I have a question for everyone… How long do people usually stick with lessons from a qualified instructor? I started as a self-taught hobbyist during COVID, using YouTube and other resources. After that, I switched to in-person lessons, just for my own enjoyment. After about 18 months, I feel like I’ve built a solid foundation with things like timing, scales, chord shapes, and modes. I’m starting to wonder if I should pause and practice what I’ve learned for a while. Maybe it’s time to apply everything and let it sink in. Any thoughts on this or experiences you can share?
I took lessons for about 2 months before continuing on my own with resources like YouTube and books. You can get a lot of progress if you really think about what you’re learning. In fact, you could cover 6 grades of Berklee in less time than you’d think. There are so many online resources that can help with common technique problems and how to avoid them. If I had to do it over, I’d skip the teacher and go for a coach who just sets the path for me and helps with focus, while I do the rest myself.
I had a similar experience. After 18 months, I felt like my teacher (who was awesome) gave me so many tools that I wanted to take a break and practice them on my own. I also wanted to explore other things the lessons prepared me for. It’s been a year now and I’m still progressing well. I plan to go back in a few months for a couple of sessions just to get feedback and make sure I’m doing things the right way. It’s different for everyone, but this method has worked great for me so far. Good luck!
@Lyle
Exactly! I feel like I’ve learned so much that it might take a few years to really use it all. Thanks for sharing, this helps a lot.
I took lessons for about 6 months, then switched to practicing on my own. I learned the basics because I’m studying music production and wanted to know a bit about every instrument. Now, I’m handling it all by myself. Once you feel comfortable and know you can follow instructions on your own, I think you’re good to go. And you can always go back to classes if it doesn’t work out, right?
@Noor
Thanks for the insight. It does feel like I’ve absorbed a lot of information, but now it’s about processing it all. It’s like trying to soak up a lake of knowledge! You’re right, I can always return if needed. Appreciate it!
I took weekly violin lessons for about 10 years when I was younger, and that helped me a lot. I competed in all-county and all-state orchestras and got into some youth orchestras. As an adult, I’m better at learning on my own, but I still plan to keep taking guitar lessons because I know they help me keep improving.
What are you hoping to achieve with your playing?
Remy said:
What are you hoping to achieve with your playing?
Mostly just for personal enjoyment. A few friends play too, and maybe one day I’ll sit in with them. Nothing too serious.
Do you like your teacher? Maybe they’d be open to occasional lessons? It might be helpful to check in from time to time just to keep an eye on your form and technique.
Haru said:
Do you like your teacher? Maybe they’d be open to occasional lessons? It might be helpful to check in from time to time just to keep an eye on your form and technique.
He’s a pretty cool guy. I think he’d be open to that. Thanks for the idea!
Taking time to work with what you know is a good plan. I’d recommend spending about 10% of your time trying to learn something new. If you want to challenge yourself, mastering intervallic functions and intervals is a tough but rewarding task.
I’ve been playing guitar off and on for 30 years, but it’s only in the last 4 years that I’ve really started to take it seriously. I now realize there’s so much to learn on guitar that it feels like I’ll never stop. Some say it’s a lifelong journey.
I started with a teacher about 4 months in, and I’m still seeing him 4 years later. Every time I have to renew my lessons, I think about stopping, but I stick with it because it helps me improve faster than I would on my own. I’ve reduced the lessons from weekly to bi-weekly, but it’s still worth it. My teacher isn’t into strict structures, so we often pick a song, talk a bit about the theory, and then he shows me how to play it. He also teaches me ways to play songs solo, which makes it more fun to listen to.
I’ve been taking lessons for 2 years now, 45 minutes a week. I’ve been following books with my teacher, starting with blues, then jazz, and now country since I wanted to try different genres. I could have learned this on my own, but having a teacher lets me ask questions and correct mistakes like timing and intensity. As long as I keep improving and money isn’t an issue, I’ll keep going.
I’ve been teaching Seb since he was 8. He was 13 when we filmed this, and he’s now 16 and in college studying music. He still has weekly lessons. If you find the right teacher, it’s all about how much you want to push your playing. Sebastian Broom aged 13
A real musician practices for life. If you’re not committed, maybe music isn’t the right fit for you. Go play video games instead.