I wonder if it would be a useful add on for JG to offer a paid, approved mentor program. This could be a middle ground between students making their way through the JG teaching system on their own and hiring an approved teacher for private lessons. Short of instructing, mentors could use the established lesson base as a tool to give direction, support and feedback as students progress through the recommended learning path. I suspect that these relationships could also lead to paid, traditional lessons as students and mentors get comfortable with one another. I think I’d like someone looking over my shoulder periodically reminding me to move on from what I’m comfortable with. This occurs to me because I’ve thought it would be interesting to have a local guitar teacher who used the JG system as a basis for instruction. It seems efficient.
Hello William,
I see what you’re saying.
I think however that this is already very much happening on an organic, informal level across this community, probably long before I arrived.
I’ve been around just a bit over 4 years, and I, probably like others, certainly have my mentors; and not always in relation to guitar either; a big part of the reason that this community stands apart from almost all other guitar communities.
Cheers, Shane
I’m just wondering if some people find a similar feature to what you’re asking about is actually achieved for them with the posting videos and audios into the community.
I feel that it is something that would add stimulus for me and I also see that when I watch others do this then the feedback they get is very helpful and encouraging.
Great point though and good look with your guitar journey.
This community has and always will be filled with sound reliable mentors, without them being labelled as such. If you have been around enough you know who they are, who to trust and also who to ignore. I won’t call anyone out specifically but over 10 plus years here, I have many friends I would see as mentors who have helped and continue to help me on my journey. Advice and support freely given.
I feel Learning Logs are really useful for that purpose as well. It does not even always take a video, but people giving constructive feedback on reflections jotted down there helps a lot.
@sclay I wish it were possible to like a post more than once. I have only been a member of the community for a bit more than a year, but my experience is very similar to yours. There are many kind and and supportive people around here, whether mentoring or not. I will always be eternally grateful for the support I received around Christmas last year for example.
And many that you mentor and help on their journey. It’s the JGC way.
Well said Toby i couldn’t agree with it more 
I agree with what the others have said - you can get some good guidance here on the community.
Although I totally understanding a preference for having specific mentors - it can be hard work when you’re new here to figure out who gives good advice and has experience, vs who just posts a lot 
But the paid bit - that is the approved teacher program. That’s the way to go if you want a paid, guided, 1-on-1 thing.
Many mentors and a couple of mentals… 
Couldn’t agree more, Toby. TFS
I think what William is asking for here is somewhat different than the “approved teacher program”. reading through the thread, I get that asking for help here in the forum is a good thing but - “buyer beware”… different opinions from people trying to be helpful can muddy the water. If you don’t understand what is being offered by your peers in the Community, it could lead to frustration, even to the point that someone quits playing because they can’t move on to the next level…
If there was some sort of Mentor Program, you’d be getting some guidance on a regular basis from the same source which could be helpful for many. Obviously, there are a lot of us here who would not choose to avail ourselves of this opportunity - just as I’m sure most don’t get one-on-one from Justin, Richard, Lieven, Lee, Jed or Jon. Conversely, I bet a lot of students would like an occasional check-in with their approved Mentor who could provide some guidance & structure to the learning path… my 2 centavos!
Tod
I thought a bit about this today. I get where the OP is coming from coming from but disagree with the payment thing. At then end of the day all of us passing through the grades are mentors to those following in our footsteps. But the madman makes a valid point:
If you’re just new to the community how do you know who’s advice is good and who’s advice you should disregard. That to me is where the approved teachers should step in to ensure correct advice is given but they have a busy life too so we can’t expect them to follow every topic/post.
I’d be happy to mentor someone free of charge following in my footsteps but what’s to say I passing on the right knowledge. Yes, I’ve been through the grades as well as external courses but do I have the capability to pass on the correct knowledge? What I can do is pass on guidance on following the beginners grades to make the most of it.
I’m in for some mentalship
I see your points, James & mostly agree. It is not easy to know if the help you are getting is good advice when you’re learning something new, though. I could mentor someone newer to guitar than I am now, and give them some total B.S. advice, thinking I’m helping them…
Several years ago, I was gifted 6 lessons with a guitar teacher - only to discover that he taught poor technique, which I didn’t discover until I progressed further in my guitar journey. As we know, it’s hard to “unlearn” bad habits & “relearn” good ones.
Maybe that’s why the OP is saying that an “approved” Mentor program could be good, the mentors would have to go through some sort of vetting process so the mentees would have a fair amount of confidence in the quality of the guidance they were receiving.
I’m not necessarily advocating for this, just saying that it’s a valid question to pose & potentially has a lot of merit!
Tod
Maybe more a mentor to guide you through the JG course, community website & point you in the right direction where there’s a need to answer a technical question.
And where the noobie requires some mental guidance point them in the direction of @brianlarsen and @RobDickinson
Guidance to where? The Loony Bin? 
(Sorry… that probably wasn’t Politically Correct these days!!!)
I really appreciate Brian’s @brianlarsen posts - although I’m not sure I understand a fair share of them!!!
Tod
Someone has to prepare them before they meet @brianlarsen. I’m pretty sure those that didn’t have that preparation before the Christmas Livestream are still having therapy.
HIJACK ALERT!!!
We’re getting off thread here…
Although…
Who mentored BRIAN??? 
Tod
Hey Tod, yes, I know he specifically said that, but that’s exactly what the teacher program is. I’ve used it, got guidance on my playing, technique check in, etc. Although ultimately decided I prefer the self directed approach.