Q.   How long does it take to learn to play the guitar?

A.  This is definitely question number one! Unfortunately there is no set answer, but some guidelines might be helpful. A younger student (7 or 8 years old) should be able to keep pace in "The Young Christians' Guitar Method" and perform a recognizable melody within a month or so. Interestingly enough, most popular songs are relatively easy. On the other hand, any musical instrument's mastery is a life-long pursuit that never has to become boring!

Q.  How much practice time is suggested?

A.  This is the 2nd most commonly heard question! Watching the clock doesn't really promote musicality at all. In the beginning it is more about repetition. One good method might be termed the escalating approach; for the first few days of a new lesson, do each example 3 or 4 times daily. As the days pass it will take less time to accomplish this and more repetitions can be done in the same amount of time with each day adding 1 or 2 reps. By the day before the next lesson a student should be playing the assignment 10 times daily. This type of practice is especially useful for children since their fingers are tender and muscle memory takes precedence over musical understanding. The most important aspect of practice at any level is focus! Any musician will attest that 15 minutes of real concentrated practice is better than an hour where the mind is not engaged. Finally, it must be stated that consistency is also critical. You should try to have practice at the same time daily if at all possible. There was a sign in one conservatory that read "You only need to practice on the days that you eat".

Q.  How firm should I be in mandating practice?

A.  Obviously it would be nice if every student loved to practice, but the truth is far from it! The parents and instructor will help by keeping the goal (being able to play well) at the fore of the students mind and reminding them how practice has rewarded their diligence thus far. Since kids live in a world of pretend they may need to be reminded that playing the guitar is much more fun than pretending to play the guitar. (Think "air guitar") If all else fails and enough time has elapsed to allow the slump to pass, it is better to not put a bad taste in their mouth where music is concerned. After all they may desire a return when they are a little older.

Q.  Is reading music really necessary?

A.  We all hear that someone we know doesn't know anything about music. This is really a misleading statement. Music is about textures, numbers, relationships and more. These criteria can be met without the reading of music or speaking the language of music, but this is not the same as knowing nothing about music. It is more like having an inability to articulate about music. But a sight reading method (like The Young Christians' Guitar Method) is paced in increments that actually make things easier than a non-reading method and reading music is clearly a valuable tool.

Q.  Do I need an instructor and how do I find one?

A.  In a rural area an instructor may not even be available so no, it is not absolutely necessary but it is absolutely suggested. A good instructor remembers his own frustrations and their solutions combined with a client history that will speed things up amazingly. A good entertainer may not possess the skills required to convey information in a way that suits the student. The teacher should be gifted in exhortation and a good match in personal criteria  (patience, formality, etc.) and if possible, have a wealth of experience. A truly motivated student might be able to propel himself through a methodology without an instructor, but in all cases the process is faster with a qualified teacher. Your search might include local churches and parochial schools (where the screening process is usually very thorough). The local music store may also provide some assistance.

Q.  Should I start with an acoustic guitar?

A.  This is another very common question. In an earlier time the acoustic guitar was much less expensive and that was probably the main consideration if there was any doubt about the instrument's continued usefulness. These days the prices of electrics and acoustics is quite close in the entry-level department. There are other circumstances; the electric now comes in a variety of scales (sizes) and is fully adjustable, meaning that its playability may be much easier than its acoustic counterpart and the thinner body is easier to get around on. But recall that it is only half of the instrument, an amplifier is required. But virtually all modern practice amps have a headphone jack (a very nice feature). The acoustic has two main types, the steel-string and the nylon-string. The nylon strings  are usually softer and less painful to play but these strings are notoriously difficult (for the early student) to replace when they are invariably broken. The nylon-string guitar (often called the classical guitar) has a warm, soft tone. The most common acoustic is the steel-string; it has a brighter tone and is often a first guitar. Whatever the choice, the guitar should inspire the student and not be so difficult to play as to be discouraging.