Teach only one thing and teach it thoroughly

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This is a question of self-discipline on the part of the guitar tutor.

There you are asking your student to learn a new chord sequence. They're halfway through the sequence when you can't help noticing they've slipped out of 4/4 time into 12/8 or something.

Resist the temptation to correct what is a rhythmic mistake at this juncture. Wait until they have sorted the sequence out and then raise the issue of time signature with them.

Never, never, never try to coach more than one point at a time.

It actually upsets the student (though some won't show it necessarily) and it slows down their learning rate.

Coach or teach one thing - do it until it's done - then coach or teach the next thing.

Internally, the student is almost always finding things harder than they appear to be. Give them time and space to complete the learning of each stage.

Although this advice is simple, the affect of ignoring it may, all on its own, prove to be the difference between your being a successful teacher and an unsuccessful one!

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