For guitar size I have a general guideline: If your child is particularly tall for their age (as tall as a 6th grader or taller) then I'd get the full size. But if not, you'll want to go 3/4 size.

First rule to keep in mind:  the nicer guitar, the easier it is for a student to learn on. Most guitars from retail stores are not suitable for learning. They are toys, not real instruments. They are very difficult to learn on. To make your child's guitar learning experience as easy and as enjoyable as possible, you want an instrument that will truly play well and feel good in your child's hands. My personal favorites are Fender, Oscar Schmidt, Luna, Martin, and Taylor. They have proven to work well with young beginner guitarists—typically having better intonation (tuning), action (string height), and tone than others in their price range. And if you want the top-of-the-line guitar that will last a life time and give your child the best playing experience possible, then the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is outstanding!

For full size guitars: Fender, Yamaha, and Washburn make great low-cost beginner guitars.

You can shop around and order these acoustic models the Guitar and Accessories page.

No matter what your child’s dominate hand is, you need to buy a normal “right-hand” guitar. This naming can be confusing because a “right” or “left” handed guitar does not mean it’s built for those who are right or left hand dominant. It is only describing which hand will be over the sound hole. It does not have to do with hand dominance. A guitarist will be using both left and right hands to create sounds and rhythms and will develop equal dexterity in both.

The tuners that come with guitar packs/bundles are not appropriate for children. They are cheaply made, slow to respond, and change letters randomly. They are just a way to “sweeten the deal.”

In contrast, the D’Addario Clip On tuner is truly appropriate for children while still being low cost. It responds smoothly and quickly, provides stability in the display of letters, and can lay flat on the guitar headstock for easy storage. The D’Addario Clip On tuner is available in the online store on the Guitar & Accessories page.

A gig bag is a soft case that fits around the guitar. It offers a minimum level of protection from scratches and dents. It offers only a little protection from the guitar being dropped and does not prevent the guitar from being crushed (unless the gig bag has stiff supports in it), but since it is a light material and often has straps, it is ideal for young guitarists to carry.

A hardshell case, on the other hand, gives you excellent protection from scratches and from being crushed, but it is heavy and does not have straps.

Often, gig bags that come with the guitar you order are so cheaply made, that it’s pretty normal for the zippers to break or for fabric to constantly get caught in them. Buying a separate gig bag that is more padded, has straps, and that has a large pocket for holding a music folder is a low cost but high value purchase. That is what recommend for all my Guitar Band students as it’s the right blend of protection and practical usage for a young student. Check out purchasing options on the Guitar & Accessories page.

While only 3 things are required for Guitar Band: 1) Guitar 2) Tuner and 3) Medium Picks, it would be wrong to pretend that there aren’t accessories that will help make your child’s learning much easier and honestly, better.

The most helpful accessories are a music stand and a guitar stand. These two items keep your child’s music and guitar out and available to instantly play, and keeps the music at eye level (which is surprisingly important) and available to pick up without having to get it out of a case. Don’t underestimate the power of your child actually seeing their music and guitar to help inspire consistent playing.

Strings and Batteries for the tuner are also items that will eventually be necessary as all strings get dull (or break) and the tuner battery will eventually die (usually only good for one semester, maybe two). But you can start the class without having these and can purchase them later, although if you wait to get them until they’re needed, then your child will not be able to properly use their guitar and/or tuner until they’re purchased.

As your child advances, they will also eventually need a capo to play many of the songs they will be learning. But this is not usually until Year 2 or the Advanced Class.

Order any of these from the Guitar & Accessories Page.

First, you can get anything you want online. Check out my Amazon list of all my recommended brands on the Guitar & Accessories Page.

But if you’d like to go in person to check things out (which I DO recommend as it is incredibly inspiring for a young student to walk in and see all the guitars hanging from floor to ceiling!), there are Mom-&-Pop stores as well as national chains like Guitar Center and Sam Ash. Here are google map location for Guitar Centers, Sam Ash, Music Shop at Rockwall, and my personal favorite, Jimmy Wallace Guitars

When parents ask this, I always think, any practice is good! And that’s true, but the real issue is a practice structure. 

Playing guitar consistently is the biggest factor, hands down, in your child’s progress.  And when a student plays consistently, this starts the Reward Cycle—where your child’s enjoyment of playing grows through a snowball effect.

This Reward Cycle protects your investment in your child’s learning. It will dramatically maximize and multiply their progress over several school years. Read the next drop down for more info.

So what does the practice structure look like? It could look like:

— Having your child play at the same time each day a little before school. 10-20 minutes.
— M, W, F maybe there’s a perfect time to play before sports practice or church.
— In order to play their video games, they need to click on the One On One link and play along to One On One practice tracks for 10-15 minutes.

You’ll know what works best for your child’s schedule and personality, so make sure guitar is a normal part of their week.

I’ve also given you two tools for helping establish the Reward Cycle:

1) the practice sheet, where for each parent signature, your child can save and earn in class prizes, and

2) One On One online practice tracks and lesson videos for playing along to at home.

The Reward Cycle is a process by which your child’s enjoyment of playing guitar grows through a snowball effect.

This Reward Cycle protects your investment in your child’s learning as it maximizes and multiplies their progress throughout their Guitar Band years.

The Reward Cycle works like this:

1) a student plays at home

2) because they played at home they have a ton of fun in class

3) because they had fun in class they are inspired to play!

4) because they are inspired to play, they spend time playing at home

5) thus the cycle repeats and the Reward Cycle is established as your child is rewarded more and more in class for their playing at home.

One On One is a powerful online resource to help your child stay learning and engaged at home! There are two major parts—Practice Tracks and Online Lessons.

The practice tracks are audio tracks of each song in the curriculum. These tracks will help develop your child’s ear for playing and their internal sense of rhythm--something young players need a lot of help with. I’ve found these Practice Tracks to dramatically increase my student’s ability to play with a professional feel.

The online lessons will keep your child motivated and inspired by providing extra lessons that are available for them to learn at any time. Many students want to learn more material than what we cover in the lesson, so these are tailored just for them. Learn more here.

There are no rescheduled or separate classes given for students who miss the regular weekly class. For a student who needs to officially withdraw from a class and for other cancellation policies, click here to review all official policies.

First-time, beginning students who want to join later in the semester as "walk-ins" are not permitted.

However, if as student has taken private lessons with me or has enough musical/guitar playing experience that I deem them a good fit for joining in a particular Guitar Band, then it may be possible for them to join after Guitar Band has started or for them to start in a different year level than Year 1.

I've been teaching guitar lessons since 2005. I started teaching full-time in 2009. As of the time of this writing, I’m on year 15 of teaching group guitar lessons in particular. I absolutely love it!

My specialty and main focus is group guitar lessons through the Guitar Band program. However, during the summer months I also give private lessons to help my Guitar Band students grow in particular areas.

I also can take on new students privately during the summer to help prepare them to enter into the Guitar Band program at a particular Guitar Band level.

If a child is too old to enter the Guitar Band program then it may be possible to teach them privately, as I do take on a small number of private students. Please reach out to me at hello@myguitarband.com if interested.

Besides guitar, I also give voice lessons with a focus on pop, r&b, rock, and modern worship styling. I normally do this during the summer months for current Guitar Band students. Please reach out to me at hello@myguitarband.com for more info.

I am the worship pastor at ONE Church in East Dallas where I direct bands, ensembles, and choirs. I play many solo and duo gigs with various artists, and also frequently help lead music at different churches and events around DFW. I also write, record, and perform with my band Bus Seven.

It's spelled Jairus, but it's sounds like the word "Paris," just with a "J."