Problems with Teacher

Hello,

So I am still learning my way around a guitar. I tried the Learn & Master DVDs and gave up when they started to rely heavily on reading notation.

Anyway, I started to look for a teacher to make sure I was doing things right. Turns out some things were a little off and he started to teach me notes on the fretboard and how to build scales and chords.

A few times now he had called and asked to reschedule the lesson. Not a big deal because I have a lot of free time. However, this last time we set up a new day all together. It worked great because i could get a ride and it left me a full weekend to practice before seeing him.

The last week I sent him some e-mails because I did not get the chord diagrams from last week. I did not get a reply. Now I ended up going to my lesson, but no one was there. I knocked many times and then Sent a text saying I was at his place. I ended up going home and he still has not called me back.

what should I do? I am thinking of just not going anymore. I had paid him up to last time for the lessons so no one owes anyone.

It's possible the guy had some kind of family emergency going on, but it sounds like he was a bit of a flake. Might be time to look for another instructor. Sometimes it takes a little work, and you'll be amazed at your progress once you find the right guy.

I have only been with this person for a few months but the progress I have made is great. It is funny to hear myself explain what he has taught me and then I am like "Damn, I kinda know this". I don't think he would just no show, and every time he has had something else come up he would call or text me. Guess I will wait and see.

Remember there are alot of flaky musician's out there. This reflects with guitar teachers too. Kinda like joining a band, practice for a gig, then one of the guys don't show for the gig. The longer you play the more you'll find this out.

Way back when I was a kid I had a drum teacher who was flaky like this. I'd take 2 buses and a train to get to his studio just to find it dark and no one there. I'd walk to a payphone (remember those things) and call inside and leave message. This would happen 1 out of 3 Weeks.

Then one time he came running up the street, apologizing for being late. We went upstairs and were met by half a dozen police officers, and my teacher was arrested. No more lessons from him, but I did witness one of the detectives completely rock out on xylophones, while I drummed. It was fun

There's probably an explanation for your teacher's bail out....

I could write a book on flaky musicians....I've been playing 50 years. I've had dozens that just didn't show up for gigs, or quit the night before a huge show, some just quit because they didn't want to play a gig 20 miles away.

And people wonder how I ended up playing drums, bass, guitar and keys. Because it was needed...good thing I can cover the basics I guess.

I had a guitar teacher that was late every time. Late to the point where I only got half my lesson and paid full price still needless to say, I stopped attending. All he taught me was a couple chords. I went home and learned to read tabs and started learning other people's songs.

Took more lessons summer of last year but that was worthless too. All he did was teach me a scale the first day, which I forgot already, and the rest was "what do you want to learn today?"

"I don't know"
"How about X song"
"Sure"

Nothing I couldn't already/go home and do.
The only thing I got out of it was fingerstyle playing on bass.
But he was a cool guy, and had a great taste in music.

So, I've had lessons but they were worthless.
The internet is your friend.

lots of great musicians are total flakes. no surprise, but look for bongs and exceptionally dirty feet when you go to their place, could save you some time...
there are some things that only a person can tell you, but do yourself a favor and get someone with their act together. the more you learn, the more you will know what you want to learn, and can take better advantage of things like the internet.
good luck!

Have you checked with local music stores, see if they have recommendations on some? Some music stores also offer lessons.

BoomSling99 Funny you said that. The last time I went he had a Bong out on a bookshelf.

I think I will try to get back into the DVDs. Steve is always there :)

We could probably all write a book on flaky musicians... and some of them would be autobiographies.

We could probably all write a book on flaky musicians... and some of them would be autobiographies.

Lol! Maybe true, but at least I wash my feet....

Lol! Maybe true, but at least I wash my feet....

My feet are dirty, but at least I don't have a bong...

Way back when I was a kid I had a drum teacher who was flaky like this. I'd take 2 buses and a train to get to his studio just to find it dark and no one there. I'd walk to a payphone (remember those things) and call inside and leave message. This would happen 1 out of 3 Weeks.

Then one time he came running up the street, apologizing for being late. We went upstairs and were met by half a dozen police officers, and my teacher was arrested. No more lessons from him, but I did witness one of the detectives completely rock out on xylophones, while I drummed. It was fun

There's probably an explanation for your teacher's bail out....

best guitar teacher story ever!

best guitar teacher story ever!

+1 !

time to move on.

There's probably an explanation for your teacher's bail out....

Yeah, he probably needs to be bailed out! :-P

Wow, I'm kind of amazed the overall impression here is that musicians/guitar teachers are largely unreliable!

The couple of times I've been in lessons, (long after I was a beginner fwiw) I've had very good experiences in terms of reliability. The teachers were working musicians, 35-60yo. I would probably be disinclined to take lessons from a younger musician, unless they were able to demonstrate a good work ethic.

Several reschedules, non-responses and a no show, I'd sack that guy. Way too high maintenance. That's supposed to be the no-brainer stuff; you want to concentrate on guitar. I've gotta believe in a market the size of Winnipeg you've got numerous good choices for guitar teachers.

Several reschedules, non-responses and a no show, I'd sack that guy. Way too high maintenance.

+1

why don't we wait and find out what happened...

I sent a txt last Monday and no reply. Now this Monday I sent one from his door step. I am not going to msg again. However I sometimes felt like I annoyed him when I would miss notes.

My instructor is a retired music teacher. Very reliable and knows his stuff. I would call around to all the music shops in your area till you find someone that meets that description. There is no one before me or directly after me so my 30 minute lesson lasts for closer to an hour or more:mrgreen:

The bong....although it should never be present at a learning experience....will not determine whether or not a person can teach. That is determined by the mind that is there before the bong ever came around, ime. Dirty feet will not prevent a person from teaching well....it depends on where the feet have walked. I know folks who have never been affected by any outside chemical influences and have washed their feet twice a day who couldn't teach the first thing about playing an instrument....even if they can play it.
Ime, there are very few guitar players....percentage-wise....that can teach well. There is also everything to be said for taking from one person for a while and then changing instructors.
I would suggest that you have the propspective teacher play something for you....you might have to pay for one lesson to do this. Take a look at the placement of the fingers in relationship to the frets. IF the fingers are far away from the fret, say thank you and keep looking. IF the prospect can't play in tune, say thank you and keep looking. IF the prospect's fingers are close to the frets and the music is in tune, take soem lessons from them.
IF the first part of the lesso---after watching and listening to them play---does not entail where to place the fingers and how much pressure to use, don't take another lesson from that 'teacher'. Why? BEcause...even if the player is doing things correctly, he/she has proved that he/she has lucked into correct fretting technique but cannot/does not teach it. Just my 2 cents.....I have seen people who have spent thousands of dollars on lessons who can't play one thing in a musical way because that first lesson was not about fretting technique. IF one does not know HOW to play the note, it does not matter if they know WHEN to play the note, imho.

Good luck on the search.