You might think I'd say you should always get a teacher. Nope! Here are five reasons you should get a teacher, and four reasons why perhaps you shouldn't get one.
When to Get a Private Teacher
1. When you need feedback. YouTube is great, but it can't tell you what you're doing correctly, what's wrong, and what you should do about it. (Wait- don't we always need feedback? No; see below).
2. When you're stuck. Sometimes even a single lesson can help "unlock" you from a single situation, potentially saving you weeks, months, or even years of searching for the right answer. There comes a point where time vs. money kicks in.
3. When you want a plan. Some people are good at working on their own, but they just need someone to assess their situation and give them a plan to move forward. The right teacher could do this in one or two lessons.
4. When you need someone to hold you accountable. You may have all the information that you need, but you may still struggle to get it done. There's no shame in this. A teacher can inspire you, cheer for you along the way, and call you out when you're not staying on target.
5. When you want the ultimate long-term growth. This is the whole "ideal" thing that most teachers rightfully say. Ideally, if you can afford it and generally speaking, the best plan for serious growth for the long term is regular lessons with a good teacher who understands what you want, and who can help you get there.
When Not to Get a Private Teacher
1. When you don't need feedback. The truth is, depending on your level and what you're working on, you may not need feedback at this time. Let's say you're working on learning your rootless voicings in all keys, and you already have all the information you need. You don't necessarily need feedback; you need to practice! (In my experience this is not terribly common, but it still may be true for your situation).
2. When you've got a plan. Again, this is a case of, "you know what to do! Now go for it!"
3. When you just want information, and you have a resource. For example, if your real passion is learning about music theory, there are lots and lots of videos, courses, books, and so on. You can certainly learn theory from a teacher, but the point here is that this can happen on your own, too.
4. When it's all purely for fun, and when you've got the tools to study alone, and when progress doesn't really matter. I'm not being sarcastic here. Some people really want to just explore and have fun. A teacher would be great for this, but may not absolutely necessary, in all cases. If you truly get what you want from YouTube, books, courses, and so on, then great! Have fun.
What Now?
Now, you have a more specific way to tackle the situation! Ask yourself some questions:
Am I at a point where feedback is important?
Am I stuck on something?
Do I need a plan? (Do I feel lost?)
Do I need someone to hold me accountable?
Am I looking for the best way for long-term growth?
Am I missing some tools/information that I need?
Is progress important to me right now?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then you might consider getting a private teacher. If it's no, then this may not be the time for a teacher. You may just need to go practice!
And if you're not sure, then maybe what you need is a consultation with someone who can help you to assess your situation.
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