How Long Does Learning the Guitar Take?
Have you ever stopped to think about how many of your favorite pieces of music contain guitars? Whether as the lead instrument or a support, guitar is a favored instrument across the planet. And for that very same reason, it’s quite common for many people to want to learn how to play the guitar. At the Southbury Music Studio, we work with our guitar students every week. Some of our neighbors in Southbury want to impress their friends and loved ones. Others are simply drawn to the beauty of the guitar.
Naturally, it is not as easy as simply picking up a guitar and strumming away. You will need to give yourself some time to the more simple and the complex lessons to be mastered in order to play a guitar. The good news is that you can start on the journey to learn how to play right away.
Set a goal for yourself (and join us at The Southbury Music Studio) and you’ll be surprised by how quickly you grasp and perform the basics of how to play a guitar. For example, this is the perfect time of year to set a goal of learning how to play the guitar by Christmas. If you set this as your guiding star and focus on the steps outlined by your Southbury guitar instructor, together you can make it happen.
Making Progress with Guitar Lessons Requires 3 Things
There are a few factors that can make a huge difference when it comes to how quickly you will learn to play guitar. The elements that you need to focus on can be boiled down to three things:
#1 Specific Musical Goals
Many music students begin because a piece or genre of music inspires them. You may be drawn to a particular musical artist. Perhaps there’s a technique that you want to master. Your musical goal for the guitar may range from playing at home with your family to playing in a rock band.
We enjoy music and want to share that with our students. So, when our students arrive saying, “I want to learn this!”, we’re all off to a great start.
The Southbury Music Studio has worked with hundreds of Connecticut students. Whether our music students are youth, teens or adults, one fact has become very clear. When our students define a specific goal they want to achieve, progress is more rapid and so is their enjoyment of the process.
#2 A Knowledgeable Instructor
We all learn best when we have an instructor who truly knows what they’re doing. We can try very hard to learn something new. It’s only when someone with the heart of a teacher jumps in that we are truly able to learn on a deeper level. This is why it is so important to vet the instructors that you may consider using to help yourself learn the guitar. Not all of them will be on the same level. At Southbury Music Studio, our guitar instructors are very often performers, as well.
Another thing to think about when reviewing the instructors that you may turn to for guitar lessons is which are truly able to understand you on a personal level. Simply put, you should only work with someone who learns how to communicate with you in a manner that will work for you. This provides you with one of the greatest opportunities for success with your chosen instrument and a lifetime of enjoyment.
#3 The Discipline to Practice
Early practice can be challenging and many would-be musicians stop right here. Do you exhibit the dedication necessary to learn how to play the guitar? Sure, there are plenty of people who say that they want to learn this skill, but not all of them carry on to practice each and every day like they should. The failure to practice will lead to a devastating waste of your time and talent if you are not careful.
It is not easy to stay on the straight and narrow when it comes to practicing playing the guitar. There are so many distractions in our modern world, and it is easy to get called away by something else when you don’t truly feel like playing. However, you need to do everything within your power to stay on task and finish the lessons that you have started. While it’s important for the student to display focus to learn, a good guitar instructor will also encourage and direct.
Your Instructor Should Understand Your Goals
Do you have an instructor who understands your goals when it comes to playing the guitar? Is he or she willing to work with you as you develop those skills? Can they get you to the place where you want to be? Those are the types of questions that you need to ask yourself when you start to shop around for the instructor that will teach you how to play. We think you’ll find enthusiastic and talented guitar instructors with us at Southbury Music Studio.
You may have already decided that the Christmas deadline to learn how to play is a good one for you. If that is the case, then you need to work with an instructor who understands your timeline and wants to help you reach it. As you search for an instructor who can do just that, keep your timeline in mind.
Not only should your instructor be capable of helping you reach this goal, but they should have the ability to communicate with you in a manner that resonates with you. After all, they are going to be teaching you something rather complex. It’s always best when this can be boiled down into easy-to-comprehend terms. Always review your goals with them right from the start so there is no confusion or miscommunication along the way.
Create Your Practice Schedule to Learn at Your Pace
Be sure to set a schedule that will allow you to practice at your own pace. This will help you stay on track. It’s all about ensuring you have enough time in your day to learn your lessons while not burning yourself out. That kind of schedule will look a little different for each person. So, give yourself some flexibility in your practice schedule when you first create it to allow for tweaks as needed.
You CAN learn to play guitar before Christmas gets here. But to do so, you’ll need to firmly dedicate yourself to the mission. If you ARE ready to do so, then you can start taking this seriously and gear up for your lessons at The Southbury Music Studio. With great instructors and the right practice under your belt, you can join in with the music of Christmas. Picture yourself playing the guitar well and use that as your inspiration. If you do so, there is nothing that can stop you. For more information about how to get started, reach out and contact us right away.
