I am starting to teach lessons and I was hoping that someone could suggest some good starting points and advice.

Well, any tips?

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

My first decision was a little odd.......

I decided NOT to concentrate on the theory side of music...........just to teach folks how to play the guitar.......... I'm not talkig parrot style, 'copy me' teaching but just teaching the chord shapes, rhythm, scales and improv.........sure there is some theory sneaked in but I don't teach to read music unless asked and just use chord sheets and tab..........

I found most people above a certain age..........about 7 years old in my research..........don't give a rats $@! about learning to read music.

So I stopped the theory side and concentrated on shapes, counting and formulas...........

Works really well in my opinion. If people want the theory I will do it, but progress is a LOT slower normally.

I know this isn't every tutor's cup of tea and I have been ostracised from a good few 'cliques' but I have at least a dozen former pupils playing in local bands, happy with what they learned in a reasonably short time and they call me from time to time for any theory advice if they need.

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

Don't make it too complicating. Start with the open G chord.

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Gary

I can give you some feedback as a student of a guy I consider to be an excellant teacher.
Be patient. Don't take it personal if you say things and it seems like no one is listening. Sensory overload happens a lot. Sometimes I'm concentrating and trying to grasp what I was told a couple of minuets ago and I see his lips moving but it takes me a few seconds to syncronize.
Don't give up if the student doesn't pickup the new material first time through. Usually about the third time my teacher brings up something we've been over before, I realize this must be something important, pay attention and try to get it this time.
The second or third time you have to bring up material, try it from a different angle or in a different context. It might register better.
Almost every lesson during the early months, my teacher would come up with practice exercises for me to do, to fix some mechanical deficency I had. He'd explain what I was doing wrong and how this little exercise would help me to quit doing it that way. Stupid little exercises became important because I realized what I needed to fix.
Don't badger a student to do something right, now!. I've had substitutes that would stop a lesson and not move on until I played something just the way they wanted. I can understand the value to that if it works. But there are times when a student may understand what they need to do but can't get their fingers and mind to get together, and forcing the issue just creates stress that lowers the fun factor significantly.
But, don't go too easy on any student. You know the basics that have to be learned and don't give up until they learn them. They will appreciate it.

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I've had very well known teachers show up with out any plan, and it shows. They would just look at me and say, "what you wana learn?". That sucked. Another one would yell at me if I made a mistake. That sucked too.

If I were you, I would give a lesson to find out where they are at. Then put a plan together for them and talk to them about it, based on what they want and what it's going to take. That really shows the student that you are interested in their progress.

I've taught many different subjects and each time I would start with a basic concept and expand on it until I felt like I was just starting to push them. Then I would let it soak in and explain where it is going to lead. Then review.

New to guitar:
1. how to hold the guitar/pick, posture, how to relax, sore fingers, basic care for the guitar ect..
2. How to tune. They can tune by ear then check with a tuner. Other practice tools (metronome). Also, any questions they have about gear - amps, strings, anything.
3. open chords (Read chord charts - that you prepare)
4. simple songs, maybe they want to learn a particular one (Read tab - you prepare)
5. First scale

Take time to answer their questions and never BS. I've said "I don't know, but I'll find out" plenty of times. Tell them to take notes as they practice at home so you can answer their questions at the lesson. It's hard for them to remember questions sometimes.

An example of starting basic and expanding would be, once they know a major chord and the major scale well. Starting with the chord, then the scale in key, then showing how the chord is derived from the scale. Then let them teach it back to you. Now you've taught them how major chords are made and introduced them to keys, notes, and degrees. Taking a chord from a song they are working on makes it more interesting for them also.

This is loosely how I would approach it. Some people may just want to learn songs and that's ok - it's their money. I would keep hinting at them though to learn some basic theory. But not force anything. They need to know that you have a lot to offer. And keep it fun!!

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My ability to spell is in direct proportion to the amount of coffee I've had.

I am a student, and I absolutely agree with the 2 preceding posts.

Miscellaneous ramblings:

Many people don't have the patience for an "old fashioned" approach to learning something from scratch, so have them bring a list of songs they would like to learn, and see what you might be able to pick out in those songs as "teachable topics". Or find the simple stuff in the songs, and when the student has made progress, come back and review the song from a more advanced approach.

Make sure to include ear training. I consider that to be the "teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" part of teaching someone how to play.

Never say negative things about how the student is playing -- find SOMETHING positive to say. But you have to be HONEST -- BS is usually detected immediately, and the student will lose respect for you.

Unless a student has a specific skill they want you to help them with, I think the teacher should have a plan, not just have the student come up with something to work on. The teacher is being paid to convey knowledge.

If possible, video record the lesson and give to the student (or just record audio). Or, record short examples of how to do key things and send to the student.

Don't be a flake. I dropped one teacher because either he gave my lesson time to another student, or he was going to be gone, or whatever. I could have learned a LOT from him, but he was s FLAKE, not a professional. You can require respect from your students -- they shouldn't be flakes either. My current teacher requires payment 1 month at a time, in advance, and if you schedule a lesson and then can't make it -- no refund, no make up. If you're able to tell him in advance, he will probably work with you.

Sometimes a lesson is just an opportunity for the student to jam, rather than learn anything specific. (As an adult student, with my lesson coming at the end of the work day, once in awhile I need my lesson to be easy, 'cuz my day was lousy.)

Good luck and have fun!

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Shirley Has The Blues

Blacktop P Bass
mim Deluxe P Bass Special
mim P Bass
Ibanez BTB405

Thanks for all the great tips so far.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

So I gave the first lesson today...

Turns out even though the parents claimed he knew a little bit, we spent a few minutes talking about tuning.

The next thing we did was run through some single string exercises just to get the fingers moving. Then I showed him G/C/D open chords. I figured all that would keep him busy for at least a week...if not longer.

I am concerned with one thing...I think his guitar needs a setup to lower the action and make it a little more playable, but that being said, I don't want to start telling this kid/parents that he needs to spend money then more money then more money on gear etc.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

Present it as a suggestion and explain why you're suggesting it. There's probably a good chance the parents want the student to stick with the lessons, and if changing the setup can make it easier for the student to play, then he's more likely to stick with it.

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Shirley Has The Blues

Blacktop P Bass
mim Deluxe P Bass Special
mim P Bass
Ibanez BTB405