Ask music store employees, performing musicians, schools and your friends who take music lessons for their recommendations. You can also check your local paper, do a Google search and pick-up some flyers from your local coffee shop. Make a list of names, websites and phone numbers, and leave plenty of room for your notes and impressions. Try to collect between 5-10 contacts.
After you have gathered their contact information, you can prepare to interview each teacher over the phone. Be prepared to tell prospective teachers what you would like to achieve by taking guitar lessons, your current playing level, any past music experience you have had, the style(s) of music you enjoy, plus any other information you think would be helpful for them to know about you. Keep it brief, and realize that the teachers you are interviewing are also interviewing you.
If you live out in the middle of nowhere, don't fret! There are many great teachers who are offering webcam guitar lessons, including myself. All you need is an internet connection and a webcam.
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