Would you drop music...

if you were in your last school year but felt you weren't progressing well enough on any of your instruments? I don't know what to do, I broke my banjo (possibly the only one in Middlesbrough, ha), my teacher nagged me that no matter how good I got on the chromatic harmonica I can't play it for my coursework so he said at the beggining of last year to get guitar lessons so I went along with his theory it's just like the banjo (it's not!)

Last week I finished my two compositions, my written song with chords and my sibelius. He liked them. But now he said yesturday I have to hand in my ensemble and solo by Friday. I can't do that, I see my guitar teacher about my solo on that very same day and annoyingly I need to sing for m esomble as I'm too far behind, but when I was going to tell him that yesturday he yelled at a piano playing student because she wanted to sing for hers too, then I heard him say he don't want anyone to change thier insruments choices. Now I daren't. He yells and questions everything I want to do. I don't even think I have passion for the guitar at all anymore since I sang.

From telling by the sounds of thst, do you think you'd drop music if you were me?

Never drop music. What kind of solo/ensemble do you need? You could prolly get tabs off of a classical sounding song and mess them up a little bit and do that, but only if ur reeeeeaally desperate.

Never give up!! If you love music Heather, keep at it! It takes years to get good at guitar, all you need is the patience and dedication.

Find a different teacher, you need a teacher who can always encourage you and has the patience to help you improve. Your teacher sounds terrible if he nags and yells at you guys. Teachers are supposed to be inspirations, he sounds like he's discouraging all of your fellow musicians to continue on with music. Please will you complain to your school about him? I'd hate to see anyone lose their faith and passion in music because a teacher got in their way of enjoying it.

Teachers can either be very effective, or very dangerous.

Thats so true. My friend lost interest in guitar before. It was a half hour class at school and the teacher just yaped on the phone and taught them zilch.

He said 'any song you want' only any song I pick he hates and shortens my deadline stubbornly so I panic. I thought 'sweet home alabama' on the guitar if Simon (guitar teacher) helped me to play it so I'd progress with it fast enough. But for my ensomble I feel I really need to sing a song I found, but I can't put up wih such a person to say I or someone who can play an instrument as well can't. And I've seen how good and in your face all the other guitarists are I just can't compete with them.

I want too keep saying I love music and I can do it but when ever I walk bnackinto that music classroom I back down. I just fin it hard to burdon on the pressure by now.

Don't get taught by a school teacher either, get one at a music shop. I've found that they let you do more than just chords and "Proper" classical music. I'm working with my guitar teacher on "Hangar 18" by Megadeth, and he even likes doing it. Its awsome. You just have to find someone who gets what you want to learn. Numsayin'?

yeah he sounds like a bad teacher... half the time im just jamming with my teacher. learning to play a solo over a rhythym is one of the most important things, and the best way to learn is by doing it.

.....WAIT. You take group classes right? Dude he can't focus on EVERYONE. Get one on one, I'll garantee you learn faster.

I have a music class and a guitar group, in the group I learn with just one other begginer, only problem with it is he's 12-years-old and has just began. I've been doing it for almost a year now so while we're both considered beginners he's a little more behinde then me right now so it might be slowing me down a bit, So prehaps I could look up a new teacher from town. But I've only got a day now so I'm having a panic attack!

What do you have a day for!? Oh and I'm twelve years old...AND I'm giving YOU advice, AND I've only been playing since January. Think Aboot that one missy. lol.

@Heather,
I guess the first and MOST important question is "how do you really feel about music and guitar"? If you love music and really want to get better at the guitar (and you will) then please don't give up. as far as the teacher goes, screw him, he's obviously a terrible teacher. you will meet better teachers who will inspire you. But you have to answer the question first, deep down, how much does and will music shape your life? I hope the honest answer to that question will make everything suddenly very clear to you.
Phip

im 15 and im saying get a teacher who teaches what you want to learn. i took almost 4 years of acoustic guitar and hardly learned anything because i wasnt learning what i wanted

Phip, I'm really going to have to think about that one. I have caredfir music so long ow but sudenly my head's not together as people here have decided to loose faith in me and nag me to the point where I don't know if the stress in the school is worth it anyomore. I have to sleep on it some more.

@Ozzfan, sorry there! Wasn't saying your generation was stupid or anything heh! But he just started really so it's a bit of a set back. I only have a day to hand in both written solo and ensemble suddenly.

Yeah but I totally kick ass. lol.
Personally, I'd quit the school band, Its not helping YOUR music ability, its help them with a rhythm section. Just get a one on one teacher, learn to were you want your ability to be at, and THEN get into school band, then you'll know HOW to make a solo, and it'll be more of a breeze.

Oh +1 to Diamond Phip. lol.

Hey don't compare yourself to others, k? :) Everyone starts somewhere and it doesn't matter how far ahead someone is to you. Just make sure to learn at your own pace. :D

It's great fun learning with other people, but if they're miles ahead of you (like they were with me) it's not as fun. So I recommend you find yourself a private teacher. I've never got one from a shop, just went around asking.

Whoa Jazz, chill, I was kidding.

You here? Phip now goes by Diamond Phip the Forum Poster.

you never found a teacher in a shop? Thats weird, almost every place over here has that.

drop music, and start droping your strings, start sniffin some stuff, and play some kickass metal until you vomit.. lol no that sux, just kidding dont drop music if you're really into it.

@Heather

I know how frustrated you are right now. I've been there before but hang in there.

Work on getting your ducks (or chickens)in a row and get through these songs then rest. Right now is an important point where your stressed and you have to decide if your going the be the type of woman who accepts the challenge and makes it a success. Or are you the type of woman who quits when things get difficult.

If you can get through this then start looking for another teacher. Find someone who is going to challenge and nurture you inner musician.
It sounds like your current teacher is just a jack ass. Regardless don't let some jack ass ruin music for you.

Ozzfan, I don't get it. What did i do to need to chill out? I was talking to heather from her previous comment. If you meant about getting a private teacher, I'm dead serious about that. She can still stay in her school band, but I encouage her to get a private one to also give her a boost of confidence.

Heather, I'm pretty sure your teacher is just saying that to make you do some work so that it's not all left until next year! When I did GCSE music I had to submit all my coursework around April/May time. Obviously though, if he asks for work to be submitted then you don't really have much option! I certainly wouldn't drop it though - a crap grade in music is better than no grade at all.

Okay, my mother has apparently talked to him today on the phone and she said he changed his tone about my deadline when he heard I felt like quitting. I'm going to give it another shot, so there's nothing to do now but wish me some luck with it people.

Good news Heather. Good Luck from all your friends here!
Diamond Phip Forum Poster

That's the spirit! Keep at it and good luck! :D

@Jazz - Oh sorry, thought it was at meh. lol srry.

@Ms. Chicken - lol. Good news!! But yeah get the private teacher. And about "Sweet Home Alabama", I haven't heard anyone cover it so good choice, the solo is pretty wicked, played it on GH and kept messing up lol.

Teachers who yell and shout are not good teachers! Never be put off doing something you love by bad teachers!!!

Ahh! Okay, just don't hurt me please!!! :D

Gee Ozz, I sure hope I don't make a mess of it then, what with having only wings and chicken feet, no wonder I've been messing up at guitar :O AHH! I'm a chicken, I am going to fail! :P

DONT CHICKEN OUT!!!(lil joke :P)...well as many ppl here i know u can do it(we know...)so if u really love music as we do never give up!!! if u fall try harder and about ur teacher...mayb he is exigent so u can learn better but mayb he is wrong with his methjo so just have a lil chat with him about how u feel, he might understand as well so he is a musician and a human being(i hope :P)