Well, the reason why I go is mostly for the atmosphere, as you really can’t get that anywhere else. Now, if you’re really serious about lessons, I think that you have to tell your teacher upfront, and I’ve heard that if you ask teachers technical questions, they will gladly teach you.
Typically, there’s about 10 students in a small room, and then the teacher teaches a tune, phrase by phrase. He makes everyone play the part of the tune he just taught, and then keeps on teaching the tune. If someone ibviously isnt mastering the technique, but has the notes, the teacher will seldom stop him and say “hmmm, you could improve your technique there and there”. The reason? I think it’s because there’s way too many students in classes. You know, when there’s 10 people, and 4 of them can’t get two straights notes in a row, I understand why the teacher won’t stop and teach technique to each of the students as we’d be stucked on the same phrase for 3 hours.
I actually feel as if there’s a lack of leadership with the teachers I had so far, whether it is Geraldine McNamara, Sean Ryan or someone else I can’t remember. If a student is clearly less skilled than others, the teacher should send him/her in the class below. As far as I know, the teachers won’t do much or say much, they will “go with the flow”. So, you need to ask the manager yourself to be moved up a class, and most of the time I was stucked with many students who clearly were not as skilled as the others.
Last year, I was supposed to be with one of the most advanced class with Sean Ryan… Well, 3-4 of the students didnt have a clue, and still the teacher did nothing about it. Well, one of the guy decided to switch class, to go with the other “advanced” teacher, and I’ve heard it was a good decision, the other teacher was much more strict and based his teaching on techniques. I even heard of one teacher who made his potential students play at the beginning, and he told of them “this is not a reel, get out of here!”. This is the type of teacher I’d want, someone who goes straight for important stuff and tell you if you suck.
This year I might take a chance and get the lessons, but then I’ll be very aggressive and ask for an advanced teacher who teaches technique…
