Everyone who has taught for any length of time, knows that teaching is an on going process, never knowing everything, or all the skills to impart information, continuous learning.They are good communicators.
If you find a better way of explaining something, don't hesitate to revise an earlier lesson you may have created.
Ok here are a few ideas that could use for explaining things to others about music.
What is a bridge? Now for someone who knows nothing about the guitar what do you write? Remember they will not be able to see you or the guitar, hear your voice.
How about tuning the guitar? How about stringing the guitar? Have you included the various types of guitars, Electric, Acoustic, Classical, Folk, Orchestral Acoustic Electric? How about putting a strap on a guitar? Explain what tab is to someone who has never played? Or the simple act of unlocking the door of a home? The turning on the shower in the bathroom? THe flushing of a toilet? What the tissue paper is for in the bath room? Striking a match for someone that has never seen or used a match? How about explaining to a primitive person that only has words for one, two, or plenty, what the number of a hundred, or thousand means? How about the use of a pencil? An eraser? A microwave? A TV? CD player? Remember none of these people can see you, or hear you in your explanations and they have no knowledge of any of these items.
You will need to explain, in a lesson, everything to the viewer. It isn't easy. Don't slight explanations, or cut them short.
Teaching a student, one to one, is similar in what you need to do. Have a plan. Drop to the lowest level, in your mind that is possible for explaining anything. You can always come up on this level till you reach the point where the student no longer grasps what you are trying to impart.
There is one area that some individuals, who have been playing for a long time resort to.. they do a PERFORMING THING FOR THEIR STUDENT... The student is paying you to teach him/her.. DEMONSTRATIONS ARE OK, as long as that is all they are. The lesson is not to be an EGO trip for you. IF YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE STUDENT, DO IT OFF LESSON TIME, where the student's lesson time is not used. Grandstanding Ego Trips = POOR PR, sloppy planning for the lesson. The student feels cheated, when a teacher plays during the entire lesson time, without giving instruction, and then says as they look at their watch, times up.
Treat and each and every student with consideration and care as they come to you for help .Are very willing to look up to you as a role model.
