how to find the right guitar teacher

​Finding a guitar teacher can be a daunting prospect. You need someone reliable, someone who knows their stuff and a teacher who can meet your budget. It can take time to find someone who matches your expectations, so here’s what to look for. 
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1. testimonials

​Have some of their current students provided a testimonial for them? Have a read and see what people are saying about them. If the guitar teacher has turned up on time to lessons, provided good lesson content and made the lessons enjoyable then generally people will write a good testimonial which sings their praises (pun intended).
​If there are no testimonials, it may be that the guitar tutor is only just starting their business (which is fine!) or that no one has written them a testimonial. Use that knowledge however you like. 

2. Background info

Guitar teachers will generally have an ‘about me’ section. You should find details about their qualifications and experience.  A bit like a CV. A guitar teacher doesn’t necessarily have to have a teaching qualification (although it definitely doesn’t hurt!) but most will have some kind of music degree or qualification which shows a high level of expertise on their instrument.
​If they don’t have a degree but have some serious professional experience, then this can be of equal value. If they have both, you’re on to a winner.
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​3. A professional looking website

​If you’re looking for a teacher, then the first thing you’re going to see is their website. Is the website clear, concise and professional looking? The website should reflect them as a person. If it is unorganised, cluttered and messy, you could expect the same from their teaching ability. If it sleek and well designed with lots of valuable information, you know the teacher is a professional who takes their business seriously. 
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​4. Price

Not all guitar teachers will advertise a price on their website. This is fine. It might be that depending on your level and location, they’ll need to tailor a price to suit you.
You should expect a fee of around £20 - £30. Any less then this and you might not get the value you’re looking for. You may pay more if you’re looking to learn something specific that the teacher has a niche in, like jazz harmony for example, but you probably know all of this already if you’re at that stage. 
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5. Location

There are few things to consider. Some guitar teachers will have a dedicated teaching space that you can go to or they might come to your location. You might prefer lessons online or Skype.
There’s no right or wrong answer but it depends on what you feel comfortable with. It might be that you feel better having it in your own home, in which case you should check that the teacher offers this service.
​Feeling comfortable in the space where you’re learning can be really helpful in enjoying the lesson and developing a good trust relationship with your teacher.
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in conclusion

The main things you should consider when looking for a teacher is testimonials, background information, a professional looking website, price and location. If you’ve found someone who ticks all of these boxes for you, give them an e-mail or phone call and enquire. You’ve already taken the first steps towards learning an instrument, get the right teacher and playing an instrument will become a life-long passion.