or he can inspire a musician to grow exponentially.
This article will focus on the primary goal of teaching: growth.

If growth is the goal, what allows someone to grow? Once, I was watching my sister play soccer. She was on the high school team, but only played a few minutes each game. During her time in the game, I watched as she hesitated once and used her right foot instead of her left to field a ball. After the game, I could tell she was frustrated. She didn’t think she had the experience or ball skills to play at this level. At home, I took her aside and told her, “I think you have the ability to be a starter on this team right now.” She doubted me but listened because I was telling her something that she wanted to hear. I told her that her height and speed made her more physically gifted than the other girls, and two adjustments can make you a starter.

After giving her this praise, I offered two pieces of advice. First, when the player is trying to gain control of the ball, attack it! If they have control, wait for them to make the move. Second, I told her to use her left foot any time the ball came onto that foot because even if you are not highly skilled with it, it will move in the general direction that you want it to travel. She was happy that I gave her this advice and felt encouraged and excited to try it out.

During the next game, she had her chance to shine and played so well that her coach kept her in the game more than three times as much. The game after that she was a starter for the first time.

The point I am trying to make with this story is that every student has their own abilities and a teacher’s job is to foster growth. My sister can’t juggle a soccer ball 10 times on her left foot but she could make better decisions and that elevated her from a bench player to a starter.

What techniques did I use when I talked to her? First, I used empathy to put myself in her shoes. She was frustrated with herself. She knew her weaknesses. She also knew that she wanted to play without hesitation or frustration. Second, I used encouragement to praise her strengths. Third, I gave her specific instructions on what she can do to improve or mask her weaknesses. The end result was that she had enough ability, she just needed to know how to maximize it.

Empathy and encouragement are the keys to teaching! They open the ears of the recipient to the practical advice that you are going to give.

Now, let’s apply this to the guitar. Every guitarist has their strengths and weaknesses. For example, Eddie Van Halen cannot play like John Scofield and Scofield cannot play like Eddie. Eddie’s big strength is finger-burning rock solos. Scofield’s strength is thoughtful jazz improvisation. You wouldn’t say Scofield sucks because he doesn’t play finger-burning rock solos. He just has his own style, his own pace, his own musical identity.

Every musician has their own identity, abilities, likes, and dislikes. Empathy and encouragement can help anyone grow into a successful musician with their own style. So don’t push someone over the edge, when you might be encouraging someone into greatness.

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