I get what you’re saying- but I’m also hearing a lot of what might be called “oldthink”. No offense, but I’ve taken lessons for years and I’m one of those boomers who practices. Up to a point. If I’m not learning songs I want to play, and instead GIVEN songs that illustrate some technique my instructor thinks is important (and probably is, but…), I bring in my songs. My instructor is savvy enough to get it - “OK, let’s learn from what YOU’RE playing….”
The question thing is a red herring IMHO. No one knows what they want to achieve unless it’s “play like Mark Knopfler”. The answer is start small and build. What kind of music do I like? All kinds! Teach me the stuff that might be applicable to a wide variety. Be patient if I really hate barre chords and teach me ways to cheat, maybe I’ll feel bad about cheating and learn barre chords. The best thing my instructor did for me was say “You want to fingerpick? Here’s how.” And let me run with it.
A couple of semesters of music theory at a local community college helped immensely - you don’t have time in half hour lesson to teach music theory - they gotta get it somewhere. Not
preaching, I like your Substack - just want to give a student’s perspective. FWIW
I get what you’re saying- but I’m also hearing a lot of what might be called “oldthink”. No offense, but I’ve taken lessons for years and I’m one of those boomers who practices. Up to a point. If I’m not learning songs I want to play, and instead GIVEN songs that illustrate some technique my instructor thinks is important (and probably is, but…), I bring in my songs. My instructor is savvy enough to get it - “OK, let’s learn from what YOU’RE playing….”
The question thing is a red herring IMHO. No one knows what they want to achieve unless it’s “play like Mark Knopfler”. The answer is start small and build. What kind of music do I like? All kinds! Teach me the stuff that might be applicable to a wide variety. Be patient if I really hate barre chords and teach me ways to cheat, maybe I’ll feel bad about cheating and learn barre chords. The best thing my instructor did for me was say “You want to fingerpick? Here’s how.” And let me run with it.
A couple of semesters of music theory at a local community college helped immensely - you don’t have time in half hour lesson to teach music theory - they gotta get it somewhere. Not
preaching, I like your Substack - just want to give a student’s perspective. FWIW