Many music educators reach a point where they’ve mastered the material in the  classroom guitar curriculum they’re teaching  and find themselves becoming a bit bored with their own playing. If you can relate then keep reading.

The guitar class offers  the perfect opportunity to practice while you’re teaching guitar. There’s no better time to refine and apply the more advanced concepts and techniques that you’re working on in your own playing  than while you’re accompanying your students. There are many ways to do this. Here’s some ideas: When playing chords consider substituting more challenging chord forms while students play the “stock” versions.  Adding  appropriate embellishments such as the major 7th, 9th, or 13th, while students are playing triads, can enhance the richness of the music being performed.  Fingerpicking accompaniment can do wonders for a simple student played unison melody or ensemble arrangement.  Blues  style fills, or even improvising harmony parts are all great devices when used sparingly and appropriately.  (Are you wondering how to learn some of these techniques? Look in the archives for other posts on these topics.) Your students will appreciate and learn from your creativity. Watch this video for some more specific ideas on how to practice while you teach.