3 Reasons Why You Should Take One on One Guitar Lessons.

There is so much content you can find today on learning the guitar. It's amazing. Yet with all the options out there, it can be hard to navigate.

Where do you start? What do you choose to learn? How should you learn? Who is good to learn from? How do you know what's good? What's quality and what isn't?

The short answer is simple. Find a good teacher. It's how we have learned throughout history. We learn from those who know more than us. The key thing to notice is that our learning isn't just about information, it's about directing that information to the right place. This is the role of a teacher.

The comparison or choices it seems we have to make in learning guitar today is choosing between one on one lessons and online (pre recorded) lessons.

Yet this comparison is misguided. It's not meant to be a comparison.

Before I continue I'll clarify what I mean by one on one lessons and online lessons.

One on one lessons are lessons that happen in real time between a teacher and a student. These can happen at a physical location or online streaming through apps like Skype or FaceTime.

Online Lessons are pre-recorded lessons that are mostly found on YouTube as well as some guitar lesson sites.

As I said, this isn't meant to be a comparison. If we leave our choice to either/or we are just leaving an area of growth unequipped.

Both are great at aiding the student in learning. When we know how to pull value from both we will get the best learning experience available to us.

This reveals the real question we need to be asking.

What should be the role of One on One and Online Lessons in our learning?

To answer this let's look at some of the benefits of both:

One one one Lessons

Structured Lesson Plan- This is a lesson plan created for the individual student. The teacher assess the students knowledge, skill level, and learning needs and crafts a learning plan to the individual.

Feedback- This is a huge plus to one on one lessons. Teachers can see mostly what the student cannot. If their technique is off, if their timing/rhythm is off, how they are holding the guitar, etc. This helps quicker student growth and prevents having to un-learn bad techniques in the future.

Support- Student/Teacher interaction helps accountability and motivation. One on one lessons allows the teacher to motivate and build up the student. Every student is different and has different strengths and challenges. When a teacher sees these things it gives them the opportunity to build up the student to the individual needs.

Online Lessons

Content- Online lessons have a massive amount of information out there. This is exciting!

Flexibility- Online lessons fit 100% to your schedule and practice routine.

Price- Many online lessons are cost effective and there are many free lessons on YouTube.

So which do you choose?

Here is where we see the role of both take place.

Online lessons are not meant to replace One on One lessons.

They are meant to assist them.

If you are looking for the best quality method of learning, the quickest route to growth on the instrument, it's through One on One lessons. Hands down.

So what should you do?

Find a good teacher.

Qualities of a good teacher:

- Meets the individuals learning needs.

- Able to clearly describe teaching methods and materials for the student to understand.

- Structured lesson plans for the individual.

- Teaching experience.

- Inspires the student.

Also here are some tips for finding quality online lessons:

- Look for a reputable teacher generally with a bigger following.

- Read reviews or comments.

I'll end this with one more thing...

All this being said....there’s a key factor that determines the success of a student that has to do with more than wether you have a teacher or take online lessons.

Drive. i.e You.

In the end, how you learn is nothing without personal drive. It’s the drive of the individual that will bring them to where they want to be. Their passion to learn, their consistency and dedication to practice, and their willingness to grow is what will bring the outcome they want.

This factor is massively important to a students successful learning.

A teachers job is to help give this drive direction. To help a students dream move to reality.

The students job is to do the work to for it get there.

So find a good teacher for one one one lessons, either local or online streaming based. Also, find some good online lessons to aide in your learning. Remember that your biggest growth comes from you. Get to it!