Attention Guitar Teachers!

[fanuvbrak]

When you get a new student, do you have a standard test to determine their skill level? For instance: Do you start with, "Play a G in an open chord position. Now play it as a barre chord" type of thing? Or do you just have them play and you get a feel for what they know?

How much is an assessment like this?

 

[Mark Wein]

If someones been playing for a while I'll ask them to play a few chords starting with whatever open chords they know. Then I'll usually ask them how many places they can play something like a C#minor on the fretboard. After that I'll have them play some songs that they know. That usually gives me a frame of reference for what their abilities may be. After that we'll talk about what they are looking for out of their lessons and then I'll make some recommendations.

If a prospective students isn't 100% they want to sign up I'll do a free first lesson....I'm pretty confident that most folks will sign up and if they don't that's fine, too.

 

[fanuvbrak]

Interesting.

Thanks.

 

[Mark Wein]

Interesting.

Thanks.

No problem.

Most experienced teachers should have no problem giving a free first lesson. It's pretty standard around here. If they can't convince you in 30 minutes to an hour then they shouldn't be teaching in the first place.

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

for an intermediate or advanced student who obviously knows how to play the guitar, i ask them what they want to learn. most of them say "i want to learn how to solo". i say great, play a G chord. they play a G chord. then i ask them what the notes are in the G chord and they stare at me blankly. from there, i suggest the Guitar Fretboard Workbook and start talking basic theory. some of them stick it out, but most just came to learn a few new licks and be on their way.

 

[Modern Saint]

for an intermediate or advanced student who obviously knows how to play the guitar, i ask them what they want to learn. most of them say "i want to learn how to solo". i say great, play a G chord. they play a G chord. then i ask them what the notes are in the G chord and they stare at me blankly. from there, i suggest the Guitar Fretboard Workbook and start talking basic theory. some of them stick it out, but most just came to learn a few new licks and be on their way.

Similar! Some would just want to learn a specific solo by an artist. In that case I used refer them to another teacher as this student was more into learning licks or a way to play a passage they may not have been able to figure out rather than play the guitar - sorry but that was my compromise. If the student wanted to play guitar then we would continue.