"I don't get out of bed for less than USD24,000 a day." - Linda Evangelista

I wish I was in a position to say that!

Standard price is RM90, but if you're travelling to their house, can charge extra RM30. That's for grade 1 practical. If include theory, I round the package to RM190.

Grade 2 practical: RM110, theory: RM90.

Grade 3 practical, RM130, theory: RM110.

So on & so forth. But of course, the above doesn't include teaching materials, books & exams fees.

Mine not half as lucrative as that haha. I teach at a centre. Fees are Rm100, and I get half of that : /

But as was said before, you get more students teaching at a centre.

The most I ever had was 3 students. And they all stayed so far apart travelling was a real b****.

OK, i'm going to bring up this thread.

I'm currently a music teacher teaching in one of the local music schools. I'm currently teaching basic acoustic guitar and i have just had my first session last week with a 15 year old. He seems pretty interested and well, that makes things easier for me. There will be more students coming in after CNY. So what i'm worried is that i will be teaching 2 students (with different levels) at the same time. Any suggestions on how to tackle this?

where do u teach?
do u mean 2 students in one class at the same time?

i teach in Kedah oh. Yes i mean 2 students in one class at the same time.

well, for sure one student is gonna get bored.
and you have to see what level both are at.
maybe you could teach one how to strum some rhythm chords, and have the other solo over it.
then you go out for teh tarik

ive never taught in a formal music school before so i wouldnt know.

i guess itll really be time wasting. however, its good as u're payed by the hour right? haha.

maybe u can try teaching one theory while the other practical. then the other half of the lesson u switch.

erm.. i don't teach theory cos they already know theory. And no i'm not paid by the hour. My pay depends on the number of students i teach.

Im not a teacher, so take my suggestion if only you think is beneficial. This is just a thought.

When teaching, I always believe that "GUITAR LESSONS SHOULD BE INTERESTING AND FUN". Although it is difficult to keep the lessons fun/interesting everytime, but try as much as possible to make the class interesting and fun.

When having 2 students, say they are at different level in guitar playing, I would try to find a level where both students can merge. If the student who is more talented has to go lower to a level where the other student can follow, I would do that... provided Im able to keep the talented student lesson interesting to him.

for example, studentA guitar playing is at higher level than studentB.

Say, you want to teach Stairway to heaven. StudentA knows how to play but studentB still new and learning. The teacher can find a way how to merge both. ie, maybe studentB learn the simple part whilst studentA learn the more difficult part.

Or, if studentA can play the lead easily, challenge studentA to play the lead at different positions on the neck.. for example. (Challenging ones skills usually keeps students at their toes). In the meantime, studentB can still practise the easier part. The teacher can join in when necessary... ie if by the teacher joining in with playing Stairway to heaven makes the class interesting and fun, then do so.

Just a thought...

I don't really haf experience with group classes...so nothing much to say...but as for tackling student...i haf a suggestion...especially for 12yrs old and above...most of the new student will buy a beginner book at the store itself...and if u teach according to the book 100%....he/she will eventually get bored...imagine they have to play red river valley and when the saint go marching...those songs r juz too old for them unless they like that n i doubt so...
what i do is use the book they bought as reference for basic things like fingering,strokes...etc...etc
i'll get supplementary materials for them...like chords for "you and"..."boulevard of broken dreams"...and guess wat...they like it...
this is the way i teach acoustic guitar...

I've taught for a few years till recently college duties called and i had to drop them all.

For the teachers, you should always be prepared.

Before you attempt teaching, you should have a set of rules on what,how and when to teach. I have learnt under alot of teachers and i notice a trend in Malaysian teachers is that they let the students learn what they want to learn and teach them things that will not relaly improve ones guitar playing both in theory or in practical.

I always tell my students that my objective as a teacher is to make you a better guitar player and not teach you songs where you can learn yourself at home.

Have a teaching set for your students that is set at different levels, like level 1, 2, 3 etc etc. and make each level both interesting and also knowledgeable.

i usually give my level one chords. Teach them all the basic chords in major and minor, explain what is a chord ( I III IV, minor b5) etc etc.
Give fun exercises like teaching them To Be With You, When You Say Nothing At All, but always remember to add in theory elements if you can. Most of us don't even kno how a Major7b5 chord works.

And at every level inform your student, "ok, congratz, you passed this level now you kno how chords work etc etc". This will encourage a student. Don't forget to use songs that the student dig, if he likes metallica teach him a metallica power chord song or change it to open chords etc etc..

Look long term. First class get to know your student and talk to him. Learn about his experience, his level of playing, his music knowledge, technical profeciency, and as much about his as possible. Then apply the above to him. If he is a "level 3" student then start him off at level 4 etc etc.

Your main aim is to empower your student with knowledge that he can use, teach him a particular song if he is having troubl but don't dwell. You must let him work on songs so that he can grow as a guitarist, being able to read notes/tabs.

I think i'm forgetting some things. . . will add on when i get around it. . . just got back from a long journey. .

This post has been edited by Equilibrium777: Feb 20 2007, 11:50 PM

I teach bass, and have attempted to teach in a group before. It just doesnt work. It ends up being more of a clinic where you have a Q&A session.

And my favourite opening phrase is "Learning bass is one of the most boring things i have ever done. But you have to learn it in order to play it and have fun"

on trying to do in a group, best is you persuade them to go break up into individual sessions.

there will be distractions and slowing down when there is different levels but if both levels are the same then it may work out as they can learn from each other

thanks for all the feedback. My studens currently know nothing about guitar. Therefore i have to teach them chords and scales before i can teach any song yet. And about the Level 1, 2, 3... can you give me more explanation on this equilibrium777? Thanks.

When i taught guitar i had different sets of teaching material catered for different types of students.

The teaching usually starts with basics like the proper way to hold a guitar(i always make sure they have their thumb at the back and not wrapping the neck to prevent future bad habits, hwo to hold a pick),the basic 6th string E to 1st string G, the basic 7 major and minor chords, how and when to implement them, what makes a chord, the Maj Min Min Maj Maj Min Dim rule and songs to back up what i teach.

This equips all of my students with the basic understanding of the fundamentals of music and chords. After this i usually tell them that they can learn simple strumming songs by themselves without my help and wasting our time learning simple songs as they have the basic grasp of how to play the chords. Unless he reaches a really dead end then he will present it to me in class and i will assist him, but because of his prior knowledge it usually ends up him actually knowing it but just his inablity to apply or understand.

I would later move on to chromatic exercises to start building up left and right hand coordination, always stressing on alternate picking both starting with up and down for the 1st stroke, and the 5 pentatonic (maj and min) patterns. Tell them what is a scaled, the why of the scale, how to implement the scale, etc etc. And always give songs to help in this, usually a hendrix song or some simple blues number.

And i will continue on from there depending on how the student progresses, usually my students slow down at the pentatonic stage as they aren't really interested in what lies after that. They mostly wanna just be able to read tabs to play songs and play a few cool solos nothing fancy. The few who made it past the pentatonic stage will then develop different musical tastes. From their musical tastes, i will continue teaching what they are interested in. For example i had a student who was really into Dream Theater and i started to teach him the ways of John Petrucci, Chromaticism, Modal runs, open chord app, all the Petrucci stuff and go deeper into theory. Another was very into smooth Jazz so i taught him complex chordings, whole tone runs, and stuff like that, another was into the neo-classical so i taught him alot of Sweeps, Pedal Tone Licks etc etc. It all goes down to how you react to the student as no one student is the same.

Just be really patient, and make friends with your student. Break the teacher student barrier as it is easier to teach in a friendly enviroment then in a tensed teaching enviroment.

first lesson.
POWER SLIDE

wow i don't think i myself is up to your level 1. i guess i need to polish more on my skills. My students just want to learn how to play the guitar to impressed girls. But i think i better get myself ready just in case i might have more serious students later.

later one day see a student play a song for you

hehe.. i wouldn't mind if they play a song for me but they are way too young for me ma.