Heavy metal and its close cousin hard rock are among the most popular and enduring genres of rock. And while metal puts the awesome power of the electric guitar front and center, wielding that power takes dedicated practice and mastery of many advanced techniques. In this drop-in class, we’ll examine some classic metal songs from AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden while learning the precision picking muting and fingering moves to ride the Highway to Hell!

 

Prerequisites: Students should have graduated from Beginners 9 or be otherwise comfortable with barre chords.

Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar

Rose graduated from Appalachian State University where she studied Music Education with a focus in Choral Music. She recently moved to New York from North Carolina and is excited to spread her love for music in the Big Apple! Before moving she worked as a private voice, piano, and guitar instructor at Jolie Musique School of the Arts and has taught vocal lessons focusing on pop, rock, musical theatre, and classical music to various ages of students. When she’s not teaching, she loves to write poetry, go on adventures with friends, and explore her local coffee shops.

 

#vocalteacher #7andup

Suzuki Group Class - Book I

Katty Anna Mayorga began her guitar studies in Guatemala at the age of 6, concentrating in Latin American pop music on acoustic guitar. She also studied electric bass, mandolin, ukulele and banjo, but fell in love with the classical guitar. At the age of 18 she decided to concentrate solely on classical guitar and in New York, she began her studies with Peter Press (accomplished classical guitarist and mandolin player), Frederic Hand (Grammy nominated guitarist and composer, Mannes School of Music) and João Luiz Rezende Lopes (Brasil Guitar Duo and faculty at SUNY Purchase). She completed her Performance in Classical Guitar undergraduate degree, graduating Magna Cum Laude, under Frederic Hand at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College and shortly after her Master’s degree under the same tutelage. She has taken master classes with various world renowned guitarist such as Sharon Isbin, Ana Vidovic, Dale Kavanagh, and Susana Prieto. She actively performs as a soloist and with her duos: Duo Metropolitano (two guitars) and Duo JKLM (flute and guitar) and taught for over 10 years in Westchester County, Ny, and Fairfield County, Ct before joining NYC Guitar school.
Katty is convinced of the importance of Early Childhood music education and the developmental advantage that it creates. She believes deeply in the structural aspects of Suzuki Music Education and the potential of Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) to nurture a child to have a strong bond with music and with the parent. Through SECE, children learn dexterity, music appreciation, sharing and a gentle character. Katty's SECE mentor and trainer is Lynn McCall, the Director of Ayla Suzuki Music and the first American permitted to train SECE teachers.

Katty also became Suzuki Guitar certified in 2014, under the mentoring of Andrea Cannon, founder of Guitar Arts Studio which serves as a National Model Program for Suzuki Guitar. Katty believes the most important part of being a musician is to pass your knowledge to the next generation so they are inspired to make the world a better place through music. We are happy that her love and skill for music and small children have brought her to NYC Guitar School.

#leadguitar #fingerstyle #suzuki

Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more.

 

Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class!

 

1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 

 

 

3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.)

 

Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you!

Prerequisites:
None! Just bring your desire to rock!

Ellis Nolan is a musician from Great Falls, Virginia, whose earliest musical memories include playing “drums” on his parents couch while “Viva La Vida” played on the TV, and learning “Oye Como Va” on guitar from his next-door neighbors.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music (with Highest Distinction) from the University of Virginia, where he studied composition with Drs. JoVia Armstrong and Ted Coffey. A lover of many different kinds of music, Ellis has played bass and guitar for a wide variety of artists in genres ranging from salsa to hip-hop and rock n’ roll. He is so excited to help NYC Guitar School students follow their creative path as a Student Experience Coordinator!

#guitar #7andup #bassguitar

If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more.

 

Here's how it works:

 

1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime.

 

2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress!

 

3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level.

Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class.

Austin D’Adamo is a guitarist, bassist and composer from North Carolina. He received his degree in Music Performance at Valencia College in Orlando, FL under the sage tutelage of Orlando jazz guitarist and educator Bob Holtum. Since relocating to NYC in 2017 he has played with a number of local rock and pop acts, pit orchestras, and improvised music groups – and all along the way he has taught and tutored students of all ages and skill levels on guitar, bass, and music theory.

Austin is well-versed in many genres including jazz, soul, R&B, classical, rock, pop, and country – if it’s good music, you can’t keep him away from it! You might catch him playing and recording with local acts such as The Newsreels, Rocky Billop, and his own jazz-fusion trio Our Messy Ghost.

It is Austin’s belief that his horizons would never have been as broad as they are now if not for music; the guitar taught him patience and acceptance, and it led him to appreciate cultures that he otherwise may have never known. It’s for this reason that he enjoys teaching as much as he enjoys performing – because he loves to see a student’s world get bigger and their love for music grow.

#7andup #guitar #bassguitar #leadguitar

Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more.

 

Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class!

 

1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 

 

 

3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.)

 

Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you!

Prerequisites:
None! Just bring your desire to rock!

Mike O’Donnell is a guitarist and songwriter raised on live music in New Orleans and New York City. He’s dedicated his life to the guitar for over 20 years, honing a versatile playing style that blends elements of psychedelic rock, blues, bluegrass, funk, folk rock, and—above all—improvisational exploration. As both a bandleader and band member, he’s performed in and around the Northeast at venues like Brooklyn Bowl, The Perelman Performing Arts Center, The Paramount, Great South Bay Music Festival, The Space at Westbury, The Warehouse at FTC, Garcia’s at the Capitol Theatre, and Ardmore Music Hall

Mike studied music at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, where he performed in the guitar ensemble and Downbeat Music award-winning jazz ensemble. Through BMCC and Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s “Music Partners Program”, he’s had the opportunity to work with students as young as four years old and assist professors in teaching college-level guitar classes. He is currently studying at CUNY CCNY.

As a guitar teacher, Mike cares about helping his students discover and develop their own musical voices. Recognizing the guitar as a powerful conduit for language and nonverbal communication, he teaches students of all ages how to express themselves through their instruments — how to become fluent in guitar.

#guitar #UWSsun

If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more.

 

Here's how it works:

 

1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime.

 

2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress!

 

3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level.

Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class.

Anthony Tavarez is a guitarist, producer, and dedicated music educator based in New Jersey. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from New Jersey City University, where he developed a strong foundation in music theory, history, performance, and pedagogy.

Classically trained on guitar, Anthony’s musical voice also extends into world music, neo-soul, and R&B. In addition to teaching, he is an active performer and studio producer, bringing real world musical experience into every lesson. His background as a producer allows him to help students understand not just how to play music, but how it functions creatively and structurally in modern contexts.

As a teacher, Anthony specializes in making the complex language of music feel clear, approachable, and exciting. He believes strong fundamentals are the key to creative freedom, and he works with students to build technique, confidence, and true musical understanding. By incorporating both timeless classics and current popular music into lessons, he connects core concepts to the sounds that inspire today’s students.

Anthony is passionate about helping musicians of all ages discover their voice, strengthen their skills, and develop a lasting relationship with music. His goal is not only to teach students how to play, but to help them think, listen, and grow as complete musicians.

 

#guitar #7andup #leadguitar #bassguitar #ukulele

In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. 

 

Mike O’Donnell is a guitarist and songwriter raised on live music in New Orleans and New York City. He’s dedicated his life to the guitar for over 20 years, honing a versatile playing style that blends elements of psychedelic rock, blues, bluegrass, funk, folk rock, and—above all—improvisational exploration. As both a bandleader and band member, he’s performed in and around the Northeast at venues like Brooklyn Bowl, The Perelman Performing Arts Center, The Paramount, Great South Bay Music Festival, The Space at Westbury, The Warehouse at FTC, Garcia’s at the Capitol Theatre, and Ardmore Music Hall

Mike studied music at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, where he performed in the guitar ensemble and Downbeat Music award-winning jazz ensemble. Through BMCC and Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s “Music Partners Program”, he’s had the opportunity to work with students as young as four years old and assist professors in teaching college-level guitar classes. He is currently studying at CUNY CCNY.

As a guitar teacher, Mike cares about helping his students discover and develop their own musical voices. Recognizing the guitar as a powerful conduit for language and nonverbal communication, he teaches students of all ages how to express themselves through their instruments — how to become fluent in guitar.

#guitar #UWSsun

This is one of NYC Guitar School's most beloved classes--it is challenging, and it is fun! This class dives into fundamental rhythm concepts to help you play with confidence, tone and expression. Learn bass-strums, palm mutes, scratches and sixteenth notes!

 

 

To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place!

Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!)

If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series!

You have completed Beginners 1 & 2 or are comfortable with basic open chords and basic strumming patterns.

Anthony Tavarez is a guitarist, producer, and dedicated music educator based in New Jersey. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from New Jersey City University, where he developed a strong foundation in music theory, history, performance, and pedagogy.

Classically trained on guitar, Anthony’s musical voice also extends into world music, neo-soul, and R&B. In addition to teaching, he is an active performer and studio producer, bringing real world musical experience into every lesson. His background as a producer allows him to help students understand not just how to play music, but how it functions creatively and structurally in modern contexts.

As a teacher, Anthony specializes in making the complex language of music feel clear, approachable, and exciting. He believes strong fundamentals are the key to creative freedom, and he works with students to build technique, confidence, and true musical understanding. By incorporating both timeless classics and current popular music into lessons, he connects core concepts to the sounds that inspire today’s students.

Anthony is passionate about helping musicians of all ages discover their voice, strengthen their skills, and develop a lasting relationship with music. His goal is not only to teach students how to play, but to help them think, listen, and grow as complete musicians.

 

#guitar #7andup #leadguitar #bassguitar #ukulele

This is one of NYC Guitar School's most beloved classes--it is challenging, and it is fun! This class dives into fundamental rhythm concepts to help you play with confidence, tone and expression. Learn bass-strums, palm mutes, scratches and sixteenth notes!

 

 

To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place!

Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!)

If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series!

You have completed Beginners 1 & 2 or are comfortable with basic open chords and basic strumming patterns.

Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar

About the Class
In this class you will expand your chord playing to the entire fretboard, including Sharps and Flats, with E form major, minor and 7th chords, while building complex and expressive rhythm techniques utilizing fretting hand damping and syncopation.

 

To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place!

Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!)

If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series!

PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles.

Prerequisites:
You have completed Beginners 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 or are comfortable with mixed 8th note and 16th note strumming patterns, palm muting, bass strumming, slash chords, arpeggios, bass runs, and switching between different strumming patterns and techniques in rhythm.

You are comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory.

Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock.

This is one of NYC Guitar School's most beloved classes--it is challenging, and it is fun! This class dives into fundamental rhythm concepts to help you play with confidence, tone and expression. Learn bass-strums, palm mutes, scratches and sixteenth notes!

 

 

To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place!

Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!)

If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series!

You have completed Beginners 1 & 2 or are comfortable with basic open chords and basic strumming patterns.

Katie Battistoni holds a degree in Jazz Guitar Performance from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. She currently teaches songwriting and music theory at The New School in New York City. She is a fierce advocate of the Neil Young adage that rock and roll is here to stay, and of Thelonious Monk’s mantra that the genius is the one most like [them]self.

Katie has performed and recorded with Marc Ribot, Ches Smith, Wendy Eisenberg, Weasel Walter’s Flying Luttenbachers, Joanna Sternberg, and members of Vulfpeck, Big Thief, and Caroline. She has played in musical theater productions off-Broadway and at Bard College’s Fisher Center. Under the artist name Katy the Kyng (non-sovereign, non-patrilineal), she has written over 500 punk, folk, jazz, experimental, and rock songs about Idahoan laundromats, The Red Hook IKEA rug department, fruit flies, serotonin, and all of her friends.

Katie enjoys teaching hand technique, rock and roll lead-playing, developing self-confidence on the guitar (especially for women and non-gender-conforming students), transcription as a vehicle for jazz vocabulary, chord-melody arranging, fingerstyle accompaniment for folk singers, The Blues as a philosophy and practice, experimental improvisation, traditional songwriting forms, finding your singular (or majestic plural) voice, ear training, and music theory. She also enjoys practicing French, running in Prospect Park, learning chess openings, reading and writing poetry and narrative fiction, and playing with her three-legged tuxedo cat, Rigoletto.

#guitar #7andup #leadguitar #ukulele #fingerstyle

This is one of NYC Guitar School's most beloved classes--it is challenging, and it is fun! In this class you will dramatically expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, arpeggios, movable shapes, vamps and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond.

This class is a "threshhold" class. Students typically take a bit longer to graduate from this class than most of our other classes, and it has the longest graduation requirements of any of 9 beginners classes. And it is worth it! Why? Because in this class you learn to use and relate to your instrument in a transformative way as you begin to exit the beginner stages of gutiar playing.

Most students graduate from this class after 12-20 sessions. But faster or slower is OK!

If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series!

Prerequisites:
You have completed Beginners 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 or are comfortable with mixed 8th note and 16th note strumming patterns, palm muting, bass strumming, slash chords, arpeggios, bass runs, and switching between different strumming patterns and techniques in rhythm.

You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords.

Dylan Fader picked up the guitar at a young age, captivated by the energy of jazz, blues, and rock. What started as a hobby quickly became a lifelong passion, leading him to study at Berklee College of Music, where he worked with Tomo Fujita, Bruce Bartlett, Tim Miller, and Oz Noy, and graduated with highest honors in Guitar Performance, focusing on improvisation, theory, and groove-based styles. Along the way, he also earned a degree in English Literature from SUNY New Paltz, reflecting his love of writing, storytelling, and creative expression.

Since then, Dylan has performed extensively as a solo artist, releasing multiple EPs and handling all vocals, guitar, and production himself. He is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, skilled on guitar, bass, keys, and vocals, and enjoys exploring a wide variety of musical ideas in both solo and collaborative settings. Dylan’s performances are informed by a deep understanding of musical structure, groove, and improvisation, allowing him to connect with audiences across genres.

As a teacher, Dylan specializes in jazz, blues, and rock, as well as improvisation, songwriting, and music theory. He emphasizes creativity, technical skill, and confidence-building, helping students develop their own musical voice while exploring new sounds and ideas. Lessons are tailored to each student’s goals, combining focused practice, hands-on guidance, and fun challenges that encourage stepping out of comfort zones.

Outside of music, Dylan enjoys writing, reading, watching movies, and staying active through jogging and other forms of exercise. He brings the same curiosity and passion he applies to music to all areas of his life, inspiring students and peers alike to explore, create, and grow.

#guitar #7andup #leadguitar #FIDfri

Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar

Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so.

 

At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstyle basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc.

 

**Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**

Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003.
He specializes in classic American styles.

Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more.

 

Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class!

 

1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 

 

 

3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.)

 

Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you!

Prerequisites:
None! Just bring your desire to rock!

Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar

If you are an intermediate/advanced guitar player who has been soloing/improvising with mixed success, the Lead Guitar Workshop is for you. If your playing sounds great sometimes, but you get lost other times - and you don't know why - this is for you. It is a place to learn the complex art of playing through the changes. While you will solo in front of others, it is not a jam! Our emphasis will be on learning the notes on the neck of the guitar, and relating that to the notes in the chords of our progressions. We will discuss things like musical keys, arpeggios, and scale degrees. We generally avoid discussing "shapes" or "patterns". Our goal is to understand exactly what we are playing, and why we are playing it, in musical terms. By doing this, we can remove the barrier between what we imagine the guitar can do, and what we can actually play!

Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following:

1. Play up and down all 5 pentatonic shapes, using eighth notes at 60bpm
2. Play any solo/melody/improvisation - in time - with a backing track or along to the original recording. Examples - solo to a 12 bar blues backing track or play a 15-20 second snippet from a classic guitar solo you're working on

Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance.

His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few.

Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding!
His teaching style is encouraging, motivating and relaxed while focusing on each student's personal musical taste and aspirations. Eric’s goal is to inspire each student to discover all that the guitar (or bass!) has to offer and help cultivate a love of music.

#bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar

Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more.

 

Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class!

 

1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 

 

 

3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.)

 

Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you!

Prerequisites:
None! Just bring your desire to rock!

Dylan Fader picked up the guitar at a young age, captivated by the energy of jazz, blues, and rock. What started as a hobby quickly became a lifelong passion, leading him to study at Berklee College of Music, where he worked with Tomo Fujita, Bruce Bartlett, Tim Miller, and Oz Noy, and graduated with highest honors in Guitar Performance, focusing on improvisation, theory, and groove-based styles. Along the way, he also earned a degree in English Literature from SUNY New Paltz, reflecting his love of writing, storytelling, and creative expression.

Since then, Dylan has performed extensively as a solo artist, releasing multiple EPs and handling all vocals, guitar, and production himself. He is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, skilled on guitar, bass, keys, and vocals, and enjoys exploring a wide variety of musical ideas in both solo and collaborative settings. Dylan’s performances are informed by a deep understanding of musical structure, groove, and improvisation, allowing him to connect with audiences across genres.

As a teacher, Dylan specializes in jazz, blues, and rock, as well as improvisation, songwriting, and music theory. He emphasizes creativity, technical skill, and confidence-building, helping students develop their own musical voice while exploring new sounds and ideas. Lessons are tailored to each student’s goals, combining focused practice, hands-on guidance, and fun challenges that encourage stepping out of comfort zones.

Outside of music, Dylan enjoys writing, reading, watching movies, and staying active through jogging and other forms of exercise. He brings the same curiosity and passion he applies to music to all areas of his life, inspiring students and peers alike to explore, create, and grow.

#guitar #7andup #leadguitar #FIDfri

If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more.

 

Here's how it works:

 

1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime.

 

2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress!

 

3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level.

Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class.

Katie Battistoni holds a degree in Jazz Guitar Performance from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. She currently teaches songwriting and music theory at The New School in New York City. She is a fierce advocate of the Neil Young adage that rock and roll is here to stay, and of Thelonious Monk’s mantra that the genius is the one most like [them]self.

Katie has performed and recorded with Marc Ribot, Ches Smith, Wendy Eisenberg, Weasel Walter’s Flying Luttenbachers, Joanna Sternberg, and members of Vulfpeck, Big Thief, and Caroline. She has played in musical theater productions off-Broadway and at Bard College’s Fisher Center. Under the artist name Katy the Kyng (non-sovereign, non-patrilineal), she has written over 500 punk, folk, jazz, experimental, and rock songs about Idahoan laundromats, The Red Hook IKEA rug department, fruit flies, serotonin, and all of her friends.

Katie enjoys teaching hand technique, rock and roll lead-playing, developing self-confidence on the guitar (especially for women and non-gender-conforming students), transcription as a vehicle for jazz vocabulary, chord-melody arranging, fingerstyle accompaniment for folk singers, The Blues as a philosophy and practice, experimental improvisation, traditional songwriting forms, finding your singular (or majestic plural) voice, ear training, and music theory. She also enjoys practicing French, running in Prospect Park, learning chess openings, reading and writing poetry and narrative fiction, and playing with her three-legged tuxedo cat, Rigoletto.

#guitar #7andup #leadguitar #ukulele #fingerstyle

In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. 

 

Guitarist and composer Ben McClintock (he/him) was born in the high desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Despite his early fascination with music, it wasn't until the age of 18 that he picked up a guitar. He was immediately captivated and began a lifelong commitment to the instrument.

Seeking to further develop his skills, he enrolled at Berklee College of Music. During his time there, he was fortunate to study under the guidance of slide guitar virtuoso David Tronzo for three years. Boston also became the breeding ground for his instrumental rock band Izzi Creo, which gained popularity in New England and released two independent albums.

After completing his studies at Berklee, McClintock moved to San Francisco. He became involved in indie-rock bands Social Studies and Smokin' Ziggurats, allowing him to tour the country and share the stage with renowned acts such as Bombino, Grizzly Bear, Metz, La Luz, and Dengue Fever. Throughout this period, he found a growing fascination with improvised and new music, leading him to perform solo with the electric guitar and an array of effect pedals.

After more than a decade on the west coast Ben moved back to the east coast where he earned a master's degree in Jazz Performance from Hunter College under the tutelage of renowned trombonist Ryan Keberle. He released his debut album as a leader "The Shape of Space" in 2024. The sound has been described as soulful, moody and playing with the lines between jazz and electronic music. He is currently in the process of finishing his follow up album recorded at Figure 8 Studios in Brooklyn in the fall of 2025.

Residing in Brooklyn, McClintock performs regularly with his quartet The Shape of Space and with many other creative and inspiring musicians. Alongside his musical pursuits, he embraces the role of an educator, relishing the opportunity to pass on his knowledge and expertise to aspiring and eager students.

#guitar #7andup