5 RED FLAGS - How To Avoid Bad Guitar Teachers

I hear horror stories all the time from students about their past experiences with other guitar teachers. If you have had a bad experience in the past with guitar teachers, I sincerely apologize.

Learning my 5 RED FLAGS on how to avoid bad guitar teachers will surely help. Sometimes you have to go online to find a good guitar teacher. I have been told by many of my students that even though my lessons are online and pre-recorded, they feel like they are in the room with me and have learned more in 1-3 months than they have learned in an entire year taking in person lessons.

WHY?

Because I have a great system and I honestly care about my guitar students. So here my video on the 5 Red Flags to watch out for when working with a guitar teacher.

How To Avoid Bad Guitar Teachers Video Chapters:

0:00 - Intro & Background
0:55 - Red Flag #1
2:13 - Red Flag #2
4:35 - Red Flag #3
6:04 - Red Flag #4
8:16 - Red Flag #5

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Thank you for watching my guitar lesson.

Lauren :)

#LaurenBateman #LaurenBatemanGuitar

[bcnubynby]

VERY good information, Lauren. I'm 71 yrs old and have taught myself the basics with the help of YouTube. It has taken me YEARS to understand that it's all about the journey. I don't have to be Stevie Ray Vaughn or Eric Clapton. Progress is slow but not painful and frustrating if you just remember: IT'S THE JOURNEY and it is unique to me. It's a life lesson that, once you genuinely understand it, can be applied to all aspects of ones life and you'll be better for it.

[stevenritter]

I had a couple teachers that made me want to quit. The one that stands out in my mind was a teacher that refused to teach any chords at all. He wanted me to sight read in all positions 1st. I left after a few months.
The 2nd biggest obstacle was, believe it or not, my mother. At 14 years old she told me that I might learn to play some notes but I would NEVER be a musician. I'm now 63 and that still sticks with me. I won't give up this time.

[Jimgoodwin]

KUDOS Lauren. I purchased your Seven level guitar system seven months ago. What sold me was the fact you are patient and work with old folks like me, I just turned 78 in October. When I started I didn’t know a guitar from a banjo…just kidding. Actually I’ve been exposed to music my whole life; piano, trumpet, church choir, and even guitar at one point. But none of it stuck, because I didn’t like practicing. It is different this time-you said this is a journey. I moved into step four…in fact I received an email yesterday to that effect. I don’t play any of the chord changes to 100bpm, but what I do play sound nice to me at “my speed” I’m sorry for being so long winded just to say “This Gal is the real deal”. Her seven level guitar course and her videos with their close ups of where to place your fingers and why are all excellent. Lauren is the best. Bless you girl!

[zgqzozu]

Every student needs to hear this!! Thanks for looking out for us all, Teach!

[heliplt]

I was so pissed off with my other guitar teacher that I was ready to sell everything and then I discovered Laurens guitar course. She has the ability to think outside of the box and her methods built my confidence up to the point that I can play 2 songs and do a decent job of finger picking, and this is all in 2 months time. I would recommend her course to anyone who wants to learn guitar :) Awesome as always Lauren :)

[GuitarGuideGuruMikePapapavlou]

I've been blessed to be awarded the Guitar Teacher Of 2020 by Guitar World Magazine and let me tell you, this incredible woman is SPOT ON on everything she says!

Thanks Lauren!

[mrcanarsie]

After learning on my own and (with youtube videos) for 2 and a half years I went to a guitar teacher. I told him I wanted to learn Travis picking. He said what's that? I mentioned Big Bill Broonzy and he never heard of him. I signed up for a month but after that first lesson I doubt there will be a 5th lesson.

[davidderitis]

That's why many of us benefit from your lessons Lauren: your lessons are so user friendly, pure and lean no grizzle! Many of my friends tell me they have always wanted to learn guitar and I quickly refer them to you!

[lawrieodwyer]

Hi, Lauren, Thank you so much for your videos, especially this one about the five red flags. I wish I had know this when I was 16, now I'm 67. My guitar teacher ticked all the red flags!! I'm left handed and went to my first lesson and was holding the guitar the way a lefty would, but it was my sister's right handed guitar. He refused to teach me left hand made me turn the guitar around to play right handed. His excuse was he didn't have time to change the strings around for me. So, I struggled to play right handed. He also wanted me to write out songs that I would like to learn. When I gave him my list he shook his head and said no, and gave me pages of chords to practice. Anyway I gave up. Until a year ago I found an online guitar store in Brisbane, Australia, I live in Australia down in Melbourne and this store make guitars for left handers at same price as right handers. I then discovered your videos and subscribed. I'm still a beginner but enjoying your videos. So thank you so much.
Cheers, Lawrie

[JohnHorneGuitar]

I had to brace myself for this video but I found that I agree with everything you say here. Even though I love playing jazz and diving into more advanced (in air-quotes) musical concepts, I LOVE teaching beginners of all ages and helping them to learn to play and sing. Reading music may be important for some players depending on their goals but learning to strum and fingerpick common chords and well-known songs is what is going to be rewarding for the majority of students and will allow them to start playing with others sooner.

[CraigS.]

I’m 65 and resurrected my old dried out guitar from its casket of 41 years. I found you on YouTube recently and so thankful I did. My interest in playing again has ramped up exponentially over the last 5 months, some of that because the inspiration you have instilled in me. I have started going to worship practice with our church group. Considering enrolling in the 7 step. You’re the best Lauren, keep up the great work!

[nicolen.]

There are excellent guitar teachers online who are like you 🙂. You're one of them. You're right, you can know if you're progressing (slow or faster it doesn't matter). Thanks Lauren 🎶🎶🎶

[erniewms]

My favorite red flag: The teacher spends most of the lesson playing.

[grog]

I was very fortunate from the beginning. I bought two guitar courses on DVD. One I won't mention, a total waste of money. The second was Learn & Master Guitar. Steve Krenz is the teacher, and what can I say, he is just exceptional. Weekly workouts or additional knowledge online and the 20 lessons and Advanced workshops on the DVD's. I am now 3/4 of the way through and have the L&M Fingerstyle, and the L&M Blues.
But online at YouTube, I am sick of the instruction that goes like "Finger on 6th string, 4th fret so I generally avoid that. I read music.

[anthonyslattery]

I am doing the 7 level guitar course, and I strongly recommend anyone thinking of taking up the guitar to do this course . If you follow the lesson plan and practice the results are fantastic. I'm on level five at the moment and already looking at the other courses of Lauren, s.

[melodyomorogbe]

I totally agree, I don't like when they spend time just playing and doing solos while you just sit and look

[deans.]

Hi Lauren! You're absolutely right!! There are some great teachers (on YT). But some teachers have no plan at all and mix everything to a confusing content. So you make no progress and learn the wrong things until you quit in frustration. It's so important to learn from the basics and theory up to next levels. Learning digital gives you the chance to repeat as often as you want. So courses like your's are perfect. The positive attitude of a teacher and the fun of playing guitar is elementary. Keep on, Lauren! U'r great!

[timdillontablet]

Lauren.... at 70.. I'm very lucky to have ran into your YouTube lessons ... also I'm very lucky to be able to move my fingers fairly darn well.... also I'm a lefty Lauren... a girl with a vision ✨

[snagswolf]

I once had a guitar teacher (in a classroom setting) who is a pretty well known guitar player in this area. We got to the part where we were learning chords, and he was demonstrating strumming. After class, I went up to him and asked him how I was supposed to strum. (Meaning, what was the strumming pattern?) He just looked at me blankly and said something like, "You just do it."

I'm 62 and I've tried to learn guitar several times over the years. My problem is I just don't have good rhythm. I've tried working with a metronome, but when I play something, it sounds nothing like it sounds in the instructional video. I guess I need to spend more time with it, but it's frustrating.

[grievouserror]

Fantastic points, Lauren! Actually, most of what you're describing applies a lot more generally than just guitar instruction. Developing a curriculum, planning a lesson, knowing your audience and adjusting your delivery to communicate with them effectively are all qualities of a good teacher of anything. Very often, people equate someone's mastery of the subject material with an ability to effectively impart their knowledge to others, but I've had too many Ph.Ds who were terrible teachers to think that's true. Sometimes the two qualities occur in the same person, but those so fortunate are rare gems. As a student, I'd much rather get instruction from someone who might not be a virtuoso but *is* really good at teaching.