What you need to know before starting music lessons.
I often get new applications asking for guitar & keyboard lessons, however not many understand the process in order to get started. You might be asking what kind of process I’m talking about, here are a few tips to think about before contacting me or any other music teacher in order to start your music lessons quickly & get the most out of them.
You need to own the instrument you are planning on taking lessons for. This might seem obvious but I’ve had a few applicants ask for lessons when they don’t own the instrument. You need to own the instrument because the lessons are generally only an hour maximum per week so you’ll need to practice on your own time.
It’s a commitment. Learning an instrument takes time and you’ll need at least a few minutes a day to focus on your practice. It’s important to know this before entering into any contract with your teacher, if not, you probably won’t get the most out of your lessons.
Set some realistic goals. It’s important that you have a goal and make this known to your teacher. Perhaps ask them for a few pointers or a view on your first few lessons of how long it might take an average person to be able to play a certain genre. Before you speak to a teacher, it’s important to ask yourself why you’d like to take lessons. Do you want to start lessons because you just love music and would like to start playing your favourite songs? Perhaps you’re already a super motivated musician and would like to get some academic grades on your instrument. Maybe it’s because there’s a cute girl/guy at your school or workplace you’d like to impress? The last question is a joke but it may or may not be the best reason to pursue lessons.
Have a clear understanding of how the teacher runs his or her lessons. Make sure you have a written contract with the teacher and read through it well before commencing. If you need to ask questions about it, don’t hesitate. This is to protect both you and the teachers best interests and come to a mutual understanding of what is required and expected in the case of lesson cancellations or make-up lessons if necessary.
Try and commit to at least 6 months to a year of lessons. This is because a craft such as learning an instrument takes time and you’ll need to be patient with yourself in order to really see results. Even though being goal orientated is encouraged, try not to worry if you’re not progressing as fast as you thought and focus on the process rather than the immediate result.
I hope these points are something you’d consider when looking for a music teacher. I have found them extremely helpful in my search for music teachers in the past too.
You can also contact me for guitar or keyboard lessons.
Until next time, keep playing!
Paul
