Ha! Where were you when I was competing in cyclocross? I could’ve used some help with my bunny hop? Your analogy resonates with me. He rolls his eyes when I tell him I’ve ‘researched’ something online, probably because he doesn’t want me to go down the wrong path. I didn’t mention he’s a bit opinionated, but I get it, he’s trying to lay down a baseline so I can advance. I look forward to the day when things begin to click.
You were more than gracious. No one should waste another person’s time…it’s too valuable not to mention disrespectful.
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Hi Professor, I love your last comment…that’s what teaching is all about. He’s told me many aspects about music that he enjoys…from his own education in music theory, composition, how he learned from his uncle and father and yes, even teaching. He’s methodical in his approach so what you’re saying makes a lot of sense. I’ll casually ask him tomorrow at my lesson after a little chit chat. He’ll be honest with me.
Thanks. From my perspective, it wasn’t my role to sort out or correct the individual. What puzzled me was it was good on his resume to have the skill, so he was harming himself most of all. And it wasn’t a particularly advanced course, more a basic development level.
An unusual individual, next he tried to convert me to the Baháʼí Faith. Groan.
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The problem is I like to do well at things. I’m willing to put the work into it, but the learning curve is steep and I can’t flatten it out as quickly as I want to. I do enjoy holding that guitar, that’s for sure. Who’s paying for the lesson? Me and they just fly by, so I suppose I’m having fun! I can’t help but still feel pressure, but I’ll work on that…
I wish I could afford 2x/week, but my work is demanding and I can barely slip away for my 1x/week lesson, plus it gets costly. You’re right, he gets paid and knows total beginners are part of the equation. I’m just awful at this stage, but I still go because like I mentioned to another person, I learn something each time, even if it’s ridiculously basic and I really like that. Don’t give up, you’re not alone at the starting gate…I’m right there with you. I hope you sign up and give it another shot…this time might be the charm.
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Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
No need to feel any pressure what so ever.
That just gets in the way of things. Mostly, learning on your own pace. Which can hamper your learning progress. Which in it’s turn, can make you feel bad about not progressing quickly enough, etc…
So again, no need for pressure at all…
The learning curve might be perceived as steep, especially when you’re just beginning, but i found out that, after a few years of attending school in the evenings, it really isn’t that hard at all. (Talking about music theory here).
In practice, your hands have to do all the work. Personally, i find that to be the hardest part.
That, and remembering where all the notes are on the fretboard.
So just keep playing, learning, having fun on your own pace. In time, things will progress.
Hi Becky. I don’t really need to add much or anything here as you’ve had such valuable and insightful comment.
That is impressive. He must be a skilled player.
My one thought here - what sort of structured learning is he offering to you? Is a a step-by-step course such as Justin’s beginner course? Is it a series of lessons that are clearly designed to building skills and techniques cumulatively and in a way that connects and gently increases the difficulty?
Ahh, bunny hopping on a cross bike. Gotta have your technique pretty dialed since you don’t have any suspension to preload like you do on a mountain bike.
What good would he be if he wasn’t opinionated? I expressed to my instructor about my desire to play in a group setting where chord/lyric sheets are shared and not knowing what on earth to play in those scenarios. That set him off on a rant about how much he hates that notation and how it doesn’t give you any timing information and so on and so forth.
I had to pause lessons at the start of the year because I got laid off. I got a new job, but there’s no guarantee at this point that it will be anything past November. I didn’t want to start lessons and then stop again shortly after, so I’ve been holding off until I had a more definite answer. I’m hoping for that answer soon.
I had a few other guitar instructors over the years and got nowhere with them. I think the private instructors I had before were not so good because they didn’t take my feedback into account well enough to adjust their lessons to me. Sure, they were methodical, but they were also too rigid. The instructor I’ve had lately is a lot less methodical, but he’s also able to make adjustments to his instruction pretty much immediately if I’m having a difficult time with it. It makes a lot of sense given his musical background, too. He’s got a jazz and blues background with strong improvisational skills.
Me, too. Outside building the chord library, at least. My chord library is held back in part by the physical thing. But even if it was just a mental thing, I still have to pace myself with how many chords I try to learn in a given amount of time because I just won’t remember anything if I try to force too many at once.
Thank you for your honesty on that F cord…it’s a monster for me too as I just learned it a couple weeks ago and my fingers remind me of the game twister when I try to position them. You made me think of some external things I didn’t mention that play into all this like my dad being in hospice and studying for an industry certification, both have left me depleted. I drive eight hours each week to see him, then come home to piles of books and papers I need to get through, but this is life and both shall pass. Thank you for telling me about the video, I’ll watch it tonight! This kind of science-based learning really appeals to me. I think a lot of what’s bugging me is that I’m just tired.
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Tiredness and worry about your Dad will definitely make things harder.
Mum had a stroke a couple of months back, and I barely picked up the guitar til a couple of days back - any stress like this can have a negative effect on your learning path.
Having other things to learn will also slow things down. There’s only so much brain power we have spare to learn new stuff, so don’t stress it if you can’t do everything at once. Just have some fun with the guitar whilst learning your other stuff.
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Lol, some would say too nice, but thank you. I’m blown away by how supportive and thoughtful everyone is here. I’ve learned so much already! The one thing that is clear (and I’m still going through all the comments) is that I need to address this, otherwise it’s just more guessing on my part.
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Exactly…you know they’ve been places and you want to please them, but there you are hitting a dead sound because of finger placement (me, not you). “I can see through your mistakes”…what a wonderful, encouraging thing to say. Have you ever seen her play live?
Your reply made me laugh…“if you 'don’t like explaining a gazillion times…” That’s a good lead in…“Instructor, how do you feel about explaining the same things a gazillion times and by the way, are you bored out of your mind teaching me?” I’m going to say exactly this tonight. He’s rather stoic, but I think I’ll get a chuckle out of him. Funny you should use Justin as an example too. I’m still early into his videos, but I had that same thought that these basic videos must be painful for him, but maybe he enjoys teaching (duh, why didn’t I consider that?). Clearly you and Prof_Thunder are the cool teachers everyone at your school wishes they were.
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Honestly, I don’t think it’s him. I could be imagining all this because I’m embarrassed at the rate of my progress. I’m very hard on myself, always have been and it’s not a good thing. The more I answer the replies to my post, the clearer it becomes that this is about my own insecurity. Even if he shows a hint of something, it might be he’s having a bad day or something else I’m not aware of. He’s never shown frustration, because if he did, I would’ve called him on it and found someone else. As for the journal, that’s the first thing I did. I love keeping notes and seeing how things change over time…just wish change was a little more evident 
Thanks for your reply…oh believe me…I hit plenty of dead strings learning some of the difficult licks I have to play! …yes…I have seen her play live a few times and every time has been an amazing experience…she is just such a dog gone wonderful musician!
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Interesting…I guess it doesn’t always have to be hands on, good point. I’m not short on questions for the poor guy…
Oh man…didn’t see that last part coming!
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Got to watch the stokes because my dad had a few minis, then things went downhill fast. One day, I get a call that he had another one with bleeding on the brain and that he had to be airlifted to the hospital. Sorry to all, you don’t need these details, but those strokes are so subtle sometimes, so you have to keep an eye on it. I hope everything works out for your mom (mum) and that she recovers… 
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Oh ya, found myself flying over the handlebars on more occasions than I am willing to admit.
I’m sorry to hear about the layoff, but it’s pretty impressive you’ve already landed something in this tough market. I read a lot of sad stories about people not so lucky. Sounds like you’re on contract…maybe they’ll renew or hire you outright, fingers crossed for ya there.
As for instructor personality, they’re people like us, we never know what we’re going to get and there’s no guarantee that it’s going to click right? It didn’t for me with my instructor and that’s how I found the Justin lessons. He was talking music theory and I was lost. My next door neighbor plays the drums and guitar and knows the basics. I went over there with my homework (all in notation) and he laughed and said ‘what the #@* is this’? I had to take matters in my own hands and learn a few things online then go back to him and tell him how I want to be taught. I took screen shots of Justin’s hands and taped it to the homework he gave me. I think it freaked him out, but it’s what is working for me as I learn the dreaded chords.