Teaching an instrument you don't play

Yesterday my phone rang.  On the line was the Musical Director of a local music school.  “What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?” he boomed down the phone.  My eyes narrowed.  I’d heard those words before and I knew to be wary.

“That depends,” I replied.  “Good,” he said, ignoring me.  “Can you take John’s guitar classes please.”

 And that is how I found myself teaching four guitar classes – from beginner to intermediate levels.

Luckily for me I could play some guitar, but with years of teaching experience behind me, I knew I could wing a lesson or two.

When you teach an instrument you don’t know, you need to focus on common musical features, rather technique.  Staying in time is universal.  Being in tune is too.  Understanding the music in context stays the same no matter what instrument or genre of music you play.

Some basic knowledge of instruments is handy.  Being able to tune a guitar helped me out.  I’m teaching brass this week, and knowing about the harmonic series helps out with getting the right pitch.

A beginner violin teacher I know had to teach cello one day.  While she can’t play cello, she used her musical knowledge and helped the students with things like slurring.

Of course, you can’t properly teach an instrument you don’t know how to play, but from time to time you may need to help out for one or two lessons.  Draw on your prior knowledge, think of what’s universal, and you’ll be fine.  Remember, chances are you have more musical knowledge than the students, so you’ll still be contributing to their musical education.

And how did my guitar classes go? Well, let’s just say the most advanced group, who were learning a minuet, now know that you can’t play a minuet without knowing how to dance a minuet…

P.S. Posts will be limited to Mondays only for the next couple of months.  I'm heading off overseas to live and so am a bit pre-occupied!  I'll be back regularly as soon as I've settled in to live in Japan :)