How I Used AI to Develop My Awareness as a Guitar Teacher
Introduction to My Guitar Teaching Journey
For those of you who are new here, my name is Aaron, and I run a one-to-one guitar teaching business in Bath, UK. I primarily work with beginner guitar players, in person, online and through my YouTube channel. There’s a substantial demand for beginner guitar lessons, and I’ve been fortunate to build a small business around meeting that need.
I have developed a deep passion for teaching guitar. Although it wasn’t my initial reason for picking up the instrument, I’ve come to truly enjoy it over the years!
The Creative vs. Financial Stability Struggle
That said, there is another side to me that I don’t often get to express: my creative side. At this point, my creativity manifests in learning intricate, technical lead guitar licks. The guitar has become an extension of myself—it’s often the first thing I reach for in the morning. It sets my mind in motion and provides a constant challenge for improvement, which, while sometimes exhausting, I find incredibly fulfilling.
However, this brings about a conflict—an internal struggle, if you will.
The more time I dedicate to exploring complex guitar techniques, the more I feel distanced from the beginner-focused guitar lessons that form the core of my business. It can be mentally taxing to constantly switch between my creative pursuits and the role of a beginner instructor, almost as if these two worlds are in opposition.
How ChatGPT Brought Clarity
This internal clash eventually led to a sense of stagnation, particularly in creating content for my YouTube guitar channel, which I currently manage in my spare time with little immediate reward. I began to question whether I was even meant to be a guitar teacher at all! Trying to move forward in a career while grappling with such cognitive dissonance can be incredibly confusing.
So, what did I do about it?
In today’s digital age, I turned to ChatGPT for guidance. I posed these concerns to the AI, and it helped me identify the source of my struggle: the tension between pursuing the financial stability that comes from teaching beginners and the desire to indulge my creativity through advanced guitar techniques. This imbalance was affecting my motivation and productivity, particularly in relation to my YouTube efforts.
The Benefits of Small Wins
Therein lies the conflict—Financial Stability vs. Creativity.
ChatGPT identified what the actual problem was, making me consciously aware of it and then suggested that I focus on celebrating small victories rather than fixating on distant, seemingly unattainable goals—especially when it comes to something like YouTube. Just this morning, for instance, I woke up to a new Google review from one of my students. It was a small, yet significant reminder of the impact I’m having, and it’s something worth celebrating, it motivated me to move through my day with a sense of mindfulness about the small wins.
Moving Forward as a Guitar Teacher
Even with this small amount of additional self-awareness, I feel better equipped to navigate my career as a guitar teacher. I now have a clearer sense of balance between the financial and creative aspects of my work. Not only that, I felt motivated to take the time to write this very post about it too, that'll be another small win for the day!
Conclusion
The journey of balancing financial stability with creativity isn’t easy, especially when running a small business as a guitar instructor. However, tools like ChatGPT can help provide clarity and direction when we feel stuck, a very good reason to use AI if you're a guitar teacher like me. Celebrating small wins, like a student’s positive review, can provide the encouragement needed to continue moving forward and using the power of AI, I've been able to do that more easily.
About The Author
Aaron Carrington is the founder of Carrington Guitar Academy in Bath, UK. Specializing in personalized guitar lessons, Aaron tailors each lesson plan to meet the individual goals of his students, helping them master their favorite songs and develop their skills. If you're interested in guitar lessons, contact Aaron to book a FREE trial lesson.
After graduating from the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London, Aaron performed at prestigious venues such as Buckingham Palace, The Savoy, and The London Eye. He’s also been a key figure in the UK wedding and corporate gig scene, and his international performances include high-profile residencies across the Middle East. With this extensive experience, Aaron now shares his expertise full-time through private lessons and YouTube content creation.
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