Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Most Effective Way To Learn The Classical Guitar

By Peter Terrence


I have been teaching for 30 years now, both in public and state schools and in my personal home practice. I have found no 2 students study the same manner or speed. It is best if you learn with a professional Classical Guitar Tutor, as they understand what are realistic targets for your learning, and will set credible plans in keeping with that. These modest targets will keep you stimulated and make sure you go on to learn the Classical Guitar in the long run.

If you are a total novice, then a regular half hour lesson will be a good start. You will soon know the essentials and the more you learn, the more enjoyable it becomes. Learning to play the Classical Guitar is just like learning how to do anything else in everyday life, the more time you invest doing it and the more hard work you put into it, the more it will benefit you. I used to spend hours a day rehearsing whilst I was studying. Of course, not everybody may want to focus on the Classical Guitar as a profession, and instead as a leisure activity or as a talent. Studying by yourself will be hard, and you may find yourself becoming let down with your development or not being able to see an improvement. The Classical Guitar is technically complex, so having a Classical Guitar trainer there will give you the assurance that you are learning the correct way.

Ok, so you've decided to learn the Classical Guitar with a professional teacher. What do you have to get? Make sure you have the correct Classical Guitar. This is obviously the most important thing! Most good online and offline stores will have a dedicated section on Classical Guitars, however your teacher may highly recommend a particular one. Make sure that you get the correct size, as if it is too small your playing posture will develop poorly and if it's too big you will find it hard to reach across the fretboard. These specifications will depend upon your physical size etc, so talk to the shop staff or your Guitar Tutor.

Arrive at your first lesson with the appropriate guitar and any music books (if your teacher has recommended one for you). If it is your first lesson, it is likely that your Classical Guitar Tutor will already have some music books and helpful information for you to work from. Whilst picking your teacher, check they are a member of the ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) or Musicians Union, and that they have an up to date CRB check. It is always a good sign if the music tutor has a music room or studio if lessons are to be held at their residence. Obviously, for a guitar tutor to be in a school, they will have been CRB checked and are usually a member of one of the organizations I have just brought up. But it would be a positive thing to check to ensure.

As a parent or guardian, don't feel afraid to speak to the teacher direct, and ask to see the CRB or Membership number if you want to.

Some people who don't want to agree to individual lessons right away, could do a shared lesson with a friend but be warned, one of the friends may learn faster than the other one, so you run the risk of the quicker one being bored and the other friend being frustrated. This can be eliminated by having separate lessons right from the start.

Duet lessons and ensemble groups are the best way of playing together in a non comparative environment.

The Classical Guitar is a beneficial instrument, and can help you to connect with your inner guitarist! I hope you enjoy your voyage in learning to play the Classical Guitar.




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