I've taken lessons from two teachers.
With the first, it was in person and we were basically working through Greg Horne's "The Complete Mandolin Method" week by week with a song here and there that the instructor would throw in. I was just a beginner but didn't feel like I was getting much feedback on my playing. I wasn't that good, and worse when I had to play for another person (the pressure!), but mostly the feedback was "alright" and "groovy" no matter how good or bad I actually played. I stopped after awhile.
I'm better now but not great and decided to try live online lessons. I've had a few lessons but I haven't played the mandolin live for the instructor so far. At first I was kind of relieved, because of the nerves, but then it has just continued like that. We basically talk for 45 minutes about theory and tips, with some demo from him. I started sending videos ahead of the lesson and getting feedback in the lesson on the video, and he has created some videos for me after some lessons, but I haven't brought up the obvious question. I have learned a few new things, but this also doesn't feel like the best lesson approach.
Both instructors were nice and great players, and were/are open to basically anything I suggested, but I'm wondering...
- Does anyone have a good structure for lesson and what should happen in it?
- Should the instructor listen to the goals of the student and then plan everything themselves going forward? Or is it a give and take with the student's feedback?
- What makes a good instructor and what do they do that sets them apart?
- How do you set achievable goals between lessons? Work on one thing intensely? Work on a few things here and there?
- How do you communicated feedback as lessons progress about what's working and not?
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