As someone who has had guitar lessons from many different teachers over the years, I know how it feels. You ask around, go to your local music shop or look in the small ads for information on how to find a guitar teacher. Then you contact  them, check what they charge per hour is the going rate and book a lesson. Sure they may have been recommended or are well known to other musicians, but are they right for you?

Unfortunately the only way to find out is to go to the lesson and see how it goes. A bit of a gamble to say the least.

So you go in and sit down, tune up and the teacher says, “so what is it you want to learn?” And for most people the answer is “How to play the guitar”. Very few pupils really have a definite idea of what it is they want or need to learn, and expect the guitar teacher to tell them. Ok, you might have a passion for playing something of a particular genre, say, Jazz guitar for instance, but unless you already know a fair bit about it (in which case, why would you need lessons?), the more basic building blocks of theory, harmony, melody etc. need to be in place first.

So this becomes a difficult scenario for both sides. Say you do have a definite style that you want to learn, and the teacher gives you just the kind of lesson you were expecting, what happens when you leave? Even with some notes and homework they gave you, you’re still on your own until next time. This usually means that you aren’t really supported in between times, and don’t much feel like practising or trying to decipher what you were told to do.

The best way to avoid all this uncertainty and feeling of being alone in your quest is to join a Rock school. You don’t get left to figure things out yourself as you are taught both one to one and as part of a performing ensemble. This gives you much more of a focus as you are not only learning for yourself but with and for others. This builds up your confidence and drive to learn more as you can actually gauge your progress with tangible results, as you will ultimately be giving a live public performance.

If you want to be a solo guitarist this is still the best way to learn, as the guitar style of your choice will be catered for by one of the Rock schools guitar tutors (rather than being limited to one that you hope will suit you), and you will still get the performance element which is so important to you gaining confidence as a guitarist.

So no matter what style you want to learn or level of guitarist you are, joining a Rock school is definitely the way to go.