For Pete to certify someone as a Wernick Method teacher, he looks for the following:
Ability to play passable bluegrass, with ability to sing and play melody-based solos on an instrument as part of bluegrass jamming. Performing experience is not needed, but bluegrass jamming experience is necessary. Rudimentary rhythm guitar skill, to accompany basic singing (or someone you’ll work with to provide that at all classes) Some teaching experience — group teaching is best, music teaching is best… but neither is required, and people who have never taught will still be considered No age requirement Interest in teaching the Wernick Method, including an understanding of what the Wernick Method is Promise to conduct oneself appropriately with everyone involved in Wernick Method classes Active interest in starting to teach Wernick Method classes in the near future Pete says: “None of the above requirements are what I consider ‘stiff’…. The Wernick Method is mostly common knowledge and plain common sense for a person who knows bluegrass. If someone’s friendly and knows how to explain things, that is typically enough, as long as the teaching goes from our training materials (50 printed pages including Teachers Guide, plus video and audio CD). The students are our ‘eyes and ears’ about how the teacher is doing. We request all students answer detailed online (and anonymous) surveys and we and the teacher see all the responses and a summary. So I keep an eye on how the teachers are doing in that way.”