Let me be the first to say that we should take advatage of all the knowledge at our fingertips. This is not an anti-technological, luddite approach to learning guitar or any other instrument for that matter. There is so much great instructional material available on-line through YouTube and even private websites. I have learned loads through players like Chris Zoupa and Jens Larsen and their Youtube channels. And there are so many more resources like JamPlay where you can learn from master performers and teachers by purchasing pre-recorded videos.
While, I have learned a lot from videos like these over my life, being able to interview, talk with, and take lessons from great guitarist in person was transformative. I learned so much more by being able to interact and ask questions. I think, this back and forth and exchange between two or more people, for me, epitomizes the learning experience.
This kind of learning where we can ask questions, try new things and go back and forth in discussion accelerates our learning process. A study by the Harvard Graduate School of Education demonstrated that interactive learning will double or even triple learning gains and knowledge retention. What does that mean? Well in short being able to ask questions and work on a learning goal with someone in person allows you to learn nearly twice as fast!
In an age when we have unlimited online resources to learn practically anything musically we can’t forget that we humans are actually designed to learn together. With that in mind, here are 5 reasons why you shouldn’t just learn from Youtube.
1. Videos Can’t Correct Bad Habits
Inevitablly you will develop a certain way of doing things. Whenther you play drums, gutiar, piano or sing, because you are different than everyone else you will develop your own indiosyncrcies in your playing. While this can be good from a creative standpoint as you discover your musical voice, it can also lead to bad habits.
Why are bad habits an issue? Bad technique leads to limitations in your playing and performing. As a guitar teacher I have seen so many people come into our studio and wonder why every time they try to use their pinky the miss. Usually the solution, from their point of view, is to not use their pinky. That is until it limits what they can do. So they come in looking for some technical help. It is, more often than not, a simple repositioning of their hand, some exercises and they see immense gains.
This is just one example that I see frequently, but the same is true with body position on drums, how you use your vocal chords and hand position on piano. You are frequently unaware of the bad habits you develop that limit what you can do. Why not get the most out of your playing? If you’ve already invested time and money it’s just going to waste if you aren’t makeing the best use of it.
2. You’re Unique
As I said before, everyone is different: mentally, in body structure, finger or hand size, personal preferences etc. While I might teach the same song in a guitar lesson to three people, each person is going to have different challenges in learning that song.
Because you’re unique you can’t expect a one size fits all approach. This is something we actively avoid at Silversound Guitar. We recognize that you’re preferences and body type are going to provide, not only unique challenges but your unique voice on your instrument, whether that’s drums, guitar, voice, bass or even audio engineering and recording. But, a Youtube video is a static medium. It can’t change with you. It can’t see what you are doing and how to help you improve.
Because you’re unique you can’t expect a one size fits all approach. This is something we actively avoid at Silversound Guitar. We recognize that you’re preferences and body type are going to provide, not only unique challenges but your unique voice on your instrument, whether that’s drums, guitar, voice, bass or even audio engineering and recording. But, a Youtube video is a static medium. It can’t change with you. It can’t see what you are doing and how to help you improve.
Because you’re unique you can’t expect a one size fits all approach. This is something we actively avoid at Silversound Guitar. We recognize that you’re preferences and body type are going to provide, not only unique challenges but your unique voice on your instrument, whether that’s drums, guitar, voice, bass or even audio engineering and recording. But, a Youtube video is a static medium. It can’t change with you. It can’t see what you are doing and how to help you improve.
3. Your playing your goals are going to be different
Just like you are mentally and physically different than the next person, you also are going to have different goals and desires for playing. Some people just want to be able to play along to a song in their bedroom or basement. Others, want to play in a cover band. Some people want to learn to write original music. One person might want to learn to make better solos or improve speed. And yet, another person may be interested in performance competitions. These are all legitimate goals whether you are taking drum lessons, piano lessons, guitar lesson or even voice lessons.
Your goals will determine what and how you learn. For example, there may not be need to play blast beats on the drums if you are in a synthpop band, or to play blazing guitar solos if you are working on being an acoustic singer songwriter. But, how can you know what you need to work on and how?
This is where a teacher can help you hone your craft. Using tools like Youtube to help you learn better is of course not out off the table. Why would it be? I frequently will recommend videos by Troy Grady for picking, Jens Larsen for jazz chords, and Paul Davids for learning licks. Our drum teacher Ryan Ross uses videos from drumeo all the time. But, these are tools. You can’t build a house without a saw and a hammer. However, you also can’t build a house without a blueprint.
This why we have different teachers at Silversound Guitar who have a wide range of experiences and abilities. Each one of our teachers We have multi-instrumentalists who bring different cross-instrument approaches to teaching. We work to help you reach your musical goals. Use all the resources at your disposal. That includes direct personalized instruction to help you achieve the results you want. We are here to help you with that. Contact us today.
