But…the wife wants me to get out of the house. I’m retired. So, thinking about guitar lessons.
There’s Staump Music Academy, Santee Music Academy, private teachers, Guitar Center La Mesa, and a Guitar 1 course at Grossmont College. I could do with some socialization as well as practice.
The academies seem to cater more toward kids. Looking at their websites makes me feel like the creeper dude. lol. Private teachers are fine, but there’s not much socialization there. Perhaps, Guitar Center or Grossmont College. The downside of Grossmont College is that it is a set curriculum for beginners and they teach you to read music. A bit off course for me but there is great socialization.
If you want lessons then go for it, however in your shoes I’d be looking for a local jamming group. Playing with other musicians is the best lesson there is, the social side can be great and it should be much less expensive than lessons. I am now a member of 4 different jamming groups, I’ve made some good friends and I’m never in the house it seems! I have met a lot of other musicans, learned a lot and discovered a world of other music events/OMs/gigs I never realised were going on under my nose!
I’m a little way behind yourself in that I’ve 18 months or so to go to retirement. My wife is already a bit concerned about what I’ll do if I do decide to stop work at 60. “Ride my bike, play the bass, piano and guitar, maybe teach some music. Or maybe get back into golf or do a sailing course and crew on my mate’s boat” is my rehearsed answer.
I think I’m on the same page as @mathsjunky Paul though. Playing with others is a way to go. You could also approach it from the other direction. Go to open mics or jam nights in your local area and find people at those to jam with. All the better if they are further along their musical journey than you are - you’ll learn from them.
I think it’s funny! It’s funny cause I ain’t one. lol.
Yeah, the two academy websites aren’t very welcoming to older players, kind of a turn off, pun intended. I don’t want to walk in for lessons and a bunch of little kids are running around. The vibe just isn’t there.
So, scratch the academies. I’m looking around for jam stuff. Meetup sucks, they want your credit card even if you are just checking them out. I’ll just keep on keeping on. Keep on truckin’.
I’m a bit ahead of you relative to Justin’s courses. 2 years ago, while trying to find people to play with I got lucky. There is a music school nearby that also caters to adults, including older ones like me (74). I got into a classic rock band where the main goal is to teach people how to play in band. We do a few public performances each year. I’ve learned a LOT, particularly the areas I needed to focus on to improve. I also met people of various skill levels to play with outside of the school. In addition, I met someone who I thought would be a good teacher for me. We get together about once a month. He sees things that I need to work on and gives me direction on new things to work on.
I have continued with Justin’s courses albeit at a fairly slow pace as the band work and lessons take a good deal of time, BUT learning new things, techniques and songs, generally takes less time than it a year ago. SO, I’ve signed up for the next BLIM class.
Playing with other people expanded my music world. It provided additional motivation to learn more and gave me a lot of personal satisfaction. I feel fortunate to have found a path that worked for me. It took some time and effort to get there but it was SO worth it. Even if your first step doesn’t meet all your goals, it may open you up to new opportunities and people.
I’m going to agree with the local jamming group suggestion.
Playing with others is the best way to progress. Justin’s lessons give you the basics and much, much more but having the opportunity to play with others really rounds everything out.
I think one on one lessons would be beneficial for particular concerns where you want someone to analyse an issue.
But generally playing in a group forces you to adapt and play, which is really what it is all about.
Of course. I doubt we’ll get that many guitars on the boat though - there were a lot on that stage . Having someone to play the steel drums would be cool though.
I don’t think I’d heard of Jimmy Buffett prior to listening to that video. Appparently he wasn’t well known in the UK. The 2nd song it played me “Changes in Latitudes, changes in attitudes” is a catchy tune.
Hi. I consider myself an advanced-beginner. I know some chords. I just need to practice smoother transitions from one to the next and learn more than one strumming rhythm.
I’ve been fortunate to meet one other JG community member who lives nearby. We’ve had one practice session togther and it was great. We will be getting together in about a week for another one.
I definitely feel like I picked up more from that session than I ever did from 4 weeks of lessons.
I’m hoping to meet others in the Las Vegas area…maybe a few of us could get together for some kind of jam session. I have a nice, large jamming space.
Dave, I am a few years younger than you and, like you, I am going at a slow pace with Justin’s courses because I really want to understand what I am doing and I want it to stick.
I agree that playing with other people makes for great positive leaps in playing music. So far, I have met one other person in this community who lives nearby. We have had one practice session and are working for having a few more. Finding a “band” to learn with would be great.
I’d encourage you to look for any local music clubs. I found one about 9 months into my journey and it’s really helped me a lot over the years. Since then I’ve found out about more music clubs within driving distance. Currently I jam weekly at the local Men’s shed.
. Having someone to play the steel drums would be cool though.