Beginner guitar players often go through the same struggles. Combating stage fright and feeling stuck are common, but working with a teacher who can help you through will certainly help. Below, Portland teacher Lance V. offers his advice…
I recently received this message from one of my readers. She asks a few questions that gets to the heart of playing an instrument. Here’s her message and below that is my response.
My Response: For me, getting up on stage and performing is my opportunity to shine. After all the time spent practicing alone in my room, it’s finally time to show off what I can do, having developed my skill. I don’t get in my own way. If I were you, I’d embrace this attitude. This is of course assuming that you’re able to play competently when you’re alone, and getting in front of people throws you off. If you aren’t comfortable playing in front of people because you don’t really understand the music as well as you could and need more practice, then practice until you feel comfortable with it.
As far as staying motivated and inspired goes – what are your goals? It can be to master a piece of music or pass an audition into music school or a bunch of different things, but without any kind of direction, I can see why you’d feel a lack of motivation. At some point the “why” of what you’re doing needs to be clear (as in, “why am I spending all this time practicing?”). Maybe your teacher was a good fit for you for a year or so, but he isn’t any longer. Maybe you have goals now that your teacher isn’t acknowledging anymore. What do you want? I ask my students what they are interested in learning, which gets them thinking about their goals, and that way I know what to prepare for them.
Having said that, your teacher ostensibly knows more about guitar than you, and can teach you some things that are off your radar, and that can be great in terms of learning new things that you never would have otherwise. But if it’s at the point where you just don’t care about the curriculum he’s giving you, then I would talk to him and tell him what you’re interested in learning, and ask to focus on that stuff in lessons. Be aware that what you want to do may not be his specialty, so if you want to learn blues but at heart your teacher is more of a heavy metal guy, then it could be time to switch teachers.
Lance V. teaches music theory and guitar lessons in Portland, Oregon. He works with beginners to advanced players of all ages, and has taught at lesson centers in the Greater Boston area and in Portland, OR. Lance joined the TakeLessons team in September 2013. Learn more about Lance, or search for a teacher near you!
Photo by lonelanternsociety
Suzy S.