


Helping students establish good habits from the start is crucial. There’s no “one size fits all” approach to teaching. Align lessons with your student’s skill level and goals With this approach you’re focusing on the music first while sprinkling in music theory concepts along the way. For example, if you’re working on Joy To The World with a student you may mention that the first eight notes of the melody are a descending major scale. Incorporate music theory into your lessons in small doses.
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Most want to learn how to play their favorite songs, and some want to learn how to write their own. I can literally see their eyes glaze over if I start talking about music theory for too long! This was a tough pill for me to swallow and I had to remind myself that students take lessons to have fun and play music. However, I quickly realized that theory-heavy lessons can cause burnout and confusion, especially for beginners. When I started teaching I would sometimes center a student’s entire 30-minute lesson around a concept like scales or intervals. I’m fascinated with music theory and truly believe it deepens one’s understanding of music and their instrument. The true magic of teaching music happens when you see a student apply the concepts you’ve taught them to overcome new challenges. Remember to keep the lesson interactive! If you’re teaching your student a bass line, demonstrate first by playing it… but don’t stop there! Have the student play it back to you or play it with them.Īnd don’t always give them the answer immediately! If they’re stuck, give them a chance to figure it out themselves before jumping in. Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away with explaining a concept. Always have the student play during their lesson Be confident in your skills and experienceġ.Seek advice from other private music teachers.Align lessons with your student’s skill level and goals.Always have the student play during their lesson.Level Up Your Private Music Lessons with These Tips While my skills aren’t perfect, I’d like to share some takeaways from my first year as a private bass guitar instructor. Last year I started teaching at an amazing music store in Southwest Missouri, and it’s been a blast! Teaching was outside my comfort zone, but I’ve gained confidence along the way.
