Classical Guitar Learning Methods
The best way to learn the classical guitar
Our ‘Beginner’s Guide To Learning The Classical Guitar’ series is designed to support you with your desire to study a brand new musical instrument. We are here every step of the way, and this section focuses on the types of learning methods that are available.
Most important types of Learning Methods for Classical Guitar
Individuals learn in different ways. Some possess photographic memories; some can speed read, while others can’t read in any way. We are all different, and for this reason, there isn’t one ‘correct’ strategy for mastering a musical instrument.
We have four clear methods of learning. They are:
- Traditional, face-to-face, one-to-one learning
- Traditional, face-to-face, group lessons
- Video Tutorials
- AppsÂ
If you’re a beginner or have been playing for years, one of those four options will be perfect for you. It’s just a matter of finding out which be is most suitable.
Traditional, face-to-face, one-to-one courses
If you think of classical guitar lessons, your first image might be similar to this…
Having exclusive, one-to-one lessons is definitely a remarkable experience if you discover the right instructor. There truly is no substitution for soaking up all the knowledge of your teacher.
Our Founder, Robert Emery, ended up being educated by Ruth Nye at the Royal College of Music. She really was one of the best teachers on earth, and the point that Robert could absorb her experience in 4 years ended up being a priceless gift.
There is a problem, however:
Not every mentor has the knowledge of Ruth Nye.
Actually, the frightening matter is that to be a music instructor, you actually don’t need any accreditation whatsoever. Nothing at all. Zip. As a complete beginner, you could be getting money from people and pass yourself off as an expert. And this, dear viewer, is the largest disadvantage to a traditional trainer:
Quality control.
You have to find a really knowledgeable coach who you connect with. Who understands both you and your requirements. Who will make you giggle? Whom you anticipate going to see each week. Provided you can find this person, you have then attained a little something most people fail at. Being inspired by your trainer is definitely the magical dust that will keep you learning for years to come.
Out of all the alternatives in this posting, this is actually the costliest. But as always with things in daily life, you usually get what you pay for…
PROS
- Personalised feedback
- Lessons Adapted To Your Style Of Learning
- The Most Efficient Way Of Learning
- Can Be The Most Inspiring Option
CONS
- Expensive
- Difficult Scheduling
- Finding Right Teacher Is Difficult
- Requires You To Travel
Traditional, face-to-face, Group lessons
Many teachers also offer group lessons. The ethos is similar to one-to-one sessions, but the cost is much lower as the teacher’s fee is split amongst all the students in the group. Whilst you do get personalised feedback in group lessons, it’s worth remembering that you will progress as a group at the speed of the slowest group member
For orchestral instruments such as violin, group lessons are quite a good idea to start with. The majority of professional violinists, after all, end up as one of many violins in an orchestra.
Whilst Classical Guitar is slightly different in that it is often a solo instrument, many schools have guitar groups or guitar orchestras which students can join as an after school activity.
Learning in a group can be a great way to also get used to the group dynamics of playing with other people.
PROS
- Personalised feedback
- Can Be Fun Learning In A Group
- Cheaper Than One-2-One Lessons
CONS
- Difficult Scheduling
- Limited Choice Of Teacher
- You'll Learn At The Speed Of The Group
- Sharing The Teacher With Others
- Requires You To Travel
Video Tutorials
Free Courses
YouTube is obviously international superpower in terms of video material. You will find a massive amount within this platform for Classical Guitar Lessons and it’s not possible to review all of them.
Like a lot of things in daily life, 95% of the content you’ll stumble upon is fairly terrible, with the other 5% being absolutely fantastic. The trick is to locate the 5%, and that can be easier said than done.
There are countless classical guitar teachers who have posted free video series aimed at beginners and students on Youtube. Make sure you watch a few different people and see who’s most able to articulate their expectations of the student and what the results should be. Evan Taucher’s Classical Guitar Progress Videos are a great start for the adult beginner. Â He is brilliant and is a real indication of where the classical guitar is in the 21st century.
For those who don’t want to shell out money, and are prepared to devote time while seeking for high-quality information that drives you, then there is no better place.
Paid Courses
With thousands of paid programs online, it’s totally unattainable to examine each of them. So we thought we would simply offer the two most desired alternatives:
Â
It’s not just another beginner’s guitar course like so many of the products around. In fact, it appeals to guitarists of almost any level, as nearly all guitarists recognise that they need to improve their fretboard knowledge. It’s also applicable to guitarists in any genre, so the potential market is all but the most experienced guitarists – not just beginners, or blues/rock/metal guitarists, but nearly all guitarists!
And no, it’s not yet another overpriced eBook – it’s a high-quality software application that you’ll love. So try Guitar Notes Master now by clicking here.
Intuition Guitar have created some excellent books and ebooks that can really help kick you off in the right direction. Take a look at what they offer here.
PROS
- Low Cost or Free
- Huge Amount of Content
- Learn Whenever You Want
- No Travelling To Lessons
- Great For Popular Material
CONS
- So Much Choice It's Difficult To Find Great Content
- Quality of Content Is Questionable
- Not Great For Classical Playing
About the Author
Robert Emery
Robert Emery is Founder & CEO of Ted's List. He has performed all around the world as a conductor and pianist. From Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall, Robert has enjoyed bouncing around on stage in most of the major venues in the world. As a record producer, he has worked on fifteen No 1 albums, and hopes he can get to sixteen asap!
The Times called him 'the eccentric barefooted maestro' and the Mail quoted that 'the assured baton was controlled by the rather energetic and brilliant conductor'.
Robert has a wife (Mrs. E), two children (Master T and Master A) and four cats (Merlin, Mulberry, Partridge & Penguin). Between performing, producing, composing and running Ted's List, he runs an entertainment business called The Arts Group, comprising of a symphony orchestra, choir, live event production house, digital TV company and artist agency. Any spare time is usually devoted to sleep.
Other posts by this author
Zoom Lessons
If you’re looking for that one-to-one setup, but don’t want to trek around to a teachers house every week, then online lessons can work really well.
There are A LOT of companies out there that do lessons over Zoom, so you have to be ultra careful the quality is up to scratch. Â But the service we have found that has consistently great feedback is www.lessonwithyou.com. Â We like that they offer a half-hour lesson completely for free so you can try out the service and that they offer flexible scheduling with no contracts. Â They have teachers from Julliard, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins – so the standard is high. Â Lastly, we LOVE that they don’t as for your credit card details for the trial lesson.
Classical Guitar Learning Methods - Summary
If you’ve read this far and you’re still not sure which method suits you best then don’t worry. It’s really common to be in the position that you’re in right now. And many teachers plan for this eventuality.Â
Whether they teach online, in person, in groups or through an online course, most teachers will offer some sort of trial period or money-back guarantee if you’re not so keen after your first lesson.
Even if a teacher doesn’t mention a trial on their site, it’s always worth asking.Â
A good trial will help you decide what’s best for you and it will give you a chance to meet some different teachers and see which ones you have a rapport with.
When it comes to decision time then simply trust your gut. You’ve done your research, you’ve been through some trial periods which will give you a good idea of what to expect.Â
With that newfound experience in hand, you’ll be well placed to make a great decision and get your learning off to the best possible start!
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