This is a GREAT question! First of all, I LOVE when students approach lessons with a specific goal - whether that's a particular song you want to learn to play, an audition you have coming up, a surprise serenade for someone, etc. Having goals really helps direct our practice to ensure you're getting the most out of your lessons! 

That said, in my approach to teaching, we typically weave in general musicianship and technique/skills, even if we are working toward one particular song. While I'm just as pumped as you are when you finally play your “goal song”, my actual goal as a teacher is to get you to a point on your instrument where you don't need me to learn your next song! (This is also a huge reason why I encourage students to take at least some private lessons instead of simply watching YouTube tutorials etc!). In order to get you to that point, we have to talk about some basic skills for reading music, ear training, rhythm, and technique. 

There is no “one size fits all” timeline for how long it takes for all these different aspects of music to sink in. Much of it comes down to how much students practice outside lessons - I'm with you for just 30 minutes, once a week, which isn't very much time, so the consistent effort all the other days makes a much bigger impact. There's also the element of being willing to not be great at something, but continuing to show up - none of us are immediately great at something new EVERY single time. Working through that feeling and frustration is crucial. 

For guitar students, I generally say it takes about 2-3 months for us to get to a point where we can begin playing songs from the radio at a very basic level. It's usually a bit longer than that before we can add in some sparkle and pizzazz and start to sound a bit more like the radio. 

For piano students, it's highly dependent on the age and practice time of the student. Very young beginner students who want to play very involved pop music but don't practice consistently may grow impatient while we try to learn enough about notes and hand position to get to a point where even a very basic arrangement would sound like the song. On the flip side, older students who practice regularly can generally start working on popular music in lead sheet arrangements (simple melody in the right hand and chords in the left) within 2-3 months. 

And of course, the end goal - when is it time for you to “graduate” either to another teacher who focuses more on advanced students, and/or to start working more on your own?

This is also highly individual, but students generally get the most out of lessons with me within about 2-4 years, depending on practice habits, goals, effort, and background prior to lessons. Some students work with me for about 6 months and feel great with their goals; I've also had some students continue with me beyond around 5-6 years, especially if they were very young beginners when we started and/or don't have solid practice routines. 

Once a student is approaching the edges of my teaching focus area, I'll bring up options for continuing your musical journey in ways that best suit your goals. If I know of a teacher who might be a good next fit, I'll do my best to connect you. If you're doing well on your own and want to move to a la carte check ins, that's great! And if I don't know of another teacher, I will share resources for finding someone new to help guide your next musical steps. 

So, long story short, it really depends on the student's goals and practice habits. We can likely get you playing your specific song in a couple months, but if you'd like to have a pretty solid overall grasp of playing music, we'll likely work together for a few years. There is no length of time required for lessons with me - I am here for you! - so it really comes down to your goals and how you're feeling about your playing!