GuitarSteve.com

With new students who have never played the instrument I like begin with teaching how to hold the instrument correctly (guitar or bass in this case) and getting them to play some very basic open string exercises in time. Short etudes or jams as they could be called today.  Then we progress to fretting the instrument, playing simple songs, chords, reading, etc. Emphasis is on building good technique and learning simple songs in a casual, results oriented manner. 

With more experienced new students, I try to find out where they're at in terms of playing. We pick it up from that point and gradually fill in the gaps while introducing new concepts along the way. 

I have been playing guitar since the mid 70's. Studied music in college pursuant of a minor degree. Have played in bands but am especially proud of my 90's era original music group. My father was a musician and music educator so I have been effectively taking lessons since a young age. I developed early an affinity for the guitar and have a knack for refining my technique through observation, experimentation, and a healthy appetite for practice and self discipline. I routinely study music theory and it's one of my favorite topics to teach. I teach electric guitar in the rock/blues/jazz vein as well as correct techniques for steel stringed acoustic, classical, and flamenco guitar.  

Lessons start at $25 per half hour session. Rates depend on the distance I have to travel so the price varies slightly depending on location of the student. I give special rates for longer sessions as well as multiple lessons, back to back in one location.

i began teaching in high school and had a few students in college. Came back to it later on and decided back in 2000 I'd like to do this full time. I've learned a lot along the way through actual teaching experience and have developed a casual approach that is focused on results. 

I work with all ages from 5 years old and up. Youngsters and adults alike, some with playing experience and some brand new to the instrument. I teach those interested in casual fingerpicking, classical, blues, and jazz enthusiasts as well as classic rock students and heavy metal heros. All of that aside, my most satisfying teaching experiences have come from working with those who have special needs. Those have been an unexpected but gratififying experience. 

Any time my students practice and succeed are teaching events that I'm fond of. 

I would find those willing to provide references and a free trial lesson. Also, you want a teacher who can understand your short and long term goals and present a clear path to achieve these. It's also important to have a teacher that will challenge you with new music and techniques.  A teacher who challenges themselves with creating personalized and effective lessons for each individual student is also vital. Avoid those who rely solely on the method books and opt for the innovative and creative instructor. 

A great question a student can ask themselves is "If I could play any song right now, what would it be?"  It's a good insight into someone's musical aspirations. 

As far as asking the teacher a question, a good one is to ask about an expected time frame and effort required to achieve a specific goal. This varies from student to student but it'll give you a more realistic expectation of the task at hand.  "What can I do to become a great student?" is a great question.  Great students do better than mediocre ones and everyone has the potential to become a better student.  "How much of a financial investment do I have to make in equipment?" Expensive guitars and amps are not the way to go at first. You can do a lot with a pawn shop guitar and some effort. Ask about the ratio of learning to play and study actual songs, riffs, and phrases versus practicing scales, finger exercises, and studying theory. A good balance is 75/25 or 80/20 as in the 80/20 rule. Believe it or not, you should be studying real world musical examples 75-80% of the time. There's plenty of finger exercises, scales, and theory in those if your teacher knows how to utilize them. Then 20-25% scales, etc. It's a general rule of thumb among accomplished musicians.