Guitar lessons in NY area

Marakanetz, funny you should ask. I am one of New York's most successful guitar teachers. I teach popular styles to beginners and intermediate players. Popular means learning to play your favorite songs, usually in a rock, folk, blues, pop, funk, or metal style. I leave the Classical and advanced Jazz training to those who specialize at teaching those styles. The most important thing to look for is a teacher that has a full time practice. There are many fine guitar players who have a few students on the side, but it takes a tremendous effort to put together a real teaching method, and many years of refining it so that every student can follow it easily.
My teaching method follows the path that a child follows when learning a language, they speak before they read. I get people playing songs in less than 6 weeks, usually within 3 weeks, adding in the details step by step over time, the same way language is developed.
I charge by the lesson, whereas some teachers or schools insist on a pre paid series of lessons.
You can ring me at (212) 579-3342 between 10 AM to 8 PM if you would like more info.
Martin Butler
BMPNYC
Happy holidays

Hi Frogman, you make some very good points and in the main I agree with you, but after 30 years of experience making my living as a musician I will say that the time it takes to develop your own teaching method is so extensive that most "active" players simply do not have the time to manage both things at a 100% level. This doesn't mean that they can't offer valuable help and insight to a student, and in some instances it is an advantage. A good example is when an advanced student attends master classes. I am referring mainly to beginners and intermediate level students. I can't tell you how many students I have had who have "studied" with an accomplished player who are so lacking in basic skills that I have questioned the former teachers integrity. I have honestly had a number of students who have learned less in a year than I have taught them in 6-8 weeks. I promised myself when I began teaching that I would be the teacher I couldn't find when I was starting out. I originally studied with a teacher who was the guitar player for Johnny Carson's band and he never so much as explained what a major scale was, instead he was showing me a bunch of jazz riffs when I wanted to play like Jimi Hendrix. So I must say that despite the fact that there are some great players who make good teachers, it doesn't change the fact that if a teacher has been teaching 10 - 15 years full time, its a safer bet that students will get their money's worth. Happy New Year to all!