In person vs zoom guitar lessons. which is better?
How to pick between virtual guitar lessons and face to face private guitar lessons..
What is the difference?
I have been teaching guitar for over 16 years. Long before covid happened, I specialized in virtual guitar lessons. In fact, I have been teaching virtual lessons for so long that I used to call them ‘skype guitar lessons’, but now everyone calls them zoom guitar lessons. I’ve taught students from France, England, Norway, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, Thailand, China, Mexico and all over the US.
Covid changed a lot of things for music lessons. For the first time, students only had the option of learning online. Therefore those who were always resistance to the modern learning format were basically forced to try it. An interesting thing happened - students liked it. The vast majority of clients who never tried online guitar lessons before realized that it wasn’t just convenient and efficient - it made it easier to learn. Easier? How is that possible?
There are some surprising advantages to zoom guitar lessons.
From my perspective as a guitar teacher, the main advantage of zoom guitar lessons is the fact that both my student and I are in front of our computer screens. We are ready to call up anything in a second. That’s like being on a bicycle compared to being on foot. Having two computers means I can instantly share a song, a chart, some tab, and my student is already in a position to look at it. My student is already facing their screen already with their guitar in hand. This means that as a teacher I can kill two birds with one stone. I can type up their lesson plan, or notes, right away without forgetting, or having to turn to a piece of paper back on my desk. I can transpose or slow down a track and deliver it in a minute. We can work faster and more efficiently. It’s just more efficient allows us to take advantage of the technology we have.
Conversely in an in-person guitar lesson, all of these things are just a little more difficult because of physical space.
In an in-person lesson, all of the tasks above are a little more awkward because then we have to sit side by side in front of a screen, or we have to use a music stand. I might have to pull over the Real book, or a physical chart on the shelf, and then we both have to crowd around the music or sit uncomfortably side by side in front of the screen.
One of the best things about virtual lessons is that you can learn from any guitar teacher in the world. You don’t have to settle for the guitar teacher down at the local guitar store. You can literally have the best guitar teacher in the world. Even if you live in Europe, you can still study with the best guitar teacher in Los Angeles.
Even after covid, there are a few students who are still resistant to online learning, or virtual music lessons. (Which is why I still often in-person lessons.) But I often suggest to students that they try just one online lesson to see how they like it. And 90% of the time, they end up telling me how surprised they are that it was a great experience and they learned a lot. It wasn’t the horrible experience they were expecting. I’ve even had students who absolutely refused virtual lessons because of ‘their style of learning’, but, after trying zoom once, they became zoom converts. They like having their materials in front of them, their slippers, their coffee, their room.
At the end of the day, a guitar teacher transfers knowledge. That’s what a guitar lesson is - simply passing knowledge from the teacher to the student. A guitar lesson can also be a workout session, a student’s only opportunity for weekly practice, and even just a fun hang to chat about gear, recording, and favorite guitar players. The better the teacher, the better the lesson. Regardless of the medium, the most important thing for a successful lesson is high quality instruction.
Whichever your preference - in-person, or virtual - make sure your guitar teacher understands what you want to learn, and that you are getting what you want out of YOUR lesson!
““Travis Raab first off is a great guitar player and a guy that I could just listen to play some kick ass lead guitar. Which is why I take lessons from him. He doesn’t get over complicated and will have you playing guitar like we all dream we can. Check out his site and decide for yourself but trust me you won’t go wrong..” -Bill Engvall (Comedian)”