You're right, cnev - a teacher's job is to connect the dots and make that logical path.
I get kids in for their first lesson who want to play Dragonforce (or whoever). If I jumped right in on that, I'd be doing them a dis-service; they need fundamentals first. But I've also known many teachers who would simply say "you're not ready for that" and teach something else. That's frustrating for the student, and they'll often quit to learn on their own - developing bad habits and getting more frustrated in the process.
I try to find a middle ground. If a student wants to play a style that's highly technical, the first lesson will include some simple finger dexterity and speed drills - along with the more traditional fundamentals. That lets them know that although they might not be ready to learn what they want, I'm committed to getting them down the path they want to follow.
Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL
