Advice on an Instructor?

[mbgreene]

Can anyone shed a little advice on finding a good instructor?

I've been "playing" for almost 30 years but haven't had a lesson in 27. And I probably didn't pay enough attention at that time either . I'm not looking to be a recording artist. I just want to get back into it and improve to the point that I can approach some old friends, not be afraid to play with others and enjoy playing again.

Although I've always owned a guitar, though never the quality of the one I just purchased, playing has been sporadic over the years and I generally would find myself alone in the same rut with the same licks. I also don't know if I can just show up at the local music shop and be assigned, based on schedules, to someone I may not be able to relate to.

Is it more a matter of comfort and rapport than the technical ability of the instructor, or is it better to just find someone who can technically challenge me at first? Is there such a thing as "generic" teaching or do instructors tend to teach better to their own style or influences?

Also, if any of you out there are teachers, what do you look for in a student, and what would be the best way for an older student with some experience and bad habits to present themself to you?

Thanks for any advice.

Michael

 

[MaloS]

bam...if u want to get good technique, look for a jazz instructor, classical instructor would be useless to u, i doubt you even have a matching guitar for that. Basically looks for a specified teacher, not an all round.

 

[koogie2k]

My instructor (also my boss) really put things into easy to learn lessons for me. He started me out on warm up exercises, scales, and chords. Basically, he showed me chords and the related scales. Then we got into modes. He just makes things so much easier for me to learn. He is really big into theory, but teaches it in such a way as to make it enjoyable. Then he assigns me homework. Basically to show me how a "pentatonic" scale is used in a solo and what not. He does this with everything he teaches. He stresses creativity and not just playing someone else's tunes. Even though that is important. People want to hear songs...not just a Lydian mode run....