Hey, i need advices. Currently, im learning classical guitar and it has been 1 and half years. But recently, i feel its a kind of a bore. Like most of the time i go for the class and play and play. I’m 19 and i somehow feel that im not moving….now im working on grade 2. My teacher said that once i can play classical i can play any type of guitar, but it will take me some time to finish this classical guitar course before i can move on, by the time i want to learn other styles, i may not have much time to learn. Secondly, i kinda like the acoustic style, i feel that it gives someone freedom to express their music. Thirdly, i have a big financial crisis, well, the guitar exams are very expensive, and everytime i proceed to the next level the exam fee is definitely gonna increase. So i think i would only be able to afford classes after my grade 2 or 3 exam. Honestly, i also feel that exams are only for those who wants to pursue music studies or those who wants to teach music in future. As for me i feel that i just want to learn and maybe perform. But my dad said that its such a waste if i dont take the exams, because i study something, and there’s nothing to prove that i did study the guitar.
The above are my situations. But i just need to ask someone, should i continue studying the classical guitar and take exams. or should i continue classical guitar without taking exams and maybe learn acoustic on my own or should i just change and start all over with acoustic guitar course and if i do should i take exams in acoustic guitar? if anyone can help, please do i’ ve been thinking alot, but i just dont know what to do.
Think the dead giveaway is where you say "My teacher said that once I can play classical I can play any type of guitar". That statement is a nonsense, particularly if you ever pick up an electric, unless you practise the different styles with the right kind of guitar independent of your lessons. The statement is akin to saying "Ok, now you can drive a Honda Civic, try this IndyCart".
Playing any musical instrument should be fun. If it’s not fun then you should either pack it in or try an alternative approach. I’m not dissing classical guitar but it does seem in your case that it’s not where you want to be. If you got Grade 3 what then? You’re on Grade One so you should know your way around a fretboard and you have certification proof (?) you’ve got that far but are you relying on sheet music? If someone whipped the music sheet away would you be lost? You’re round someone’s house and somebody thrusts a guitar in your hand and says "Here, play something cool !" how would you respond?
Perhaps you should start to learn some acoustic songs independently and try and learn them by ear (ok maybe use tabs/chords to start with) then compare that with learning classical pieces from the sheet music by rote as you do in lessons. Learning some alternative songs and adding some classical guitar embellishments would be a useful way of incorporating what you’ve already learnt to what you ultimately want to do (which isn’t entirely clear I must add). As a postscript I know people who have Grade 4 piano ("I can play Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonanta, whoopee!") and rarely go anywhere near a keyboard these days.