Who Needs A Music Coach Anyway?

Our Head Coach, Joseph teaches Guitar, Ukulele, Piano, Voice and Music Theory 

I have heard a lot of stories of successful, “self-taught” musicians, who developed their musical prowess without any formal coaching or tuition. I can attest that many of  these rare breeds are very good, however, I know some who wished they had someone to journey alongside them. This is certainly true of my 77 year old guitar student who said after our first lesson ‘I’m glad I finally got a teacher ‘.

For the purposes of this article, a “self taught” musician is someone who learns to play music through an informal, unstructured process, using a mix of books, videos and rote learning from fellow musicians with little or no formal music training. 

The alternative to self taught is formal music tuition, where the student’s learning is guided by a trained coach whether through a formal music school or a personal coach. 

I belong to a society where the value of a music teacher / coach is still evolving, and music teaching as a career is somewhat underrated. In this article, I would like to share my thoughts on why having a music coach is necessary for well rounded musicianship.

 A Coach Keeps You Going When the Going Gets Tough

While there are many self taught musical geniuses, there are many more whose musical ambition was frustrated and eventually abandoned for lack of a coach or a guide. Without help, learning an instrument can be very daunting and you risk missing some essential skills or knowledge that would result in a weak foundation.  A coach is able to support you in achieving more than you thought was possible even though it can be challenging. Think back to your school days when you were frustrated with your assignments. Your teacher would often encourage you to try harder, explain the topic a different way or give you supplementary exercises to help you grasp the concepts. Likewise, a music coach is there to support you all the way to becoming a well rounded musician. Your coach shows you how to develop good habits and to never give up on a challenge.   

Life values taught indirectly

In addition to never giving up, music coaches also help their students to develop discipline, dedication, focus, and a sense of responsibility. Imagine what it takes to be able to choose to practise an instrument rather than hang out with friends. This doesn’t come easily or naturally to most people. Having a coach helps to keep the student consistent.

Sometimes, you may hit a wall when learning a piece and having a coach will help you to find a way through. You also learn how to take care of your instrument responsibly. Improving at anything takes constant and consistent practice, which may not come easily without a supportive guide.  Your coach helps you push beyond your natural limits and achieve more than you thought possible.

Structured Lessons

Many learners have been victims of not achieving anything in their practice sessions especially in this era of YouTube tutorials. This is because it is difficult to stay focused if a proper guide is lacking. As you are watching one lesson video, another may pop up and you abandon the former. At the end of the day, one hour has been spent without learning anything in particular. On the other hand, a coach would structure your lesson into bite sized, digestible sessions, covering technique, ear training, music analysis and so on. And because you are answerable to your coach, you are more likely to follow the process and to make steady progress. Coaches make the learning process easier as they can scaffold your learning in a meaningful and progressive way.

Lifelong Friendship and Support

To be candid, music coaches do so much more than teaching you to play an instrument. They can also become counsellors and friends, always looking out for your best interests. They will gladly take time to talk to you if you are having a bad day and will often work through the tough parts of life with you. 

Beyond consistent emotional support, music coaches also help young students succeed in school. Countless research has shown that learning music at a young age correlates to increased test scores in reading and maths. While the process of taking lessons is not always a walk in the park, it does actually give you advantages in other areas that you may not have realised.

In conclusion, it is possible to learn to play music without a coach, but the process is so much easier and secure if you have a good coach who is committed to your long term success. 

So, when next you see your music coach, do take time to say a sincere “thank you”.

Joseph Olushola

Head Coach @ Kunbi’s Music Company