I’ve been playing for about six months now. I know a good number of chords and scales, and I’ve been working on speed and accuracy. I’m also learning music theory—things like scales, modes, and finding notes on the fretboard—but I still have to count up to figure out what note I’m on. I’m also trying to remember the notes inside scales instead of just relying on patterns, but it’s been slow going.
Since my first lesson is coming up on Tuesday, is there anything I should focus on this weekend to make the most of it? Also, I know I’ll probably play worse in the lesson because I’m not used to playing in front of people, so I’d love any advice on getting more comfortable with that.
Just keep doing what you’re already working on. This isn’t a test, it’s a lesson. The best thing you can do is think about what you want to get out of it and tell your teacher, so they can guide you in the right direction.
No need to cram. Just go in, play what you already know, and show your teacher where you’re at. Then take their advice and practice whatever they give you for the next session.
Don’t stress about it. Keep practicing like you normally do. What might help is thinking about your goals—what kind of music you like, what songs you’d love to learn—so when your teacher asks, you have something to tell them. The more they know about what you want, the better they can help.
Exciting! One cool thing about having a teacher is that it can push you to work harder just because you want to show them progress. I’ve taken a lot of lessons, and that’s always been a big motivation for me. Keep at it! -Josh