| The world is full of people wanting to play the guitar, it's | | | | Whether you are studying with a private teacher or |
| one of the most popular New Year's resolutions and | | | | investing in an course on the internet you owe it to |
| everyone wants to be the guitarist on stage in the | | | | yourself to do your research. |
| spotlight; the reality is only 5% ever get their playing off | | | | Let's cut to the chase! |
| the ground. | | | | The REAL TEST of any teaching program is: Results! |
| What happens to these would be guitarists? For most | | | | Have any of the teacher/author's students achieved |
| their dream to become a guitarist was just that... a | | | | success? |
| dream, a fantasy at best a wish to become a guitar | | | | If you are contemplating study at a college or with a |
| player, so how do you overcome the obstacles and | | | | private teacher check out their track records first, find |
| learn to play the guitar well? | | | | out: |
| Here's the top 3 tips to playing the guitar well, study | | | | * Have their past students been successful? |
| them and you are on your way, try avoiding them and | | | | * Did the program they undertook enrich their lives? |
| you can join the 95% who have their guitars gathering | | | | * Did the students who were career minded find |
| dust in the garage. | | | | work? |
| Tip #1: Internally motivated | | | | * Were they employable? |
| If you just cannot stop playing the guitar, if you are | | | | * Was the teacher's own playing career successful? |
| constantly listening to music, if you are thirsty for | | | | If the answer to any of these questions is 'no', back |
| information about how music works there's a good | | | | off... surely such lessons, no matter how cheap must |
| chance you are an internally motivated individual. | | | | be a waste of time and money... "you can't learn flying |
| On the other hand if you are waiting at the bus stop | | | | from a guy who has never been off the ground". |
| hoping to be "discovered", busy buying the latest "cool" | | | | Tip #3: Get organized |
| guitar or software that will "play itself" and hopefully | | | | Organize your time and resources, here's a quick |
| help you circumnavigate the grizzly business of | | | | checklist to help you get started. |
| practice... there's a good chance you are externally | | | | Organize your time, you will need: |
| motivated. | | | | (a) to be able to set aside 30 - 60 mins of |
| Only internally motivated players make it! | | | | concentrated un-interrupted daily practice time. |
| Internally motivated players love practice, nobody ever | | | | (b) clarify your goal, what do you want to achieve? In |
| has to tell them to practice and when the going gets | | | | how much time? |
| tough they roll up their sleeves and get on with the job. | | | | (c) write your goal(s) down and refer to them daily, if |
| Their understand that learning music is a discipline and | | | | necessary make changes to your goal(s) as you |
| in the end they end up learning more about themselves | | | | progress along in your musical journey. |
| than they ever do about music. | | | | (d) determine what you want to practice and why you |
| Externally motivated players, spend their time avoiding | | | | want to practice it before you start your practice |
| practice, discipline and study for them the guitar is a | | | | session. |
| prop they don't want to know anything about music for | | | | Organize your resources: |
| them it's all about being a "star" and showing off. | | | | (a) have your guitar set up by a qualified repair person. |
| Before you go any further take a few minutes to think | | | | (b) make sure your practice environment has good |
| about which category you fit into... it will save you a lot | | | | lighting make certain you have full spectrum lighting. |
| of time and money down the track! | | | | (c) invest in a good quality music stand. |
| Tip #2: Quality information | | | | (d) an electronic guitar tuner is a good piece of |
| There's no problem finding information, the issue is | | | | equipment to have at your disposal. |
| finding 'quality' information that will help you achieve | | | | (e) a metronome is also essential. |
| your goals, regardless of whether you are studying | | | | Now you know how the 5% became successful in |
| with a private teacher (which I highly recommend) or | | | | their guitar playing adventures plus you also know why |
| learning via DVD's, books and audio. | | | | the other 95% don't make it, in the end it all comes |
| Here's a checklist to help you qualify the information | | | | down to your own personal motivation for playing the |
| you intend to study it's essential to verify all of these | | | | guitar. |
| before you invest your time and money. | | | | |