My wife and I went to a recital yesterday. The Teacher gives lessons in Piano, Voice and Guitar. Her piano students were good, but her guitar students needed lots of correction (which I did NOT offer).
I have been teaching guitar to total newbies but now I wonder. When is it OK to start teaching? How much do you really need to know before you can start teaching professionally? Are there different levels of teachers? Can I be a pro teacher but just for beginners?
There is no way I'm going to be able to displace Neil, but I can see where many of the existing guitar teachers are not giving good instruction. Quality teachers are needed and strangely enough, I almost feel qualified to be one.
Is it ok to teach?
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neverfoundthetime
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Interesting question Andy. I've been coaching all the new squash coaches here for about 20 years now. There have been really good players amongst them and total beginners... but with good teaching experience in other areas, like kindergarten. Sometimes the good players make good coaches (they will be able to deal with good players better) but often it's the people who are beginners themselves that make the best teachers for kids who are beginners because they know what it feels like a beginner and what it takes to develop, with all the difficulties that will be encountered. And if you've gone through the experience yourself, you are very authentic. Usually you will have much more knowledge in your head than you can translate into action yourself... but you do know what comes next for others and how to get there. This makes for very authentic teaching. And you will understand the beginners much better because your own experience is still fresh. I've been through this experience myself with squash, tennis, trampoline, badminton, basketball.... you name it. It is Neil who is the exception, I think. Not many brilliant players have the ability, interest or patience to teach others. Often they just don't "get" why someone finds something difficult. Neil's secret is that he is interested in people and passing on the joy and fascination of playing the guitar. I reckon you fill that qualification too Andy. With the knowledge you have learned here in the videos ... you are armed and ready! 
I agree Chris..
I have deliberately left this post as I pondered it for a moment..
Truth is..the more people who move beyond the idea that somehow their is a pre-requisite to teach anything (their is not--they are imagined rules), then the world will be a better place for everything, not just the guitar.
I have a couple of subtle suggestions I have personally learnt..
Usually You need to be invited...by an individual or a group, ...serious hurt can occur if you barrel in over the top of "established" practices and relationships etc etc...so their must be a subtle way you can see to gently help, then use a feedback loop to see that your doing good...
That same feedback loop is important for why anyone can teach anything..and it is this ..
If you get feedback and can see that someone has learnt something, anything from what you are teaching..then you are adding value to someones life..and so by default you "qualify".....Thats it...if you want to talk about scales of ability, then truth is their is not truth..no scale..it is all perception...
So teach away...their is so much more here that could be said, similar to the motivation thread..acres of books have been written , personal philosophy comes into play but in the end ...common sense is the only thing that matters..and that is..
If your having fun, getting joy and giving joy to others then the rest is simply not really relevant...
Hope that was somewhat useful
I have deliberately left this post as I pondered it for a moment..
Truth is..the more people who move beyond the idea that somehow their is a pre-requisite to teach anything (their is not--they are imagined rules), then the world will be a better place for everything, not just the guitar.
I have a couple of subtle suggestions I have personally learnt..
Usually You need to be invited...by an individual or a group, ...serious hurt can occur if you barrel in over the top of "established" practices and relationships etc etc...so their must be a subtle way you can see to gently help, then use a feedback loop to see that your doing good...
That same feedback loop is important for why anyone can teach anything..and it is this ..
If you get feedback and can see that someone has learnt something, anything from what you are teaching..then you are adding value to someones life..and so by default you "qualify".....Thats it...if you want to talk about scales of ability, then truth is their is not truth..no scale..it is all perception...
So teach away...their is so much more here that could be said, similar to the motivation thread..acres of books have been written , personal philosophy comes into play but in the end ...common sense is the only thing that matters..and that is..
If your having fun, getting joy and giving joy to others then the rest is simply not really relevant...
Hope that was somewhat useful
Andy,
I've always found that -- regardless of the subject -- as long as the teacher is one step ahead of the students, that's all that matters. Good teachers aren't necessarily people who know everything about their subject. They're people who are able to effectively communicate what little they know.
- Dennis (in Seattle)
I've always found that -- regardless of the subject -- as long as the teacher is one step ahead of the students, that's all that matters. Good teachers aren't necessarily people who know everything about their subject. They're people who are able to effectively communicate what little they know.
- Dennis (in Seattle)
dennisg wrote:
Sorry Andy could't help myself..but the one thing I know you have that some teachers don't is a desire that eminates not from Ego but from a desire to help, from the heart...and when you allow the heart to talk..often the knowledge comes from somewhere beyond you, even when you think you know nothing..
Precisely -----and sometimes all that comes from nothing more than a diffrent view, a diffrent life experience..or in Andys case..Age :silly:Andy,
I've always found that -- regardless of the subject -- as long as the teacher is one step ahead of the students, that's all that matters. Good teachers aren't necessarily people who know everything about their subject. They're people who are able to effectively communicate what little they know.
- Dennis (in Seattle)
Sorry Andy could't help myself..but the one thing I know you have that some teachers don't is a desire that eminates not from Ego but from a desire to help, from the heart...and when you allow the heart to talk..often the knowledge comes from somewhere beyond you, even when you think you know nothing..
Thanks guys. That is pretty much the way I see it also. I have been teaching brand new players for almost 2 years now at church. 2 of my students were in the recital. (both play piano as well) The teacher made a point of letting everyone know that Adam was not her guitar student and she did not teach him. frankly, he was far and above all the other students on guitar. His hand position and everything was really good. People were commenting on how well he plays. It was a really good day.
All that made me wonder if I was actually good enough to start being an actual guitar teacher for a living. Since I'm almost unemployed now (our contract expires Dec 31) I'm going to need some kind of work.
I'm supposed to be getting a copy of the performance. If it's decent then I'll post it here.
All that made me wonder if I was actually good enough to start being an actual guitar teacher for a living. Since I'm almost unemployed now (our contract expires Dec 31) I'm going to need some kind of work.
I'm supposed to be getting a copy of the performance. If it's decent then I'll post it here.
I know I'm getting up there but I'm not dusty yet! LOLTGMatt wrote:
Precisely -----and sometimes all that comes from nothing more than a diffrent view, a diffrent life experience..or in Andys case..Age :silly:
Sorry Andy could't help myself..but the one thing I know you have that some teachers don't is a desire that eminates not from Ego but from a desire to help, from the heart...and when you allow the heart to talk..often the knowledge comes from somewhere beyond you, even when you think you know nothing..
Thanks Matt. You are right. Age does give a new perspective on things. And I'm not out to run as many students through the mill as I can. I want to see them play well. I would rather spend a bit more time to help them understand how to do it than to leave them floundering. I have had my students tell me all kind of good things about my teaching, but all that aside, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And seeing Adam play that well really made me take a new look at what I'm doing.
dennisg wrote:
Yes, exactly right!! Karma to you Dennis! Ooops!! lol!
:laugh:
Andy,
I've always found that -- regardless of the subject -- as long as the teacher is one step ahead of the students, that's all that matters. Good teachers aren't necessarily people who know everything about their subject. They're people who are able to effectively communicate what little they know.
- Dennis (in Seattle)
Yes, exactly right!! Karma to you Dennis! Ooops!! lol!
:laugh:
I think one has to be careful when getting into teaching, there ar a few considerations that you must take into account first, i.e. are you going to teach adults or children as the styles are quite different. Now i'm no child education expert but I have been involved in adult education for most of my adult life and some basic things to consider when teaching adults are
1. Adults need to know the reason for learning something (Need to Know)
2. Experience (including error) provides the basis for learning activities (Foundation).
3. Adults need to be responsible for their decisions on education; involvement in the planning and evaluation of their instruction (Self-concept).
4. Adults are most interested in learning subjects having immediate relevance to their work and/or personal lives (Readiness).
5. Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented (Orientation).
6. Adults respond better to internal versus external motivators (Motivation).
This is the foundation of Malcolm Knowles' theory the six assumptions relate to motivation of adult learning:
Knowles used Alexander Kapp's, a German Educators, andragogoy as opposed to the common pedagogy. Of no use is the meaning of Pedagogy which came from the Greeks and was the term given to the slave responsible for taking the male children to training/education Peda = child goga = lead.
The term has been used by some to allow discussion of contrast between self-directed and 'taught' education.
I teach staff to be trainers, i.e. provide Instructional techniques and principles of teaching theory and delivery. They are not necessarily experts in any subject to be on taught; however, I do advise them to be upfront with any of there future students to ensure the students understand that. I do also advise them to endeavour to know their subject well enough so as not to be 'found out' or 'found wanting', as that can seriously effect credibility, I also tell them not to 'bluff'.
In summary yes Andy you could teach, I believe you have the vocation to do so, just be careful and work within your current limits otherwise you can damage your credibility. I suggest you seek out a book or two on Instructional techniques and how to deliver lessons.
1. Adults need to know the reason for learning something (Need to Know)
2. Experience (including error) provides the basis for learning activities (Foundation).
3. Adults need to be responsible for their decisions on education; involvement in the planning and evaluation of their instruction (Self-concept).
4. Adults are most interested in learning subjects having immediate relevance to their work and/or personal lives (Readiness).
5. Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented (Orientation).
6. Adults respond better to internal versus external motivators (Motivation).
This is the foundation of Malcolm Knowles' theory the six assumptions relate to motivation of adult learning:
Knowles used Alexander Kapp's, a German Educators, andragogoy as opposed to the common pedagogy. Of no use is the meaning of Pedagogy which came from the Greeks and was the term given to the slave responsible for taking the male children to training/education Peda = child goga = lead.
The term has been used by some to allow discussion of contrast between self-directed and 'taught' education.
I teach staff to be trainers, i.e. provide Instructional techniques and principles of teaching theory and delivery. They are not necessarily experts in any subject to be on taught; however, I do advise them to be upfront with any of there future students to ensure the students understand that. I do also advise them to endeavour to know their subject well enough so as not to be 'found out' or 'found wanting', as that can seriously effect credibility, I also tell them not to 'bluff'.
In summary yes Andy you could teach, I believe you have the vocation to do so, just be careful and work within your current limits otherwise you can damage your credibility. I suggest you seek out a book or two on Instructional techniques and how to deliver lessons.