Finding the right guitar teacher can be challenging. In the UK, teaching the guitar is a profession that requires no formal qualification, training or experience. This means literally anybody can set themselves up as a guitar teacher and begin teaching lessons, regardless of their lack of experience, training or credentials.

So what can you do to make sure you choose a good guitar teacher?

Here are a few factors to consider when looking for a tutor in your area…

Guitarists who have spent years studying and training at music conservatoire or university will most certainly have reached a very high level with the instrument. By taking lessons with a formally trained guitarist, you can guarantee that you will be learning skills from a reliable source. This is not to say that you can’t find a good self taught guitar teacher, but this can be hit and miss. Choosing a formally trained musician as your guitar teacher is a much safer option if you’re concerned about learning from a reliable source.

Most teachers will improve their skills over time by clocking up lots of teaching hours. This is true for both formally trained musicians as it is for those who are self taught. A guitar teacher who is just starting out will still be learning the ropes and figuring out how to get the best from their students. An experienced guitar teacher will have a more precise insight into exactly how to develop a student to maximise their potential.

Choosing a guitar teacher who has a good way with people and a friendly manner can make all the difference. Guitar lessons are worlds apart from school lessons. Guitar lessons should be a fun and enjoyable weekly activity which you can look forward to. A friendly and approachable teacher will make your lessons more enjoyable and this alone can help to keep you motivated.

Full time guitar teachers are likely to be better at their craft than those who teach part time. This isn’t an absolute rule, but it makes logical sense. If a teacher only teaches a handful of lessons per week, they may not be as sharp as a teacher who provides 25+ hours of lessons per week. This isn’t a major factor but it’s something worth bearing in mind. You will get a good sense of a guitar teacher’s teaching ability by attending a few of their lessons.

This is a huge factor to consider (and one of the main reasons why I set up the Classical Guitar Academy!). Not all guitar teachers can teach all styles to the highest level. To get the most out of your lessons, you should find a guitar teacher who specialises in the style of music you wish to learn. The worlds best classical guitarist may know nothing about sweep picking on the electric guitar, or how to improvise a well thought out solo to ‘Take Five’. Likewise, the worlds best electric guitarist may not know the difference between Apoyando or Tirando technique, and might not know their Rasgueado from their Tambora.

Similarly to finding a teacher who specialises in the right style, it’s important to find a teacher who is comfortable teaching your age group. Some guitar teachers only accept young students, as this is their speciality. Other teachers opt to teach adults because they are uncomfortable teaching children. Before committing to lessons with a particular teacher, ask them about the difference between teaching adults compared to children. Their answer will enlighten you as to whether or not they can adjust their teaching methods accordingly.

Choosing a guitar teacher in your local area is very important. You will be visiting your teacher either weekly or fortnightly, so you have to make sure you are happy with the commute to their studio. I only advertise for guitar lessons in Derby, because that’s where my studio is based. I do have some students who travel from outside Derby, however the majority are from the local area. If you find yourself travelling over 30 minutes to get to your guitar lesson, you may find that it becomes difficult over time and may result in the discontinuation of lessons.

Having a range of lesson options to choose from is important. If the teacher you are interested in only offers 60 minute lessons and you’re a beginner, you may find the length of the lesson to be too long. This means you end up paying for more than you really need. Most teachers offer a 30 minute lesson, which I believe is ample for a beginner. In addition to having the right lesson duration available, you should ask whether the teacher offers weekly or fortnightly lessons. Some students are only able to commit to fortnightly lessons, and not all teachers offer this.

Guitar lessons are a great way to develop your skills, but in truth, this is just the beginning.  To become a truly great guitarist, you should be seeking out other opportunities to develop yourself.  Concerts, workshops, groups/ensembles and competitions are all fantastic ways of helping you to improve.  When choosing a guitar teacher, it’s worth asking if they can provide access to these types of ‘extracurricular’ musical activities, as not all do.

Reviews and student testimonials are a great way to find out whether a guitar teacher is good at their job. If the teacher has a Facebook page, check out the reviews section to see what their current and former students make of them. You can also find reviews if they have a Google business page. Impartial reviews such as this are invaluable for giving you an indication of a guitar teachers quality of service.

Finding the right guitar teacher can make all the difference between your musical experience being a flash in the pan or a lifelong hobby.  Taking the above factors into consideration should help you find a guitar teacher who is suitable for you.  However, if you do happen to pick a teacher and you’re not enjoying your lessons, remember that you can change!  Don’t let a bad experience put you off learning to play the guitar.

If you’re reading this and you happen to be looking for a guitar teacher in Derby, please do get in touch.  I offer all new students the option to book a free trial lesson where we can have a chat and I can give a short demo lesson.  There’s no obligation to continue should you wish to continue your search for a guitar teacher.