Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 12:50 PM

Lindy, you've rec'd nothin' but good advice on this thread. As so often mentioned above, best wishes to you.

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: MikeL2
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 10:29 AM

Hi Lindy

I have played guitar now for more years than I dare to remember.

In that time I have tried probably every conceivable type of guitar lesson.

At first like many people of my era I taught myself some of the basics. Yes I used Bert Weedon's book too !!

I then joined a band ( we called them groups in those days) and we helped each other as we went along. This was fine as far as it went but I realised by watching other more proficient players that I needed to improve if I was to satisfy my own personal ambitions.

So I got a private tutor - one on one. Ok for a few weeks but quickly learned that he was out to make a living and I wasn't learning as quickly nor as much as I wanted.

So I bought some books and borrowed some from libraries, can't remember which ones now and I found that I made quite good progress but it does require more dedication to work by yourself.

I also joined a class that was formed where I worked and we met twice a week in the lunch breaks. Helpful and cheap but again limited because you learn at the paec of the slowest player.

I got to join with other groups and I picked the brains of the better players - not convenient if you don't live in or near a big town or city.

Finally I met two guys who were great guitarists and we used to play together. I picked up a lot from watching and listening to these two friends.

One of them did teach guitar and he gave me one lesson. Basically he taught me one thing - you can't be taught how to play but you can be taught how to practice !!!

Practice is the key.

Learn how to do this and and after time and some heartaches it will all come together.

Then you start to learn how to play !!!

I hope that he doesn't mind me saying so ; a good place to start would be to have a good look at Will Fly's website. There is a lot of very good ideas and help and explanations and some very good practice pieces etc etc.

Best of luck but keep playing - that's the secret.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: Willie-O
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 09:08 AM

Lindy, if you're still here, the rates they quote sound reasonable. It doesn't matter if they're "professional"; it matters if you have a good teacher.

You have some odd ideas about "regular" vs "private" lessons. Private lessons, not groups, are the norm and are much better than trying to get something from being in a class of beginners with very different abilities. Of course you need to provide your own guitar! How else would you learn? It's all about practicing, much more than its about the half-hour lesson.

It is reasonable for the school to ask you to commit on a monthly basis; the biggest hassle for music teachers is students who don't show, leaving a hole in the teacher's schedule and wallet. So most music schools have fairly strict policies about cancelling or rescheduling lessons. However, you should ask to take an introductory lesson first before committing to the month-by-month plan; you'll get a feel for whether the teacher is right for you that way.

Lots of people do teach themselves, but you should do whatever gets you going. Just get a guitar and go do it! You'll be glad you did.

W-O

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 08:31 AM

When I bit the bullet and admitted that most of the songs I wanted to sing were NOT Trad Unacc , a mate wrote out 'The Basic Run' in several keys - Major , relative minor , dominant and sub dominant , or C Am F G G7 etc , basic cjords of Paul Ankas' Dians and the main bit of Blue Moon . If you can play that run smoothgly in C , G , D , A , E , and F , you can fake MOST Folkie stuff !

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: banjoman
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 05:13 AM

My wife & I have taught guitar/banjo/recorder on and off for many years, mainly to younger pupils, but with the occasional adult. Cost? about £10 - £15 per half hour session, which is usually enough for most youngsters.
The most significant thing which we have learned is that its important that the pupil wants to learn the instrument as we have had several instances where the parents think "It would be nice for ?? to play an instrument"
Most of the good ones have become friends who we never charge .
I echo the sentiment that someone who already knows a few chords would be better of teaching themselves. I am somewhat proud of the fact that I never had lessons (couldn't afford them) and learnt from watching & listening and buying a book called -every guitar chord ever known (I think thats it title but its now out of print.
Good luck and keep on playing -thats the important thing

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 05:09 AM

I still have Bert's book - bought in 1964. And it's still in print and available!

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: Musket
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 05:00 AM

Dunno if it is still in print, but nearly every guitarist of my generation, yours truly included, learnt from "The Bert Weedon Play in a Day" book. Surprised Guitar Boogie Shuffle isn't a folk club standard......

Even now though, when some people have kindly complimented my style etc, I still wish I had taken some formal lessons before I got into bad habits.

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 04:15 AM

I have taught guitar, on and off, for 40 years, but only take occasional pupils now (life's too short). My charges and conditions are:

£25 GBS per hour (£20 for people I know)
£30 GBS per hour if I travel to them locally
No payment in advance
Lessons stop if the pupil doesn't practice - I don't want to waste their money and my time.
I only teach adults

I was originally self-taught but, many years later, I found some advanced lessons gave me a different perspective on my playing and some extra technique.

The important thing to bear in mind is that some people are capable of teaching themselves - others are not and can benefit from some initial lessons.

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 03:47 AM

I took guitar lessons from John Pierre Cousineau. He taught me for about six months and then we formed a band called the Triads. We were good enough to be tape-recorded by Jimmy Doolin (sp?). I've since lost the acetate. Frankly, we were terrible, but all I recall from it was the excitement of being a musician. That was 50 years ago.

I just finished doing my fourth album. I will never be famous, but I am a musician, and that's what I wanted.

You cannot decide on the teacher until YOU decide on the student.


What would help is to say from near where you're from, what you want lessons for, and how much you want them. The rest will take care of itself. JPC's regular students were charged $2.00 an hour. I have no idea what that would translate to today. He charged me over the half year about three dollars. I did the rest myself, but went to John for his approval, and his advice. I should mention that when he taught me basics--and that meant Buddy Holly and The Ventures--I was pushed because of what he taught to listen closely to Brubeck, Mingus and Davis. I was never nor am a fan of jazz, but I am a fan of excellence, and that they were.

Most guitar can be learned from books--today, internet. If you need advice, ask on Mudcat. Most have been there and done that. Being short of cash is no reason to NOT learn music, however you perceive that.

Mark Ross who posted is a song writer and musician, and he's really good. Arrange to talk with him and he'll tell you straight. That's the way he is and always was.

Bobert is a damned good blues musician, and Al who has the strange sense of humour is a wonderful singer and guitar player. Their thoughts are well-meant and honest, except Al is stranger than most. Listen sometime to "Drowned Her in the Bath." Funny as all get out. They are musicians, writers and singers. They too went into and out of the process. Each of them left to make their respective ways when they needed to, just as will you when the time comes.

That doesn't help other than to inform you that the easiest way to become a millionaire in music is to start with two million (thanks Utah).

I'll shut up now.

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 03:38 AM

check youtube for tutorials. some are very good, showing closeup shots, and insets of chording or picking hand.

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 03:06 AM

Don't take up the guitar, mate. Only drug addicts and men with strange sex lives do that stuff.

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 11:06 PM

I try and make part of my living(you call this a living?) by teaching guitar and other instruments. I charge $35 a lesson, but if you pay for 4 in advance I will knock $5 off the price of each one. There is no particular time limit, and I go will come to a students home.
I'm in Eugene, Oregon. It depends on where you live as to what the going rate is. Some people charge less. I hear that there is one well known folkie in the Bay Area who gets $90 a shot.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Cost for acoutic guitar lessons?
From: Nick
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 08:20 PM

What do you want to learn?

As you've played before you can shortcut a lot of stuff by knowing what it is you want to know

Myself I need to watch loads of better people and be allowed to play with them and a teacher who can teach me to unlearn all the bad things I've done wrong and replace them with the good and mend my arthritis.

Angels and devils you never want to throw out the wrong ones

Subject: RE: Cost for acoutic guitar lessons?
From: Stanron
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 08:07 PM

Check out the Acoustic Guitar Forum. Lots of advice and links to instructional stuff online. You can learn lots of stuff for free. If you can find people near you who are learning maybe they will pass stuff on to you. I never paid a penny to learn stuff but I reckon I've learned quite a lot and all of it for free. Apologies to all teachers out there trying to make a bit.

Subject: RE: Cost for acoutic guitar lessons?
From: Bobert
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 08:06 PM

Lessons???

Hey, I'm old school... Teach yerself... That way you won't end up with someone elses bad habits... Or overly technical crap...

Just get a tuner, a basic geetar book of chords and maybe a couple of song books of folks stuff you'd like to learn...

3 months of misery and it will all be over and you'll be folkin' 'er rockin' to what ever you like....

But it is 3 months of misery unless, of course, you get a teacher then they'll be sure to string the misery out for years... lol...

BTW, I am being perfectly serious...

B~

Subject: RE: Cost for acoustic guitar lessons?
From: GUEST,Lindy
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 07:58 PM

Correction: I meant to type "acoustic" (not acoutic) but had a typo in my first message.

Subject: Cost for acoutic guitar lessons?
From: GUEST,Lindy
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 07:56 PM

I am interesting in taking up acoustic guitar lessons. There is a guitar store not too far from me that teaches private lessons (at the store).

Their teachers are professional and have been teaching for some time. Their rates are $25.00 for 1/2 hour (one lesson per week). It is not a classroom but one on one but you do have to bring your own guitar. Most of their teachers actually charge for 1 month ahead of time for the 4 lessons, so $100.00.

Many years ago (about 30) I took a few lessons in another city for a short time so I only know a few basic chords but consider myself a beginner because I did not really stick with it so I do need to really learn as a beginner again.
This is in California.

I was wondering what other people typically pay for beginning acoustic guitar lessons from a guitar store? Their sessions are for 1/2 hour (not one hour lessons at this particular store) and are private lessons at the store.

They do not have classrooms like a regular school would have where there would be several students.

So I would only like to know what other beginning guitar players have paid for private lessons at a guitar store. (Acoustic guitar only).