What can guitar teachers learn from pilots?

As a teacher and student I have always found it useful to study how people learn in different areas. Pilots are a good example because unlike most skills it can be life or death. If teaching guitar was akin to flying it would be somewhat like knowing that if one of your students failed it would be potentially fatal for both you and your students. While obviously not that serious being able to produce successful students is the goal of every guitar teacher so its worthwhile looking at the pilot's training manual. What I noticed immediately was pilots used simulators. This allowed them to gain valuable experience without putting lives at risk. When they had gained enough simulated experience they could begin to fly real planes with the assistance of an instructor. Guitar teachers I realised rarely if ever did simulations of any kind. Ironically they would practice guitar for hours every day but would never rehearse their teaching. They would simply learn on the job but the problem with this is it doesn't allow you to hit the pause button and analyse the situation. Pilots will practice a manoeuvre on a simulator over and over again. Taking off could be compared to conducting a first lesson. Practicing what to do and say will ensure a smooth delivery. I began holding weekly sessions with teachers going through simulations and the performance of those teachers dramatically improved. They lost far less students and their confidence as teachers increased dramatically. Aviation is just one example. As teachers we should always be scanning successful industries to see how they get results.

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You need a plan for learning guitar.

When it comes to learning a skill like guitar this is best achieved using a clear structured plan for a very simple reason. There are many different styles of music and of course many ways to play a guitar but the fundamentals are much the same. A clear structured plan is a way of learning that will reliably bring about a result and ensure the fundamentals are being developed. For beginners this is the best way to learn because having no plan is risky. Very risky. By starting with a clear structured plan and reaching lets say an early intermediate level you can then begin to focus on your favorite style. Often when experienced students enquire about lessons with me they are motivated by frustration. They feel like they are not getting anywhere. A structured method of learning solves this problem. If you are learning guitar without a plan I would recommend seeking one out. If you are a beginner it is best to start with a recognised method of learning. At the very least divide your time between a structured method of learning guitar and what I like to call random learning.
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Do you hate your job?

Your job may very well be shortening your life by years. In the book 'The blue zones' the author presents the latest scientific research on longevity. One of the strongest indicators of early death is prolonged stress and for many this kind of stress is the result of their work. Working long hours is not a problem if you enjoy what you do. It only becomes a problem when the job becomes stressful for long periods. Everyday I speak to people who want to start their own teaching business not so much because of the lure of self employment but to escape the stress of their current job. It seems that the more their job pays the harder it is to leave. My advice is simple. Your stressful job will likely shorten your healthy years of life by about 10 years. Throwing in your job might mean you lose the house, the car and your current lifestyle but you will adjust. Now focus all your energy on building your happy life. Study business and within 1 to 2 years you will be earning the same money as your job but you will be doing something you enjoy. You will look forward to getting out of bed everyday and best of all you will have another 10 years or more to enjoy life.

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