Qualities of a good guitar instructor

A good teacher is the key to exceptional learning. A well trained and compatible guitar instructor can make your experience of learning a guitar smoother and better.

Here are some qualities that make a guitar instructor better.

1. Tend to your needs

Everyone has their own learning graph which may or may not be the same as others. A good guitar instructor should be able to pick on that and teach you the type of music you want to play as per your learning graph. Many instructors will teach you to play songs which they seem fit. In many cases that is helpful but a good instructor also understand that it is important for a person to play songs of his interests so that the learning remains interesting and the student has a personal connect with the instrument.

2. Adapts to your personality

A personal connect with the instructor goes a long way when it comes to enhancing your learning experience. An adaptive instructor would be able to adapt to your interests and needs and will ensure that connect is made with the student. A personality clash only disrupts the learning. Unlike the other subjects we study or learn, in music we do not have one method for a particular solution. It is much more diverse and learning methodology is different for different personalities. A good guitar instructor will understand your personality and creates a curriculum as per your needs.

3. Professionally trained

Alongside knowing music, one needs to know how to teach and pass down the knowledge as not everyone who is knowledgeable can teach. Therefore, professional training is required to become a guitar teacher. An instructor who is fully dedicated to teach music should be your pick as compared to someone who also performs alongside teaching. This way your style of playing would not be overlooked by the needs of the performing instructor to perform his/her own songs and you will get better attention.

4. Inspires you

Everyone has role models and many times a career path a person chooses is because of their role models. An instructor who enjoys and loves music would also teach you to feel the same. A teacher who not only teaches you but inspires you to follow this career path would enhance your experience towards learning guitar.

5. Creates a safe space

Music has immense benefits on your mental and physical health. Your guitar instructor plays a vital role in your journey of learning. Your instructor should make you feel comfortable to help you enjoy and learn from this experience. Learning would never work if you are being taught by someone you are scared or are uncomfortable with. Music is nothing but an expression of feelings and it should not stop when you put your instrument down, your instructor should make sure that you are able to share or ask anything from him/her. It is up to your instructor to make your class a happy place by making it a safe space first. A good guitar instructor can turn into a friend for life.

Never compromise your needs. Even if it takes you some time to find the right teacher, be patient as a good teacher would truly help you make the experience of learning a guitar memorable and wholesome.