In my twelve years of prison, I’ve taught countless men how to play the guitar. Prison has a way of causing a man to be industrious. The number of sketch artists and painters I’ve met in here is testimony to what a man can do when he devotes himself to a task and has time on his side. He would’ve never picked up a pencil or a brush had he not gotten arrested. Boredom and time can unearth all kinds of hidden talent. Musical skill is no different. My encouragement to you, fellow caged musician, is to take on the challenge of teaching whenever it arises. Therefore, I want to prepare you. Starting with a correct perspective is as important as tuning your instrument.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix (then Stevie Ray Vaughn). I played it over and over — same with Blue Sky by The Allman Brothers and Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson. The music changed me. The experience was almost spiritual. Do you have experiences like that? Are there songs that have affected you that strongly? In prison, when you play your instrument, you could very well be that experience for someone else. When men hear you play, they’re taking a journey with you. For about four to six minutes, you and your comrades have fled prison. If you envision this as a potentiality each time you play it’ll change your relationship to the listener. Your skill is no longer a pass time recreation. It’s an esoteric vehicle elevating you and the listener to a faraway place. That’s magic. Why wouldn’t the inmates around you want to learn how to do that? Of course, not many men think this deeply about your skill, but there is a reason why they return to hear you play, more so why they ask you to teach them. It has to do with how you make them feel in that musical moment. But just because they like the experience doesn’t automatically make them a candidate to learn the guitar.
Before I’m willing to invest into a student there are four prerequisites he must meet — and I mean absolutely no exceptions.
One: he must, without a doubt, have a minimal degree of rhythm. Here is the test to see whether he does or doesn’t — can he clap his hands to a song on time (every time) while stepping side to side? I’ll give a demonstration if I must, but if he can’t or won’t I’ll put a stop to that headache before it begins. Harsh as this may sound it isn’t without reason. Against my foolish, all-inclusive naiveté I’ve learned that guitar is not for everyone. If a man doesn’t possess that baseline natural rhythm his strum hand will be a misfiring piston and his string hand will drive him into a wall. I’ve watched men with an insane amount of drive and work ethic spend months trying to achieve a two-chord strum pattern and never get it. Disheartening as it is guitar is not for them, and I refuse to be the liar filling them with false hope.
Two: he must secure an instrument on which to practice. This seems like a no-brainer (on the street you don’t ask for lessons without owning a guitar), but it never fails that some wide eyed, good intentioned dude will come every so often seeking instruction without equipment. It makes no sense to pour knowledge into a man that never practices. I don’t demand that he purchase a guitar at the outset. Some men have no means to acquire one. But it is mandatory that he secure one. Since every prison and situation is different, he will have to get creative. On rare occasions I’ve let my guitar be the secured instrument, but those were very rare (only two students).
Three: we must sit at least twice a week for an hour at a time. This time is dedicated with no interruptions or distractions. There are 168 hours in a week. Two of them belong to me. The other 166 the student can do whatever he wants, though I do prescribe at least thirty minutes of practice a day.
Four: he must pay. I know, I know. How evil of me to charge! What nerve, what arrogance to think my twenty-five years of honing a craft should a taught at a price! When men express their shock after I tell them this, I then ask, “Does a plumber charge? What about an electrician?” Some men pick up what I’m laying down, others don’t. It comes down to value. The beauty of charging is that you weed out the hacks. Often when people put their money where their mouth is they’re serious. They won’t waste your time. By the way, a simple Chat GPT search found that a guitar instructor taking on a new student can charge $50 for one hour a week. For twice a week I charge $5, which is $20 a month. Believe me, the shocked reaction is unwarranted.
If these four prerequisites are met, we can begin. What lies ahead are the tactics I use to start beginner lessons and determine whether the student is a good fit. It isn’t polished but I’ve seen it work. If you have your own method for beginners, consider the following as well.
Day one we’ll discuss the components of the guitar: neck, frets, tuning keys, and body. We’ll discuss which note belongs to which string: Every, Bunny, Gets, Drunk, After, Easter (E,B,G,D,A,E). We’ll discuss every note and fret on the sixth string: from open to the twelfth fret. Lastly, I’ll throw my new student a chord to fool with: E major. (I’m also pro guitar books which range from scales to chords, songs to theory, and mechanics to tabs. There are some phenomenal all-inclusive guitar books which cover every topic a beginner or a seasoned vet could digest. At the end of the day, I want what’s best for my student, and there are certainly better teachers out there. So, I’ll often give my recommendations.)
The next day we’ll repeat everything we’ve learned, and I’ll throw in another chord: A major. I’ll also give him a strum pattern to practice transitioning between the two chords without falling out of time.
For the next month it is learning chords (maybe even a simple three chord song), transitioning from one chord to another, developing good strum techniques, and repetition, repetition, repetition! The student doesn’t know it but he is in a probationary period in this first month. Every student learns different. As a good teacher it’s your job to cater to their strong points, interests, and motivations, but there is an undeniable similarity with those who don’t practice. It is waning motivation. Getting together twice a week for four weeks is sufficient time to determine whether or not they’ll stay committed.
Please, please hear me on this: NEVER take on a student for the sake of money alone. It rarely works out. You’ll start flaking on your responsibilities (remember, your student pays you for YOUR commitment also). Never take on a student if your gut tells you no. If you feel you and the student will constantly butt heads don’t do it. Trust your instincts. Seriously. And if you’re currently living in a terrible student/teacher relationship, here is your permission to cut the chord. Sometimes doesn’t fit. That’s okay. He can save his money, and you can save your sanity. The one who does fit, however, is like a master painting.
There is a student of mine who is a songwriter, and if he sticks with it after he’s released, he’ll be successful in that space, I can tell. There is another student of mine who’ll more than likely join a metal band. Another will make a lot of money playing cover songs as a side gig. Each student carves his own path. As a teacher, I’m merely supplying the tools and blueprints. When he finds his path push him in the direction he chooses. I’m a contemporary blues, roots, rock songwriter, but it makes no difference to me whether the student chooses my style or wants to spit raps over the melodic guitar I teach him. He builds his own house. I’m just a tool provider with instructions.
I’ve saved the best for last. I’ve personally watched a man renounce gang affiliation because we started working together on guitar. I’ve witnessed a father and daughter reunite for the first time in years over their interests in music. I’ve seen glimmers of hope slowly develop in men’s eyes as they honed their skills and realized a whole new opportunity awaits them when they get out. Do you know how rewarding that is? Dramatic as it may sound you can help transform men’s lives. What if the next time someone asked you for lessons you viewed the challenge as an opportunity to permanently change someone’s future? What if you’re providing hope? Perspective is where you start, but it’s also what sails you through the journey. My proudest achievements in prison are the lives I’ve changed because of music. If you want to make the best use of your time teach your craft to others and leave behind a positive legacy.
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