Excited to begin your guitar lessons? Guitar teacher Sean L. shares some helpful hints on preparing for your guitar teacher to come to your home to teach…
Preparing for your guitar lessons is just as important as the lesson itself, and having an adequate in-home lesson space is an integral part of preparing for your private instruction. Without a proper space your lessons will suffer, and you will not get the most out of your money.
Here are three things to think about to better prepare the perfect base of operations for you and your teacher to share.
1. Find Your Space
Finding that perfect place to hold your lessons can sometimes be overwhelming task; there are many factors that come into play when looking for somewhere that best fits your needs. The three most important are:
1. Noise
Will this area be too loud, or will you be too loud for this area? Noises can be distracting so avoid areas where volume would be a problem. Also, you don’t want to disturb neighbors or other people who share your living space. If noise is a problem everywhere in the house, try to let everyone know your lesson time so they can work around it. The acoustics of your spot should also be taken into account. This means stay away from places with an echo, such as stairwells and wine cellars.
2. Foot Traffic
You don’t want your lesson to get consistently interrupted by roommates/family, so find a place that can remain undisturbed for the entity of your lesson. I tend to use my living room, and I let my roommates know my teaching schedule, this leaves my lessons uninterrupted.
3. Comfort
There should be enough room for you and your instructor to sit comfortably, along with fitting all of your equipment. This means closets should probably be avoided. Along with looking for somewhere that has an adequate amount of space, try to find somewhere that is not too humid, as places like basements tend to be harsh on strings and equipment.
Once you’ve chosen your space, keep it neat! Nobody wants to see last weeks gym socks when they are trying to learn or teach guitar. Aside from gym socks, you should also clean out some clutter from your chosen spot. This will help create a more welcoming area for you and your instructor.
2. Prepare Your Equipment
Think of the following questions as an equipment checklist:
Do you have a music stand? You may need one for your lessons as well as practicing. A music stand is necessary for reading tab, chord charts, and sheet music. Most teachers will give you handouts every lesson.
Is your instructor willing to bring an amp, or do you need to have a second for your teacher? A working amp is vital for electric guitar lessons; for yourself, and your instructor. Also make sure your amp has distortion if that applies to your lessons.
Are all your cables working? Always makes sure all your equipment works. Cables break often so always double check
How will you access backing tracks and music? A phone, tablet, or computer with Internet access works best. You may also need a pair of speakers, because the speakers on your device may not be sufficient.
Is your guitar in good shape? You need to check if your guitar’s intonation and action is correct. The intonation will affect how in-tune your guitar sounds, and if the action is bad your guitar could be too difficult to play or there could be fret buzz. For more information on this topic ask your instructor, or visit this article.
You will also need to tune your guitar before your lesson, as tuning shouldn’t take away from valuable lesson time. Megan L. explains all the ways to tune your guitar in this blog post. Lastly you may need to change your strings if they are old. Old strings can affect how well your guitar stays in in tune. Noaa R. explains how to change strings here.
Also, ask your instructor what sort of equipment he or she requires for your lesson. Lastly, always check to see if your equipment works before your lesson.
3. Prepare Yourself
Another important part of getting ready for your lesson is preparing your mind and body. This means taking time throughout the week to practice and learn the materials your instructor has given you. You will also need to be prepared to receive constructive criticism during your lessons. Criticism is an important part of learning guitar.
If you follow these simple steps, you and your instructor will have a much more enjoyable time. A well prepared student leads to more productive lessons. Also don’t forget to practice, and inform your household when your lesson is scheduled so they can work around it.
In-home guitar lessons are the easiest way to learn guitar! Still looking for a guitar teacher? TakeLessons teachers are available to teach in-home, in-studio, and online lessons. Find a guitar teacher to fit in your schedule today!
Sean L. teaches acoustic guitar, guitar and music theory in Methuen, MA. He has received many awards and certifications in the music world is currently working towards his Associates In Music from NECC. Sean has been teaching students since April 2014. Learn more about Sean L. here!
Photo by Allan
Megan L.