How to Choose a Guitar Teacher in Southampton

So you want to learn to play the guitar, or improve on your existing skills?

If you’re trying to work out how to choose a guitar teacher in Southampton, you’ll need to ascertain your individual needs as a learner. Then you may wish to ask for recommendations. Or you could approach a music school or record studio.

In this article, we’ll help you to identify the kinds of teachers that are likely to work best for your circumstances. In the meantime click here if you are looking to book a Guitar Lesson in Southampton near you.

How to choose a guitar teacher in Southampton

Learning to play an instrument is time-consuming and expensive. It’s also a brilliant investment, particularly when you’re learning on a versatile instrument as the piano or guitar. But, particularly if you’re brand new to it, the experience you have during this first foray into learning to play, will be formative. If it’s good, you’ll almost certainly stick with it. If it’s boring, tedious or even stressful, it will always have negative associations.

How do I find the right guitar teacher?

This is why it’s so important to find the right teacher — someone who will inspire, encourage and energise you. The good news is, it’s usually fairly evident who is likely to have this effect, and who will have the opposite impact. It’s therefore important to chat to a prospective teacher before you begin. Many will offer trial or reduced-price first lessons, to give you a chance to see if you gel. It may be you need to try one or two before you settle on the right one.

Here are a few examples of what not to look for!

What skills does a guitar teacher need?

Being a skilled guitarist and a skilled teacher is not necessarily the same thing. While it’s important that your tutor can play fluently, their ability to translate the learning is most vital. They must be able to explain the relevant concepts, break down the basics for you and recognise where you’re at. And of course, it depends on what kind of guitar you wish to play. It doesn’t matter if your teacher has no experience with an electric guitar if you only want to pick up an acoustic instrument.

Similarly, your own level of existing expertise will come into play here. A beginner, particularly a child, will need someone who is able to really simplify the information and make it fun. They don’t even have to be a really advanced player themselves. But if you or your child have already shown a great deal of promise and are seeking to take your guitar skills to a much higher level, you’ll need a higher grade professional, who can get you there. And in this case – especially if you want to play the guitar for a living – the lessons will be less about enjoyment and more about improvement.

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Do you need a music degree to teach guitar?

The music industry does not judge by qualifications. Some musicians choose an academic route of study, while others are self-taught, or have learned via tutoring, rather than through a formal institution of learning. While having a music degree may indicate a more advanced level of music theory and is certainly not a bad thing, it’s not important in music teaching. A teaching qualification may be more beneficial, particularly if you’re planning to learn in a group setting.

Guitar lessons in Hampshire

Next up you need to choose where your teacher will be. If you’re happy to learn remotely, then they could be anywhere. However, learning guitar isn’t like learning a language, or maths. It’s for hands-on. So having somebody who’s physically present will be very useful. Unless you’re prepared to travel a long way, you’re far better working with a Hampshire based teacher, if you live in, or around Southampton.

Your choice will also be dictated by your budget. Be sure to do your sums before approaching a teacher – you don’t want to start on this journey with them, only to discover you can’t afford to maintain lessons with them.

Local guitar teachers

How do you source a teacher in the first place? Well, you may have friends who can recommend their own teachers. If not, or you don’t feel they’re the right fit, you can check out a local music school, or a recording studio offering professional guitar tuition.

Preference over teachers is hugely personal. But above all, you must like them. The tutor-student relationship is valuable in terms of how you progress, particularly at times when learning feels especially challenging. But with lots of lovely guitar teachers based in the Southampton and Hampshire region, you’re sure to have plenty of choices.