Why Study Music With a Private Teacher?
In the age of the internet, with it’s seemingly endless supply of lessons online and most of them are free, why bother? Studying with a school is an expensive proposition. Isn’t it just as good to just go on Youtube and watch your favorite online instructor? Why is it worth the money and time to go to a local studio and meet with a professional instructor?
I’ll say up front, there is nothing that can replace having a “dialed in” and caring person in front of you who has already been down the road you are ready to travel. A professional teacher, who gets to know your personal learning style, can present material in a way that is easy to relate to and absorb. The internet is great if you want to get an idea of a lick or a song. It’s a great place to start, especially for experienced players who are able to sift through the different videos and find the more accurate ones. If you’re just starting out, however, that may be difficult or next to impossible. A teacher can help you find the better sources and then fill in the details that are not in the videos.
Learning the theory behind the song is a great way to understand how songs and styles that seem widely different at first, are very similar and use the same chords and scales. A teacher can start from the beginning and build your theory background with you, step by step. This way it all logically fits together and progresses forward. Music theory online is scattered all over the place and learning from these disconnected sources is somewhat like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle with no idea of the picture or where to find the pieces!
When it comes to the youngest students, starting off with proper technique and an understanding of how to read music is the best way to help children to learn to play an instrument or sing properly. There simply is no replacement for having a caring and competent teacher who inspires them to excel! Kids need mentors and a great music teacher is a wonderful resource in their lives.
These are just a few reasons to consider studying with a private teacher. In the next columns I will explore this topic further along with other ideas such as, how to practice and the best ways of getting the most done in the shortest amount of time.
See you soon!
Until then, keep rockin’ !
Marty :)
