Teaching Makes You a Better Musician

Teaching Makes You a Better Musician

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” – Albert Einstein

As a young teenager, I took private lessons at a private music school much like San Antonio Music Academy. I have a brother 5 years younger than me who was also interested in music, but he wasn’t in lessons at the time. I decided to share with him what I had been learning in my guitar lessons. Teaching my brother helped me realize which concepts I knew really well and which concepts I needed more clarification on. It separated in my mind the things I understood deeply and thus could relay (teach) to someone else, versus the things I could “just play” without fully understanding what I was doing.

When I was teaching my brother how to play bar chords, I realized I couldn’t explain the technique I was using to play clean bar chords. l later analyzed and dissected exactly what I was doing and even went a few steps back and imitated what it was like for me when I first started learning bar chords. Doing this enabled me to explain and illustrate to my brother the correct technique and proper steps to be able to play exactly as I was playing. Over the next few months, I used the same process over and over to teach my brother different things on the guitar. What started as a desire to show him a few things became something that helped me fully engrain what I was learning and thus become a better guitarist.

I realize that your long-term goal as a musician may not be to teach professionally. However, I think it’s safe to assume you have a goal to be become better at guitar, piano, voice, drums, violin, or whatever your instrument may be. Think about the things you are capable of playing on your instrument. Do you think you know your instrument or voice well enough to be able to teach someone else? – perhaps a sibling, friend, cousin, or even a parent. I encourage you to take the opportunity to teach a concept, a song, or a technique to someone you know. Teaching is a great way to solidify the things you have already learned and a wonderful technique to figure out the areas you may need to revisit and relearn deeper.

 

Roland Guerrero, Executive Director

Jesusa Pons-Garner

I’ve had both my children attend lessons at this location. The staff is absolutely wonderful. Mrs. Amber is an incredible piano instructor!

Jesusa Pons-Garner / parent
Jennifer Ortega

San Antonio Music Academy is very well organized. My daughter's piano teacher is wonderful! She's been taking lessons for 5 months and looks forward to each lesson. I really enjoy the recitals at the LOL Comedy Club.

Jennifer Ortega / parent
Esmeralda Saavedra

My daughter has been registered here since she was 7. Each instructor she’s had has been very friendly and great to work with. Currently she has lessons with Ms Maria and we are so grateful for her and the entire SAMA staff. I can’t recommend enough.

Esmeralda Saavedra / parent
Elio Maldonado Jr.

Jacob was an excellent guitar instructor. He was patient and prepared. I definitely recommend him to any person wanting to learn guitar.

Elio Maldonado Jr. / parent
Crystal Reyes

We absolutely  San Antonio Music Academy!!! All 3 of my children take lessons and they love it. My daughter Taylor has really improved her vocal abilities with the help of a wonderful vocal teacher.

Crystal Reyes / parent
Steve Dell

San Antonio Music Academy is awesome, my son loves the guitar lessons and is super excited to attend every week! He started with zero experience and progressed surprisingly fast. Randy is an amazingly talented guitarist/teacher. He is very patient, yet knows how to push students to the next level. Highly recommend all the instructors, the staff is great!

Steve Dell / parent
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