Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Should I get a new teacher for accelerated guitar?

Hi,

I'm really stressed out about this and would very much appreciate any advice.

Long story short, I started teaching myself guitar mid-February 2013, learning entirely by chord grids. I couldn't really read music (tab included) until my teacher taught me.

I've been with my teacher (he's only been teaching for a little over a year) since mid-Janurary of this year, and although we get along great, I'm beginning to feel like I've outgrown him, especially considering the things he's been saying lately...

Two weeks ago, he told me I was his most advanced student and that he gets bored a lot with his other students because he's stuck doing basic stuff all day. Today, I asked him what I should do for homework and he told me I was at the point now where I could pretty much teach myself anything I wanted and didn't even have to consult him unless I had a question. He said I'm done with basic stuff. I don't even think he's concerned about my finishing what little book work I have left, to be honest, and it does kind of feel like he's more of a supervisor than a teacher. (He's said before I'm his most self-sufficient student, for what it's worth.)

I'm wondering if it's time to get a veteran teacher who can keep me challenged or if I should just talk to him about it. I feel like he's being honest with me and doesn't want to hold me back just for the money...

Thanks!

Once you have the basic skills, your play is going to be self-led anyway, because there are so many different ways to go with it. You might find yourself wanting to work on blues licks, and your teacher might have no experience with that style, and would be learning more from you than you're learning from him. It would get difficult finding the right match of teacher and student.

There are sooooo many other resources out there for learning guitar, specific to whatever you might be interested in doing, that it may be time to fly solo.

Or, if you prefer the direct feedback and social aspects... find other people to jam with.

What's your objective in learning the guitar? I would start from there in terms of looking for coaching. If you want to become a virtuoso classical guitarist, then, yes, you need a good teacher, and you'll probably have to go haunt a music school. Many graduate students (and profs, too) at music schools will give private lessons.