It’s no coincidence that movies and television shows seem to always star a main character who plays the guitar. Playing the guitar is an incredibly popular pastime, and many teenagers do it, no matter what their other hobbies and interests are. The guitar is super portable, and relatively easy to learn. If you remain focused on learning to play the guitar, you can strum along to all your favorite songs once you’re proficient.
In-Person Lessons or YouTube?
If you’re a teenager, or the parent of a teenager in Southbury, it’s a good idea to consider guitar lessons. Now, before it sounds like we’re dropping the hammer on YouTube, give us a moment. If you or your teenager is watching YouTube tutorials to learn, we get it. It’s very convenient. But consider what you really want out of the time spent. And then, consider taking in person guitar lessons with us at Southbury Music Studio. Let’s talk more about playing the guitar and why it’s so important to learn about the instrument in person.
Advantages of Watching YouTube Videos for Learning Purposes
Now, although we encourage you to get in person lessons, there are a few advantages to participating in YouTube guitar lessons. For one, if you aren’t quite sure whether you’re interested in playing the guitar, watching beginner YouTube videos can help you decide. After watching a few “learn to play guitar” videos, are ready to commit to the instrument? There are some benefits to online tutorials. You can pause them, rewatch them, and participate in them whenever you want.
Disadvantages to Watching YouTube Videos for Learning Purposes
In our opinion, the disadvantages that accompany watching YouTube videos to learn to play guitar outweigh the positives. Students who learn only by watching YouTube videos are not going to be able to get feedback from an instructor. In addition, when you’re watching YouTube videos, you’ll have to vet each video to ensure that it’s providing you with quality instruction. The guitar playing student runs the risk picking up bad habits from the YouTuber. There’s no way to confirm who created the videos. In many cases the people on-screen aren’t qualified to teach the instrument. In fairness, even a good guitar player may not be a good teacher. Teaching, especially teaching a musical instrument, is a skill all by its self.
Progress Will Happen with an in Person Teacher
You may be a bit more familiar with the pros and cons of YouTube video guitar instruction. However, it’s crucial to understand why in person instruction is so impactful for teenagers. For these 3 reasons—and more—teenagers will benefit from in person guitar instruction:
#1 Discipline Is Required: Watching a YouTube video to learn to play guitar can be convenient. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to stop learning when you aren’t held accountable for showing up to a lesson. At an in-person lesson, students are mandated to come to class. That means they’re less likely to give up playing the guitar before they even start.
#2 You Receive Feedback: Comments and directions are crucial for improvement and encouragement. This is true whether you’re the teenager learning to play the guitar or you’re the parent. Feedback from a qualified music instructor helps the guitar student direct their time and efforts. Getting in person guitar lessons will ensure that you get thorough feedback from a qualified professional. This is particularly true as all guitar players have unique needs.
#3 Confidence Will Come: Dear parents, this is not a complaint about you! We’re musicians and instructors in Southbury and throughout Connecticut. For YEARS we’ve witnessed that teenagers feel more confident when they’re out of the house for guitar lessons. In a separate setting, learning amongst other people, teens often dive into their lessons. Don’t worry. In most cases they love coming home to show you what they learned!
Land, learning a new instrument is already proven to increase your young student’s confidence. Teenagers seem to specifically benefit when they’re actively learning in a community of in person musicians.
Now’s the Time to Learn the Guitar: Choose Southbury Music Studio for in Person Lessons
Stop saying you want to play the guitar and, instead, start learning to play the guitar! It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played an instrument before or has experience. If you want to get better at playing the guitar, in person lessons at Southbury Music studio can benefit you. Teenagers love learning the guitar. Adults love learning to play the guitar, too. Our instructors at Southbury Music studio are experienced in working with both. We’re always eager to take on new guitar students. For more information about our classes and services—and to speed up your success—be sure to contact us.
