Someone left this rather shocking comment on one of my Facebook posts a short while back.
Here is what the fella said…
“As a guitar teacher of over 30 years experience, the most frustrating thing is students who don’t practice and constantly complain about a lack of progress.
If you were to do just 10 minutes practice every day, you’ll be shocked at how easily it all comes together within a couple weeks.
Stop complaining about how difficult it is and do some god damned practice!
“Shut and play the guitar” is the answer to all your problems.”
Well, that’s a shocker.
Lots to dissect here, but why is he so angry?
Maybe he was having a bad day when he wrote it.
…But geez, he doesn’t sound like the sort of fella who I would have enjoyed getting lessons from back when I was learning.
I sometimes wonder if in some fields people get a little jaded by what they do.
I once had a driving instructor who had done it for a long time and although we got on, he seemed like he hated sitting in the car all day with students.
Anyway, going back to the fella above, maybe he is no longer enjoying it.
I have no idea, but I really don’t like that “shut up and play the guitar” comment.
What this guy is doing, basically, is palming off all responsibility off himself and onto his students.
Of course, there is only one person in the world who can make it happen for you in terms of you being the guitarist you want to be…
…And it’s ultimately down to you whether or not you make progress
Yet the person you see weekly for lessons (if you have a teacher, that is), has a big responsibility to help you get there.
…And he needs to give you lessons that motivate you.
So my response to this guitar teacher would ultimately be a polite take on this:
“Shut up and do some teaching and motivating. Your students are counting on you.”
I only wonder if his students could hear his whining, what they would think.
Anyway, I thought I’d share this.
Hopefully, it’s useful and it’s a good reminder that in the world of guitar tuition…
It’s like anything else, there is good and there is bad.
I don’t teach as much in person and don’t take on new one-to-one students anymore, but when someone asks me about getting a one-to-one teacher, I tell them this…
Try out five different teachers (if possible)
Then stick with the one you “click” with most.
I hope you found this useful.
If you do want to learn more from me, currently the best place to do this is below…
The Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy
Not only do you get some of my most structured and most important lesson materials, but you’ll also get access to my help and support via email as much as you need.
Keep up the good practice!
Dan Thorpe
Guitar Domination
P.S. This post was originally taken from Dan Thorpe’s private email list. To get blog posts like this sent to you which are full of great tips to make fingerpicking, strumming, and learning guitar more enjoyable (especially if you are over 40) join Dan’s list. It’s 100% free, HERE.
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