The Right Pick

**RANT** If you take anything from this today, please take this into consideration.  I started a new student last night, and they went to a certain "big box" store that has started offering music lessons.  Personally I thought that the idea was a good one; you know more people exposed to music, and benefitting from added learning, and opening thier mind.  The student I started is 9 years old, he and his mother actually thought the lesson was ok.  The reason they went to the big box store is that they received a deal in which you bought a guitar, and you get free lessons.  How could you pass up on something like that?  You are buying an instrument for your kid, and get free lessons to boot?  I think I would probably do the same thing if I were in my students shoes.  So the studant had his lesson, and he told me that they taught him parts of the guitar.  I quizzed him on the parts, and he got them mostly right.  Then I asked him the string names, and he had no idea.  He knew they had letter names, but no idea what they were.  I think any guitar instructor would agree with me that string names were one of the first things you teach a student.  One for reference to tell the student where to put fingers and what string to pluck.  Minimally at least tell them that strings are numbered one through six, one being the highest pitch or thinnest, and six being the lowest pitch and thickest.  So then I asked to see the guitar.  The instructor did not even tune the guitar.  I am no furensic expert, but I would think that the strings would at least be in the ball park of being in tune.  So this is what it all boils down to.  Do not send you child, or for that matter yourself or anyone else to a big box store for lessons.  You will not be treated in a manor in which you deserve to be.  Music while fun, is a serious thing, and if taught incorrectly, will instill a bad taste in anyones mouth.  Make sure that you are treated with the respect that you deserve from your instructor, and that you are indeed learning, and being engaged.