Trying to take short cuts or going that one step further

I have had many young students who have come to me to do finger style guitar, and their friends down the road have gone to other classes with different teachers and learned a few power chords and how to knock out a few basic rock songs in an elementary way.

My students in a few months time have had their same friends visit them only to ask *#*#** how do you manage to do that? All that picking stuff?  

The point here is that if you can play a few chords and beat out a bit of a rhythm on guitar you are not far away from being able to do so much more, it is not hard it is just the right practice.  

I usually would then end up with those students from previous short cut teaching methods coming to me and progressing at a fast rate to go on to be able to do so more than they ever expected.

Now don't get me wrong beating out some power chords etc.. is great fun but today good musicians can do so much more, by having the right tools to progress they can now be free to develop and experiment with their own style.  I have always encouraged my students to listen to all types of music.  

When your fingers are working freely you can then combine styles and progress, the things needed are not just power chords unless that is all you ever want to do.

When you have the right tools you can then practise being an Artist.