What I Learned From 15 Years of Teaching Guitar Online

Hey everyone, welcome back to the podcast! It’s Marc here, and I’m thrilled to kick off a special new series: The Revelations 2025. Over the next few episodes, I’ll be sharing the most impactful lessons I’ve learned from years of teaching jazz guitar—both online and in-person—plus my two decades of experience as a professional musician.

And here’s a fun milestone: this whole platform—JazzGuitarLessons.net, the blog, the YouTube channel—is turning 16 this year! That’s right, it’s officially a teenager now, complete with mood swings, discovering life, and maybe a little metaphorical acne. 😊

So, let’s dive in. This episode will focus on Revelation #1, and in the next episodes, I’ll reveal #2 and #3. Each one represents a key insight from my years of teaching and coaching. If you’re new here, welcome! I’m Mark, and I help guitarists like you master jazz faster, express yourself more fluently, and have fun along the way. If that sounds like your jam, hit subscribe and let’s get started.

Revelation #1: A Proven System to Build Confidence in Jazz Guitar

The first revelation is that there exists a proven system for becoming a confident jazz guitarist. And here’s the kicker: you only need 45 to 70 minutes of focused practice per day—no wasted time, no aimless noodling.

To illustrate this, let me tell you a story about a student I’ll call Bob.

Bob and I had weekly lessons. Each session, we’d chat about scales, songs, or theory topics that he wanted to explore. It was fun and engaging, but I started noticing something: we weren’t tracking our progress. Each week felt like starting from scratch, and I realized we were spinning our wheels.

So, I developed a system—a structured plan to guide his practice. Here’s what it looked like:

1. Set Clear Goals: Before you even pick up the guitar, know exactly what you’re going to practice.
2. Limit Your Focus: Instead of tackling 10 or 12 topics, work on just 3 or 4. Spend a few weeks diving deep into those before moving on.
3. Use a Timer: Break your practice into chunks (e.g., 20 minutes per topic) and stick to it. The goal isn’t to do more; it’s to do less, but with laser focus.

A Real-Life Example

Here’s how this worked for Bob. I gave him a plan:

• Spend 30% of your practice time on scales,
• 20% on a new chord progression,
• And 50% on improvising over a jazz standard.

Bob came back saying, “Mark, this feels like too much!” But I reminded him: it’s not about “finishing” everything. Practice is a work in progress. Think of it like going to the gym—you don’t expect to lift 200 pounds on day one, but you chip away at it, building strength over time.

Why This Works

This system eliminates overwhelm by focusing your energy on a few key areas. And it’s not about practicing longer—it’s about practicing smarter. Some of my best students in the Jazz Guitar Accelerator program (link in the description!) practice about 72 minutes a day, split into two short sessions. That’s it!

The secret? Stay consistent, use a timer, and resist the urge to cram everything into one session.

Wrapping Up Revelation #1

So, to sum it up:

• Have a clear plan.
• Limit your focus to 3–4 topics.
• Use a timer to stay on track and avoid burnout.

By following this proven system, you’ll see real progress without wasting time or effort.

In the next episodes, we’ll cover the remaining revelations:

• Revelation #2: How to quickly learn 6–12 jazz standards using a 5-step process and eliminate 90% of the fluff you’ve been told to practice.
• Revelation #3: Why expert feedback is the fastest path to breakthroughs in your playing.

Thanks for reading! I’ll see you in the next episode!