If you’re looking to become the next big thing in the guitar world then you should really plan your training according to your goals. It may help to first get a guitar and try learning the fundamentals by yourself with a basic tutorial.
Many then choose to pursue an education through an accredited school. There are music schools and conservatories as well as university and college programs and there are many more educational resources that fall under more informal training like workshops, webinars, tutors, and lessons.
Given that you are highly dedicated, any and all of these sources should suffice as long as you remain willing to learn and to be consistent with your teachings.
The ones who really build a career as guitarists and make something of themselves when it comes to playing the guitar never give up on their dreams and don’t quit no matter what.
Musical Education
A traditional way to learn guitar is by attending a music conservatory, university or college program. Many choose this route as it is a coherent process to learn guitar. Colleges and universities are able to give out diplomas for completion of programs and many potential employers may look for this when hiring a potential candidate.
Some guitar programs may include:
- Wilfrid Laurier's Guitar in the Bachelor of Music (BMus)
- Mohawk Colleges Advanced Diploma in Applied Music (Contemporary Guitar) - 980
- McGill University Bachelor of Music BMus - Major Performance (Guitar)
- The University of British Columbia's BMus (Guitar)
These diplomas include comprehensive training in practical and theoretical elements of music. Students will receive instruction and participate in small and large ensembles as deemed appropriate for their area of specialization.
Some courses may have the student audition as well as requiring them to hold the specific prerequisites to attend.
All bachelor degrees take 4 years to complete and tuition can range from around $17,000 to $26,000 dollars Canadian per year.
Upon completion of a bachelors of music or BMus, students will then have the option to continue their studies to achieve a masters degree. A masters degree is 2 extra years of schooling.
PhD’s or Doctorate programs may also be available afterwards depending on your area of expertise. PhD's take up to 8 years to achieve and doctorate degrees typically take four to six years to complete.
Don't be too worried about how long it takes as if guitar is something you enjoy and want to make a career out of this level of education could be a sure fire way to ensure that your dreams really do come true.
Things really do take time to master. Once you do reach such a high level of mastery it is even more impressive to everyone else because not many are able to achieve such a large feat!
Where to get beginner guitar lessons?
Many choose to take lessons at a local music store. This could be a great way to start guitar lessons for beginners. Quality of teaching may vary from place to place and you may want to look around and read some reviews online before selecting a teacher.
You may also be able to find more independent lessons with an instructor that is a local musician, music teacher or friend.
Workshops & masterclasses
The hottest trend lately is masterclasses and workshops. Either sign up for an online masterclass with a legend from the industry or find any other online or local talent holding a workshop.
In some cases these guitar lessons may have you traveling to attend more desirable workshops but it's always worth looking into anything that is available locally.
Online tutorials & apps
Thanks to the latest and greatest thing, the internet, people are learning everything online nowadays! There truly is a nearly infinite supply of online tutorials and information out there, but that can be overwhelming. If you are really into digging through the world wide web you may be able to find an online personality with real talent that provides great lessons.
Platforms like Youtube and Tik-Tok continue to grow in the space of online education and they're both absolutely free. However, sometimes it can be hard to find good free sources and there can be a lot of conflicting information as there are many different opinions and teaching styles online. Sometimes it's best to find a real professional that can save you the time and give you the best immediate information available.
There are tons of paid courses online that may prove to be quite useful and have a higher quality learning experience for your endeavors.
Possible online guitar tutorial sources include; Guitar Tricks, JamPlay, TrueFire, Fender Play and ArtistWorks.
It may be possible to find online paid tutorials and lessons from online learning platforms like; Coursera, EdX, Udemy, Skillshare, Khan Academy and LinkedIn.
Online apps like; Yousician, GuitarTuna, Justin Guitar, and Ultimate Guitar may also prove useful for learning guitar and are worth a shot. Many have features to listen to your playing in real time and correct it. Another benefit of learning the guitar with an app is that it may be more like a game and a more fun and engaging learning experience. Most apps include a free trial but have a paywall in order to learn more advanced lessons.
Be a lifelong learner
No matter what avenue or avenues you choose you should always remain a student at heart. There will always be something new to learn and some new skill to develop when it comes to your guitar playing. You should always remain curious, interested and enthused about guitar and increasing your skills. Play and practice joyfully to really achieve tremendous results over time. If you're in it for the long haul it really makes the most sense to enjoy yourself and your studies.
Create sustainable habits so you don't burn out. Practice trying different methods of learning as well as different times of the day to practice and different lengths of sessions. The more you try the more you'll find out way works for you so you can stick with it!
Train with a guitar tutor
A great way to continue your learning is to work with a tutor to help really solidify your abilities. A tutor will work closely with you and your goals to ensure you are receiving adequate teaching and attention. Say for example you wanted to specifically focus on your strumming. Simply mention this to your tutor and they can create a custom guitar strumming lesson based on your abilities.
It can be hard for a traditional teacher to really give the hands-on experience a tutor can offer. With Superprof we want to make sure you find the proper fit, so the power is all in your hands. Simply look through our database of thousands of guitar tutors across the world and select one based on your own credentials. We offer the first lesson at no cost to you to ensure a great fit!
Closing
In order to play the guitar fluently you are only as good as your knowledge and technique. Ensure you are on the right track with your playing if you really want to take guitar seriously and find the proper education to do so. This could be a college or university, music school or an online tutor. No matter which type of learning you choose for yourself, stay hungry and be a lifelong learner.
There is much to know and new styles to be learned or created, going against the grain and experimenting with new techniques just might be the way to set yourself apart from other musicians and guitarists. Create sustainable habits to ensure you stick with your guitar playing and learning. If you are in it for the long haul don't rush the process as that can just lead to unnecessary stress and pressure for yourself. If being a pro guitarist is something you hold close to your heart then we are sure you will achieve your goal in time.
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