Frequently Asked Questions For Correspondence Course

   Question #1. How much does it cost?

    Prices are listed on the enrollment order form and also in the Supplementary Lesson Glossary. Costs vary depending on where you are in your development and which studies best fit your needs. Ask for Intro package and we'll get it right to you with all the information.

    Question #2. How do you know if I am doing my study?
    
    The Music Theory Course For Guitar Players and The Modal and Solo Composition Course For Guitar Players have assignments that are to be completed.  Those assignments are returned to The Jim Sutton Institute of Guitar so that they can be checked and graded. A certificate is issued on completion of either course.
    Some students choose not to have their studies graded. There is no problem working on studies just for the purpose of improving skills and knowledge. However, we cannot issue a certificate without seeing that the work has been completed. Through letters, phone calls, or e-mails we keep in  touch. This enables us to keep your files updated and current.  
E-mails are the best way to keep us updated on your progress, and to submit questions or requests. This gives us an opportunity to look at your file and prepare to answer any questions you have.

    Question #3. Do I have to buy the whole course all at one time?

    The pricing is set up so that you can acquire the Course Studies and the Supplementary Studies in increments, or in their entirety.  In other words, if you wanted to start with Stage 5 of The Moving Toward Great Guitar Playing Course, Book 1 of the Music Theory Course For Guitar Players, and Blues Lead 1 of the Supplementary Studies, that would be fine. Our aim is to make it easy on your budget and easy to select studies which best fit your current level of development.


    Question #4. Is there a registration fee?

    There is not a registration fee. Your student file is set up when you order your first studies.

                        
    Question #5. What is a Supplementary Lesson?

    Supplementary Lessons are studies which are designed to compliment, or rather go hand in hand, with one of the main course studies. These are studies which delve into specific topics, specific styles, and specific interests that you may have. For example, there is a Blues Lead Series, a Country lead Series, Technique and Speed Drills, Jazz Style Series, Fingerstyles, Reading Notation, Ear Training and on and on.

    Supplementary Lessons are routinely updated and new studies are being added on a regular basis. Because of this constant turn, some of the studies are only available to our currently active alumni. In other words, you won’t find them listed on our web site or promotional material. So if you don’t see a specific study, be sure to ask.

    Supplementary Lessons are rated on a 1 to 6 scale in terms of difficulty. 1 being a beginning level, and 6 is a transition point from intermediate level to an advanced level. If a Supplementary Lesson has a 6+ rating, then you will know that this study is at a more advanced level and would require that you have already developed your skills and knowledge to a certain level of proficiency.

    Supplementary Lesson difficulty ratings can be found in the Supplementary  Lesson Glossary and also on the enrollment order form.

    It is recommended that you take advantage of the Supplementary Lessons for a couple of reasons. Here is how you can take advantage and why you should take advantage.

    Take every Supplementary Lesson that is available to you at your current level of study. Even if you don’t care for Fingerstyle, or you don’t like Jazz Styles, or you don’t want to learn how to read notation, or whatever it is; you should go ahead an take all of the studies that are available to you at your current level of study. Two reasons, the 1st being that there is going to be something good  for you in that study which will help you to become a more rounded and more proficient musician. The 2nd reason, particularly for beginners and intermediate students,is that there is a tendency to try to move too fast.


    In other words, there is a tendency to not take the time to fully develop the skills that you will need to really benefit fully from the more advanced studies. There is nothing wrong with staying and developing  at a set level until you are ready to move on. As a matter of fact, some students will stay on one level for years because they have already achieved what they set out to achieve in terms of skills. Now they are just looking for more material to work on at that level.


    A good monthly program would be to simultaneously work on one level of one of the course studies, (Moving Toward Great Guitar Playing Course, Music Theory Course For Guitar Players, or The Modal and Solo Composition Course For Guitar Players), work on one Supplementary Lesson at the same level, and work with one Supplementary Style/Song Study Package. This way, your practice sessions would include knowledge building, skill Building, and application.

    
    Question #6. What do I do if I have a question?

    If you have a question, contact us. The best way is by e-mail: jsuttonisg@aol.com

     We check e-mail daily and try to respond within 48 hours. You can also call us on our toll free number: 800-621-7669
    
    If you get an answer machine, go ahead and leave your question. That gives us an opportunity to look up the page number that you are working on and be better prepared  to help you with an answer. Once again, we try to answer phone messages within 48 hours.

    You can send us your question, inquiry, or statement through the US mail as well.


    Question #7. How long does it take?    

    This depends on which course you are studying, what your background experience is, how much time you have daily to study, and what your goals are.

    The amount of time it takes to complete any particular study varies widely from student to student.


    Question #8. How long will it take for me to get my study?

    We do our mailings on Wednesdays and Fridays. It takes us 2 to 3 days to process a lesson request. When we receive your study requests, your file is reviewed, follow up studies are suggested, your syllabus is updated, the studies and audio are gathered, packaged, and mailed.


    Large orders might take a couple more days. We don’t keep a large inventory but rather opt to manufacture  the studies as needed.

    If you are returning a lesson to be graded, allow a little extra time for that as well. The grading process takes time.

    Personalized Study Requests and Personalized Song Transcriptions take up to 4 to 6 weeks to turnaround.

    So, let’s summarize how long it will take. About a week if it is a simple order, about 2 weeks if it is a large order or if a lesson needs to be graded, and 4 to 6 weeks if it is a Personalized Study of some kind.

    We always make an effort to get it back to you as quickly as possible.


    Question #9. Where is Spring Texas?    

    Spring Texas is a Suburb of Houston Texas. We are about 30 miles north of downtown Houston.


    Question #10. Do you have a bass guitar series?

    At this time, not really.

    Bass players often take The Music Theory Course For Guitar Players and do quite well. But that study is written from a guitar players perspective and it is written in treble clef. That is something to keep in mind if you are a bass player.


    Question #11. What style of music does the course, or courses, cover?

    The courses are designed to give you information about music and how it is applied to the guitar. They do not cater to any one specific style but rather give you the elements which are useful to all styles whether that be heavy metal, or country, or blues, or jazz, or whatever.


    The courses build skills and build knowledge on how everything works, and how things are put together and interrelate.

    The Supplementary Lessons  focus  on specific styles and interests. It is to your advantage to explore all styles and not limit yourself. There is nothing wrong with having a preference, but there is a great advantage to having the experience of exploring a variety of styles.


    Question #12. Is the course accredited?

    The Music Theory Course for Guitar Players, and The Modal and Solo Composition Course for Guitar Players are not accredited. What that means is that we are not associated with, or recognized as a major state university.

    Even so, you are issued a certificate upon completion of either one of those courses. That certificate stands on its own merit and the reputation of this school.

    Both courses are college level studies.



    Question #13. Is there a discount if I buy everything at one time?

    There is not a direct discount. However, you could save a substantial amount in shipping costs if you buy in quantity. We have established a set shipping rate. Whether you buy just 1 study, or if you buy 50 studies, the shipping cost to you is the same. In that sense, the more you buy the greater your discount is via a reduced shipping and handling fee.


    Question #14. Can I do this course if I don’t read notes?

    Yes, you can. Most of the studies are written in tablature, or in tablature and notation. The studies which are written in notation are designed to teach you how to read notation.


    Question #15. Do I have to have a computer?

    You do not have to have a computer. This is not an online course, but rather all of the studies and the audio are shipped to you in a hard copy format.


    Question #16. Do I have to turn the assignments in?

    If you are not working toward achieving a certificate, it’s not necessary to turn your assignments in. However, it is to your advantage if you do turn assignments in. This way we can better help you stay on track, not miss anything, make suggestions, and answer questions. We are here to help.