guitarists get more enjoyment on their musical journey: Music Notation (Standard and Tablature), Chords and Scales with the CAGED System, Chord Tones (Arpeggios), and Theory.

These fundamental concepts have been around for hundreds of years, and beginning students can save themselves a lot of time, money, and frustration by studying them when they are first learning how to play the guitar. Guitarists who don’t learn the fundamentals usually have to go back and study them later when they realize that they can’t improve without knowing them.

Not everyone wants to learn the fundamentals of music, and that's okay. It really depends on what your goals are, and you can always come back to them later on if you feel like your playing is stuck on a plateau.

Everything you need is on the internet, and that may be the problem.

All the scales, chords, theory, songs and technique exercises are all available online, anytime. But where do you begin and how do you know what is most important to learn? How will you know if you have a song right, or if you are developing a bad habit that could lead to a permanent injury?

While there's a ton of information available, nothing can replace the effectiveness of a good teacher. A good teacher will create a plan that is specifically designed to help you reach your goals in the most effective way possible. Challenging concepts can be clarified quickly, and most importantly, the learned skills are applied to the music that you want to play. A good teacher will also be able to inspire you when you need it.

Most students meet with their teacher just once a week, so having access to more educational resources is something that is welcomed by most teachers. Of course, just because something is on the internet doesn't mean that it is accurate or helpful. Good teachers will point students to the best resources and be able to correct some of the mistakes found in others.

When I first started taking guitar lessons…

I was so excited to practice and do everything my teacher told me to do. But I soon discovered that my teacher did not have a plan for me. Each lesson began with the teacher asking me, “What do you want to learn today?” I felt overwhelmed and thought, “YOU are the teacher, YOU should know what I need to learn.” I spent a lot of money, time and effort trying to learn how to play, but I came away from it all just knowing a handful of songs.

When I decided that I wanted to teach professionally, it was important to me that I had a plan for how I was going to teach each student how to play the guitar. Most people want to learn how to play their favorite songs, but first they need to learn the basics. My goal is to help students develop basic skills quickly and effectively so that they can play a lot of songs in a short amount of time.

What You Need: Clear Goals, a Flexible Plan and Accountability!

If you want to learn how to play the guitar, you need to make some goals, commit to a learning program, and devote some time each day to practicing the guitar. But it doesn't stop there. You and your teacher need to periodically evaluate the your playing and the plan that you choose to follow.

A good plan is one that offers small goals that can be met each week and larger goals that lead to good playing and a good understanding of basic music concepts in a year or so. If a student has been taking lessons for more than a year and does not have a basic understanding of music reading, chords, theory and improvisation, that person needs to evaluate their plan and/or their teacher's ability.

HOW TO FIND A GOOD TEACHER

Since a person does not need any kind of degree or training in order to call him/herself a guitar instructor, you have to do some work to find a good teacher. You may have a friend who knows of a good guitar teacher, but I encourage you to carefully research all of your options. Guitar lessons require an investment of money, time and energy. There are a lot of teachers to choose from, so take your time and make a smart decision.

Ask music store employees, performing musicians, schools and your friends who take music lessons for their recommendations. You can also check your local paper, do a Google search and pick-up some flyers from your local coffee shop. Make a list of names, websites and phone numbers, and leave plenty of room for your notes and impressions. Try to collect between 5-10 contacts.

After you have gathered their contact information, you can prepare to interview each teacher over the phone. Be prepared to tell prospective teachers what you would like to achieve by taking guitar lessons, your current playing level, any past music experience you have had, the style(s) of music you enjoy, plus any other information you think would be helpful for them to know about you. Keep it brief, and realize that the teachers you are interviewing are also interviewing you. :)

If you live out in the middle of nowhere, don't fret! There are many great teachers who are offering webcam guitar lessons, including myself. All you need is an internet connection and a webcam.

THE BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS OF TAKING WEBCAM GUITAR LESSONS

There are great videos, books and websites for guitarists of all levels, but none of them address your specific needs and goals better than a good teacher. Good teachers prioritize lesson material, clarify difficult concepts and then apply the learned skills to the music that each student wants to play.

Many teachers are now offering webcam guitar lessons to attract more students. Some of the teachers who offer webcam lessons are not, in my opinion, good or qualified teachers. At the least, some teachers are not selling themselves or their services accurately.

The truth is that there are benefits and limitations to taking guitar lessons using a webcam. For some students, webcam guitar lessons provide the structure, education and accountability that they need. Other students may discover that the limitations outweigh the benefits. If you choose to take webcam lessons, my advice is to stay away from teachers who say that webcam lessons are exactly the same as in-person lessons. Look for an honest teacher and you will be better for it.

Some Benefits of Webcam Guitar Lessons for Students:

- Transportation costs, driving time and parking hassles are eliminated

- Lessons are longer since students can tune and warm up beforehand

- Students have more teachers to choose from on the internet

- It is more comfortable for students to play in their own home

Some Limitations of Webcam Guitar Lessons for Students:

- Teachers cannot play along with students because of the delay

- Students miss out on meeting other students in the studio

- It may be impossible to have a real student concert

- Students must pay using PayPal or checks

- Technology occasionally malfunctions

What Kind of Students Benefit by Taking Webcam Guitar Lessons with Me:

1) Students who are working on solo pieces and need a good teacher to check their technique can benefit from taking webcam lessons. I enjoy helping students work out jazz chord/melodies from The Real Book.

2) Students who have specific questions about theory or technique can benefit from taking webcam lessons. I like to break down challenging theory concepts, help students master them and then put it all together in a tune. Students who are working through “The Guitar Lesson Companion” benefit by having me check their work when they complete a series of exercises. That way, they know when to keep working on a piece, and when to move on to the next one.

3) Self-motivated students who need some structure and accountability can benefit by taking webcam lessons. If students have a goal, I can help them develop a plan to achieve it. I break it down into smaller parts and I hold students accountable to their assignments. Self-motivated students may not need half-hour weekly lessons, but they know when they need some help. I help students when they request it, no matter where they live.

4) Students who normally take in-person lessons but have occasional transportation or health concerns can benefit by taking webcam lessons. If a student is sick (or if I am feeling ill) I prefer to cancel our scheduled lessons so that we don't make other people sick. Webcam guitar lessons allow us to stay on track even when it is not convenient to come in for a lesson.

I do not recommend that absolute beginning students take webcam guitar lessons. While webcam lessons are better than no lessons at all, the technology is not what it needs to be for teachers to be able to deliver webcam lessons that are as effective as in-person lessons. Be skeptical of teachers who promote their webcam guitar lessons to absolute beginners; the market for beginning guitarists is significant, and many teachers are not concerned with the quality of their work, but the amount of money in their pockets.

HOW TO INTERVIEW GUITAR TEACHERS

Most private guitar teachers set their own rates, schedules and policies. Since you will need to learn how each teacher runs her/his studio, the phone interview gives you the opportunity to listen to the way each teacher answers your questions so you can get a good feel for each teacher's style and personality.

The phone interview can help you determine if a teacher is a good listener, patient and able to give you the information you need to know. If a teacher cannot sufficiently answer your questions during the interview, she/he will probably not be able to sufficiently explain what makes a G7 chord different from a G chord.

Questions to Ask Each Teacher:

1. What is your education background?

2. How long have you been teaching people how to play the guitar?

3. How many students do you currently teach?

4. What musical style(s) do you teach?

5. What age and levels of students do you enjoy teaching?

6. What are your strengths, and what things set you apart from other teachers?

7. Where do you teach, what do you charge and what is your cancellation policy?

You should never feel rushed to commit to a permanent lesson time, but a good teacher may be honest and tell you that this is the only lesson time available. If the teacher sounds like she/he may be a good fit for you, ask to take a trial lesson, which is not a free lesson.

Good teachers know that there isn't one teacher who is right for everyone, and most teachers will appreciate your effort to find a good match, so let each instructor know that you are taking lessons from several teachers until you find the best one for you. After you decide on a teacher, remember that you can always go someplace else if you are not satisfied with your lessons.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR GUITAR TEACHER’S LESSON POLICIES

Most guitar teachers will email you a packet of information before your first lesson. This packet will most likely contain a summary of the teacher's rates, payment plan, cancellation policy and it may include other information that you will need to know before your first lesson.

Read through the information as soon as you receive the packet and call the instructor right away if you have a question. Many teachers will ask that the person who is responsible for lesson payment sign their name to agree that they have read and are prepared to follow the teacher's policies.

Rates:

Guitar lessons are offered at a variety of rates. Currently in Seattle, professional guitar teachers charge between $60-$100 per hour. Some instructors teach only hour sessions, while other teachers offer half-hour or 45 minute sessions. Most teachers offer weekly lessons, although it is not uncommon for a teacher to offer students the option of coming once or twice a month. "Flex-Lessons" are sometimes offered to students who cannot commit to a regular day and time but can fill in when regular students are absent, and with webcam lessons, you may be able to pay only for the time you need.

Payment Plans:

There are many different payment plans that teachers use. Most teachers ask to be paid in cash or by check. You may be asked to be paid before a lesson begins, or to wait until after the session has ended. Some teachers also use PayPal, but they usually include the fee from PayPal in their bill to you.

Some teachers allow students to pay them at each weekly session, but this is not very common for professional teachers who have a lot of students. Other teachers prefer to be paid for a month of lessons at the beginning of each month, while other teachers may ask you to pay for 3 months at a time. These plans help teachers plan her/his finances, and they also help students make a stronger commitment to their music education.

Rescheduling Missed Lessons:

All teachers should reschedule or credit students for lessons that they themselves are unable to make. Some teachers can be very flexible and can offer make-up lessons to students who are absent, but many teachers do not offer any make-up lessons to students for any reason. Most teachers will reschedule students if the students gave them advanced notice (at least 24 hours) and the teacher has time for the rescheduled lesson.

The Questionnaire:

Often times, there will be a questionnaire for you to fill-out. Even though your teacher asked you some of these same questions over the phone, it is helpful to have the answers written down and filled in the teacher's book for reference. Also, the questionnaire gives you the opportunity to clearly state your goal(s) for the lessons, which will help you and your teacher stay on track during lessons.

The questionnaire may contain questions regarding your past musical experiences, your current playing ability, your goals, and other information that would be helpful for the instructor to know about you. Your phone number(s), mailing address and email may be asked for as well.

Other Helpful Information Your Teacher May Provide:

• The kind of guitar you should use

• A good music store in the area

• Directions to the studio

• Tools you will need (usually a guitar, a metronome, tuner, music stand and method book)

• What you need to bring to your first lesson

• An introductory video lesson that your teacher has posted to get you started.

Bottom line: Every teacher is different - If you don't understand or feel like you can agree to your teacher's policies, let her/him know before your first lesson.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST GUITAR LESSON

You will probably be very excited to begin your guitar lessons. Your teacher is also excited to meet you and learn more about you so that she/he can adapt to your learning style and help you reach your goals. At your first lesson, your teacher will most likely take inventory of your current playing level and experience, talk about your daily practice routine and help you with your posture and hand position.

If you have never played an instrument before, you will be given a lot of information during the first lesson. Don't feel bad if you can't understand everything, and remember that this is your lesson: It's okay to ask questions.

If you have been playing the guitar for a while, your teacher may ask you to play something for her/him. This is just to give your teacher an idea of your strengths and weaknesses. Keep in mind that you are taking lessons to improve, so just do your best. Your teacher may also quiz you to figure out what you know and where you need improvement. Be honest if you don't understand something so your teacher can help you.

At your first lesson, your teacher will discuss your daily practice routine. It is crucial, especially at the beginning, that you practice every single day. You will need a quiet place where you can practice each day for 10-60 minutes. Some teachers will have you record your daily practice if they feel that it will help you see your progress and improve specific weaknesses.

One of the most important aspects of playing the guitar that your teacher can address with you is your posture. There is not just one correct way to hold the guitar and position your hands on the guitar that works in all situations. To keep your hands healthy, you need to position your body and hands differently in order to play certain notes and chords. Your teacher will show you specifically how to move your shoulders and elbows to accommodate the different positions as you progress.

If your first lesson is a trial lesson, which is my recommendation, be sure to ask your teacher when she/he needs to hear back from you if you decide to sign-up for regular lessons. Evaluate your teacher's professionalism, knowledge, understandability and your overall vibe. If it felt like a good fit, go for it. If it didn't feel like a good fit, let your teacher know as soon as possible. Good teachers know that they are not the best fit for everyone, and good teachers will encourage you to find a better teacher for you.

The Student's Responsibility

When students walk into my studio, I have a responsibility to provide them with a good guitar lesson. Specifically, that means that I need to listen carefully to the past week's assignment, provide feedback and applications for the concepts, and then assign new material that will help them reach their long-term goals.

But students also need to contribute to the lessons in order for the lessons to be effective. It is not enough for students to be on time and talk enthusiastically about the guitar. Students need to make sure they understand their teacher's expectations and they have good time management skills so they can get the most out of each lesson.

At the end of each guitar lesson, I ask my students to agree to a specific assignment that works with their learning style and practice time they have that week. I remind them that the quality of their daily practice determines how well they will accomplish their goals. While I do hope to inspire my students to practice and reach their goals, there are limitations to the inspiration I can provide for them each week. 

Guitar lessons are successful when both the teacher and the student understand their roles. Teachers need to have a plan for their students and students need to follow that plan and ask questions along the way. When there are clear expectations, it becomes easy for students to reach their goals, or if they are not reaching their goals, they can easily see who is not taking responsibility for their share of the work.

YOUR CHILD’S GUITAR LESSON

Parents should not assume that their child will be safe during private lessons with a guitar teacher. Many music stores and music schools that employ or rent studio space to teachers do not run background checks on their teachers, so parents should not drop off their child for a lesson without first getting to know the teacher.

All parents should be welcome to sit-in on their child's lesson anytime. This gives parents the opportunity to hear the concepts that are being taught, and it also allows the teacher to discuss the student’s progress with the parent. Parents may also be able to share useful information about their child's learning style.

I require the parents of young children to be present during every lesson simply because young children who have their parents with them during the lesson play the guitar better than those who have not had their parents sit-in on their lessons.

Most 7 and 8 year old children are not able to absorb all of the lesson material and then apply it to their daily practice sessions on their own, even when I make careful notes on their assignment sheets. I have seen many young kids feel frustrated and quit lessons simply because their parents were not present during the lessons and did not help their child at home.

In order for a child to be successful, she/he needs to understand the assignments, practice on a daily basis, and hear lots of encouragement that the physical demands of the instrument will be met if she/he continues to practice every day. Parents do not need to be able to play an instrument themselves to be able to help their child, they just need to show their support and help their child develop good practice habits.

Remember that a person does not need any kind of degree, certification or training to call her/himself a guitar teacher, so it is up to you to find a good teacher for your child.

TERRIBLE TEACHING

There are a lot of people who sound good playing the guitar, even though they have not had any formal training on the instrument. Many of these people make money teaching other people how to play the guitar; but how do they teach something that they don’t really understand themselves?

Someone can show you where to place your fingers on the neck to play specific songs and riffs, (which is great because you have to learn the feel of the instrument) but there's more to it if you really want to understand music on the guitar. Trained musicians know how music works: They know the language as well as the theory of music, so they are more capable of clearly expressing themselves through music, and they are more prepared and to explain music to you.

I think that teachers who tell their students that the fundamentals of music are not important are leading their students down the wrong path. After years of lessons, thousands of dollars and countless hours of practice, students eventually realize that they have a lot of gaps in their playing. They may feel that they do not have enough talent to really "get" music.

Maybe those students were adamantly against learning the fundamentals of music when they first started taking lessons because they assumed it was a long difficult path that wasn't as interesting as learning the songs that the teacher was willing to show to them. Eventually, these students realize that they cannot go any further without going back and learning the concepts they should have been taught in the first place.

Teachers who understand the fundamentals of music know the value of those skills, and they will pass them on to you, right from the start. Good teachers also know that you want to learn songs, and so they will apply the fundamentals of music to the songs that you want to play. By studying with a good teacher, you will gain a clear understanding of music on the guitar, have more fun, and you may actually surpass the goals you originally set for yourself.

My students just want to learn songs

Many teachers have told me that they understand how important it is for guitarists to know the fundamental skills, but they don’t teach them because they say their students just want to learn songs. Everyone who wants to learn how to play the guitar wants to be able to play songs. My students tell me what songs they want to learn, and like a lot of teachers, I apply the fundamentals of music to those songs.

This stuff took me my whole life to learn, why should I just give it away?

Some teachers don't want to share their secrets with you because it took them so long to figure them out for themselves. They would prefer their students think that their talent is a mysterious gift. I am constantly researching and discussing new teaching strategies with my colleagues, because part of my job is to find the most effective teaching tools so I can better help my students.

It’s too hard to teach the fundamentals to my students

Some teachers have told me that the fundamentals of music are too difficult to teach and they don't have the energy to teach them to every student. Teaching people how to play the guitar is really hard work. It is challenging to be consistent with each student and not let laziness, boredom or a student's request to skim the material confuse the standards. But, the benefit of working so hard really pays off for both teachers and students when people hear them play.

I encourage most people to study with a teacher who understands how music works, but that kind of teacher may not be right for you. It's okay if you just want to be able to play a few famous riffs and not take it too seriously. Whatever your goals are, ask prospective teachers how she/he can help you reach those goals, and sign-up for a trial lesson with the teacher who sounds right for you. Remember, you are paying your teacher a lot of money to help you learn, and there are many good guitar teachers out there who really want you to reach your goals.

Traits of a Terrible Teacher

There are a lot of teachers to choose from; here are a few traits that suggest to me that someone is not a very good teacher:

1) If a teacher begins each lesson asking the student what she/he would like to do, that can mean that the teacher does not have a plan for the student. Students need a plan so they can measure their progress and stay on track to reach their goals. Teachers need to have a plan to ensure that all of their students learn all of the important concepts and new students understand what will be expected from them when they sign up for lessons.

2) If a teacher makes the student feel bad or stupid for asking a question, the teacher is simply not doing her/his job.

3) If the teacher doesn't keep any record of the student's assignments, the teacher is probably not invested in the progress of the student. When a teacher cannot hold a student accountable for the lesson material, the student begins to take the lessons less seriously and does not progress at a good rate.

4) If the teacher plays or show's-off for the majority of the lesson, the teacher is wasting time. (Of course, if I had an opportunity to hear Wes Montgomery play for an hour, I would think of that has time and money very well spent!)

5) If the teacher is unprofessional: late, unorganized, using the lesson time for other tasks, etc., that person shows disrespect toward the music and the student.

Good teachers have a total understanding of the guitar and a system of prioritizing and presenting the key concepts that caters to the musical tastes and learning styles of many different types of students. They are patient, encouraging and honest. They teach because they understand and love the guitar, they get along well with most people, and they enjoy teaching people how to play the guitar.

THE ART OF PRACTICING YOUR GUITAR

Practicing Verses Playing

Many students who take guitar lessons tell me that they practice every day, but they don't have their assignments mastered by their lesson time and they are not satisfied with their rate of improvement. Here is what I tell them:

There is a difference between practicing your guitar and playing your guitar. Playing is a very good way to spend your time, and you will definitely build some important skills if you play your guitar everyday. But when you play guitar, you are not necessarily practicing. Remember: Play is what we do for fun.

Practicing involves working on something that does not come easily. Often times it makes you feel frustrated, inadequate or bored. If you experience some of these feelings, you have no doubt found an area that needs work. To address the challenge, break it down into smaller parts. Ask your teacher to help you isolate the problem if you cannot find a solution right away.

Because practice takes so much energy, mental focus and determination, I encourage my students to practice with full concentration for only 10-20 minutes a day, and then play music for about 30 minutes a day. You won't necessarily become a better guitar player by practicing more; it's the combination of practicing the tricky parts until they become easier and playing a lot of music that comes easily and gives you enjoyment that leads to better playing.

Daily Practice

Studying for your guitar lessons is not exactly like studying for your other classes. You may be successful in another class by simply cramming the night before a test, but because you need to develop small motor skills and muscle memory to play the guitar, daily practice is crucial to your progress.

You will be much better off if you practice 20 minutes each day than if you practice for three hours right before your lesson. That's because your muscles need to learn the music, and to do that, you need to give them breaks to properly absorb each task. If you want to improve at the fastest rate, practice for short amounts of time, several times a day.

On the days when you are extremely busy, practice for 5 or 10 minutes; but make it quality practice. Work on the areas that need the work, and don't spend your time playing things that you can already play well.

There is a way that practicing the guitar is similar to studying for your other classes: If you are reading and you do not understand a particular word, you don't simply reread the paragraph with the hope that you will magically understand it the second time. You stop reading, find the definition of the word, and then reread the paragraph. If you are working on a piece of music and you cannot play a particular section, you should stop and work on that particular section until you can play it, then go back to the top.

Frustration!!!

Many guitar students tell me that they feel frustrated when they practice the guitar. That statement actually makes me pretty happy because it tells me that they really want to learn how to play the guitar. The students who do not occasionally feel frustrated actually frustrate me because of their lack of desire.

It is important for students to keep learning new and challenging material. A lot of guitar players become comfortable with a handful of chords, a scale pattern and a few cool-sounding riffs. After a while, they may try something that demands a new skill, but they give up because the frustration overwhelms them.

These players forget what it was like when they were first learning how to play the guitar. It was not all fun and it didn't come easy. There were sore fingers, complex diagrams and the fear that no matter how much time they spent at it, they had no idea if they would ever be able to play anything at all. But they worked at it anyway because they had a strong desire to learn how to play.

Those players need to remember how frustrating it was when they couldn't "get it," and they need to remember how good it felt when they did "get it." That's the process that all musicians go through when they are first learning how to play, as well as when they have been playing for 20 or more years.

I believe there are a few very important skills that good musicians develop over the years. Here are a few: A strong desire to play an instrument, the ability to concentrate for long periods of time, and a way of dealing with the frustration of not being able to perform new skills immediately or consistently.

Good teachers welcome a certain amount of frustration because we all feel it. It can be helpful for students to talk about it and to be reminded that the learning process involves feelings of frustration from time to time. But if a student has an overwhelming amount of frustration, it might be a good idea for the student to take a break for a while. The student can then see if her/his feelings can be better understood and managed so that playing the guitar can still be a fun activity.

You Are So Talented, You Don't Need to Practice

Some students think they are fooling their teacher, or they must be very talented musicians if their teacher doesn’t notice that they have not practiced their assignments. What it really means is that the teacher doesn't care, as long as tuition is paid.

I have seen guitar teachers laugh at their students who keep coming back when absolutely nothing is being accomplished. "I just keep wondering when they'll notice," one teacher told me.

These students think they are fooling the teacher, but really, the teacher is fooling the students. Stop taking lessons or find a teacher who will hold you accountable to your assignments and you will accomplish your goals and feel good about the time and money you devote to you guitar lessons.

SHOULD I LEARN ON ELECTRIC OR ACOUSTIC GUITAR?

Based on my experience, the short answer is electric. Here's the exception: If a person loves the acoustic guitar and only wants to play acoustic guitar music, or the acoustic guitar is all that a person has the option of playing, I would recommend she/he learns to play on an acoustic guitar.

Learning how to play the guitar involves complex motor skills and is a physically demanding instrument in itself – Why not make it a little easier on yourself if you can? You can always play acoustic guitar after first learning on an electric guitar.

Electric guitars are easier to play because they usually use lighter strings and the action (the distance from the string to the fretboard) is usually lower on electric guitars. Also, many people have the goal of playing a style of music that sounds better when it's played on an electric guitar.

For kids, and those of us with smaller bodies, (women) an electric guitar may fit better because it's a smaller instrument. Yes, there are a few smaller-sized acoustic guitars out there (I use a small Yamaha guitar in my YouTube videos: www.youtube.com/leadcatpress ) but they don't sound as good as a full-size acoustic, and the action is still higher than on an electric guitar.

Many folks living in apartments or sharing houses with other people play electric guitar because they can practice more quietly on an electric guitar, either unplugged, or with headphones plugged into their amplifier. Of course, if you decide to go electric, you will need not only the guitar, but an amplifier and a cable to connect the guitar to the amplifier.

Regardless if you chose to play electric or acoustic guitar, I encourage you to purchase a guitar from a music store. That way, if it needs any adjustments, you can take it back to the store to have them repair the guitar. (A lot of times they do that for free.) Here in Seattle, I recommend that students visit American Music in Fremont or Emerald City Guitars in Pioneer Square.

One more thing - Make sure that you buy a guitar that you really dig, not just one that is on sale. You are going to spend a lot of time with your guitar, so you want to have a guitar that you find attractive and you can really love playing.

Susan Palmer is the author of The Guitar Lesson Companion guitar method book series and currently teaches guitar at Seattle University, as well as The Rock Project at Cornish College of the Arts. She has led jazz, blues, and rock groups throughout her career, and has spent the past 15 years teaching adults and kids how to play the guitar. Many of her students are now actively performing throughout the country.

In 2006, Palmer published her unique guitar instruction method in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume One, and in accompanying online video lessons, jam tracks and performances. Subsequently, her book has been adopted by teachers and students in over 10 countries, including faculty at Berklee College of Music. 

After a 2009 meeting with the Music Department Chair at Cornish College of the Arts, she was inspired by a shared enthusiasm for innovative education, and Palmer committed to creating a new curriculum for youth that goes beyond the musical offerings available in schools. This curriculum focused on creating and performing the music many young people love, on instruments they love. Out of this, she developed and pitched what became The Rock Project, a week-long summer workshop for youth people interested in expanding their skills in rock by studying key elements of jazz and blues music. This sold-out program of Palmer’s conception and design, proved that there is interest in the Seattle area for a music program that challenges students to be creative and smart musicians, while having a lot of fun. In fact, one student came as far as Australia to participate in last summer’s workshop.

In 2010, Palmer became a faculty fellow for Seattle University's Academic Service-Learning Program where she learned how to introduce academic service-learning into her courses. Her goal was to incorporate academic service-learning into her SU curriculum for guitar lessons by requiring her students to commit to regular performances and/or lessons with people in our community who were not otherwise able to hear live music or receive private music instruction. She then measured and evaluated her results for an Action Research Project which she plans to present to her Seattle University colleagues this year. Also in 2010, Palmer received a grant to begin studying piano and drums more seriously, an enterprise that continues to enrich and broaden her music teaching in guitar and small groups.

Palmer's second book, The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two was published in 2011 and helps meet the need that college music teachers have expressed for a clear and flexible intermediate-advanced level method book. This advanced method book allows her to connect and discuss innovative teaching ideas with instructors around the world who share her passion for teaching young musicians the fundamentals of music in ways that promote creativity and mastery.

Currently, Susan Palmer is developing an after school music education project that focus on the influence of jazz and blues music on rock and electronic pop music. For more information, contact her at: leadcatpress@gmail.com