Private Guitar Lessons - Pros and Cons
Experienced guitar players like Slash, Carlos Santana, Bill Gibbons and Eric Clapton can be quite inspiring. Their playing is something amazing to witness. You do not see them struggling with technique or thinking about what they are doing. Instead, they are completely wrapped up in the music, and it is a true expression of their soul. Seeing an artist work like that is inspiring, and it makes sense if you want to learn to play guitar so that you can experience that blissful experience.
That being said, it is one thing to say you want to play guitar and it is quite another to actually learn it. Playing the guitar, as with any other instrument, requires a knowledge base, muscular dexterity, and a lot of practice. Taking on this task alone can be intimidating which is why most serious guitar students look for some sort of educational support.
One of the most popular options for guitar students are private lessons. A private lesson is where you sit down with an instructor in a one on one situation. Generally you meet once a week for a particular amount of time. Most commonly lessons fall somewhere between a half hour and an hour in length. Between lessons you are expected to practice independently for at least a half hour a day.
Private guitar lessons are wonderful because they are private. You are able to get your instructors undivided attention which allows for very individualized instruction. You do not have to struggle for the spotlight to have your questions answered with other students. Additionally, this private setting can give some increased accountability in your practice time and progression. In a private lesson it is quite evident if you have not had time to practice. For some students this is a great thing that helps to keep them honest.
Private guitar lessons are generally scheduled at the same time every week. This can be both a pro and a con to many students. If you are someone who needs appointments to keep you committed than this might be a great thing. However, for others with busy and changing schedules this can be difficult to commit to. Additionally, many teachers charge for missed lessons which could lead to increased cost for you.
However, everything about private guitar lessons is not wonderful. In fact, the truth is that private lessons can be very costly. It is not uncommon for an instructor to charge at least $1 a minute for their lessons. That means that you could be spending anywhere from $30 -$60 each week for a lesson. While you are paying for that individualized attention, for many students that is quite simply not within their budget.
If the cost of private lessons precludes you from being able to take lessons you are not out of luck. There are other instructional options out there for those who are dedicated to learning how to play guitar. One of the best options out there in terms of affordability and flexibility are instructional DVD series like the “Learn and Master Guitar” DVD series. These will give you the same information that you would get from individualized lessons at a fraction of the cost without the rigid schedule. Take a careful look at yourself as a student and find the method that fits into your budget, your schedule, and your learning style. If you do that you will be playing like a pro in no time!
Check out "Gibson's Learn and Master Guitar" DVDs - Our top pick for learning guitar.
