Walker Smith hasn’t played the guitar much in recent years, focusing instead on clarinet (he was just named to the super-prestigious 2017 All-National Honor Concert Band) and alto sax (he plays in the jazz band at West High School).

But this year Walker, 17, started teaching guitar to a pair of Joy of Music School students—and he is loving it. “It’s challenging,” he says. “Sometimes it’s difficult to get them to notice things that are obvious to me, like playing in time. But I find it really fun, and when I get through to them, it’s so rewarding to see their progress.”

They’re starting with basic fingerstyle acoustic playing, though Walker plans to move on to their favorite music styles soon. Lance, a sixth grader, loves country music, while Roman, an eighth grader, likes pop music best.

Walker notices that teaching has affected his own clarinet studies. “I’m trying to be more aware of things I’m doing, mistakes I’m making, where in the past I sort of relied on my instructor to tell me,” he explains.

One other side benefit: “It’s definitely made me better at guitar, ” Walker says. “I had gotten a little rusty not taking lessons for so long. But I don’t want to be a teacher who tells but can’t do it himself!”

 

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