ChrisDowning
1 post
Apr 22, 2008
1:47 PM
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I really missed the old message board when it went. I'm back her now, and things have changed for me - nowadays I'm teaching guitar and bass full-time, thanks to Rich's study books and all the help they gave me. (I'd have never believed that when I started studying Theory and Techniques Vol One, in the mid 90's, that it would lead to me becoming a full-time player and teacher ten years on.)
I've spoken recently to Rich about starting or helping to moderate some content about teaching, setting up a teaching practice, and all the templates and business issues you need to address to be successful (well let's say survive before we get too ambitious). Every workshop I attend as a student (and yes I still learn a lot from better players) a lot of guys want to know how I started, where I found students, and how did I build it up (I had 76 students at one point - and they were nearly all one to one's) and how you keep them coming. The other side of earning with your guitar or bass is how to get gigs and meet people who'll book you as a player.
If you are interested in the subject please let me know, or email me, and I'll try and sort this out with Rich and we can get a special heading in the discussion forum as a starter. Perhaps a handbook later on.
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progrock
Guest
Apr 22, 2008
4:27 PM
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Just testing before I post. I would love to have a thread or something on this subject! I'm a teacher myself and the more I learn the better I can help my students and my buisness. I've actually talked with you on the other discussion board Chris but I forget what my user name was. Hope to here more on this subject.
Don
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David83
1 post
Apr 24, 2008
4:03 AM
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What happened to the products by elias and the rest of the instructors I saw on the previous website? Can I find them here?
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Eric E
1 post
Apr 25, 2008
3:41 AM
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Hi David. Yes, you should be able to find the materials from me and the other instructors. I suspect that the link just needs to be added. Guitar College still carries them. You can send an e-mail to Rich if you're looking for anything in particular though.
-Eric E.
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Eric E
2 posts
Apr 25, 2008
3:45 AM
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Chris and Don,
I think talking more about teaching is a great idea. I suspect that alot of us teachers could be good resources for each other (and other students too).
Also, I'm wondering if anyone is interested in talking about particular tunes they are working on too. I've been arranging Stella By Starlight for solo guitar. I like the arrangement that I've come up with, but it's a bear to improvise over (for me). Anyone else ever work on this tune?
--Eric E.
Last Edited by on Apr 30, 2008 6:43 AM
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Rich
2 posts
Apr 26, 2008
6:45 AM
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I love the tune " Stella BY Starlight" and Eric I'm looking forward to hearing you solo arrangement. That tune is usually played in Bb or G. So it's best to practice improv in both those keys. One trick is to only solo over the dominant chords
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Rich
3 posts
Apr 26, 2008
6:53 AM
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Chris, a teaching thread is a great idea. There is a fine guitarist in my area that has an original routine for students.
Every student receives four 1 hour group lessons and two 1/2 hour private lessons a month. This way he can have more students and still give individual attention. The students can along have interaction with each other. He charges $80.00 a month. I thought it was a great idea. He also takes one week off after every 4 weeks as a break for him and his students. Even a better idea!
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ChrisDowning
Guest
Apr 26, 2008
3:57 PM
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For a starter I'll prepare all the templates that I use for drawing up chord charts, scales, TABs and notation, fretboards and the like. I'll sort out a link or a page for this.
Secondly, from my business experiences in big corporates before I went back to teaching and playing six years ago, I'd worked on creating some business development templates for clients - these are the self analysis road-maps that successful business people use so they know what the next steps to sucess are. It's the sort of thing you'll see applied on TV in Gordon Ramsey's restaurant horror programs, or on American Inventor - trouble is they don't let you know how it works, how they are applying these tools, or what they are focusing on. I'll tell you what's going on and how to apply it to your music business - whatever that is - teaching , playing or recording.
Lastly I'll go over all the equipment, books and materials I bought / used (or didn't need) and how you need to set up a home based teaching practise and how to get public school teaching gigs - which are generally the most profitable as you can do lessons back to back up the whatever you can take, and in the middle of the day. (My limit is giving about ten half hour lessons one after another before my brain mushes up - hey, but who said teaching is easy?)
I think those are the three most important things right now.
What do you guys think?
My motivation? I can see me doing some weekend sessions in the UK that would be helpful to other teachers, make me some useful contacts and some beer money as well (just so you know where I'm coming from.)
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Progrock
1 post
Apr 27, 2008
3:15 PM
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That sounds great to me! I've been teaching on a more proffesional level for going on 2 years now and with summer coming up again I could use some tips on growing my client base up. I teach out of a store 4 days and home for 2. I'd like to cut back on the store days and teach more at home. That way I can make more money plus spend less on gas.
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Eric E
3 posts
Apr 27, 2008
6:07 PM
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Thanks for the Stella idea Rich. Its a tune that doesn't seem to lend itself to logical voice leading very well (for me at least). I'll try the dominant chord idea.
Thanks for the teaching idea too. I like that, mixing group and individual lessons throughout the month.
Also, Chris I'm looking forward to hearing more of your teaching practices too. I can always use better ideas for the organization and business end too.
--Eric E
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