NYC Guitar School

Are you ready for our Brooklyn Guitar School Student Showcase TONIGHT, 11/2 @ 8pm at Freddy’s Bar? We can’t wait for epic performances from over a dozen NYCGS rockstars! Hosted by Michelangelo! See you soon 🎸

The next Adult Rock Band + Ensemble Fall Showcase is tomorrow, Saturday 11/2, at Connolly’s Pub! We’re so excited to welcome Bread & Butter, The Shadow Dogs, Outcast Allison, Band 24, Grunge & Roses, TBD, and The Eclectics to the stage, along with special Guitar Ensemble Performances from our Advanced Beginner students! See you soon 🎸

Wishing a very Happy Halloween to our amazing NYCGS community! 💀🎸🎃

Get ready for our Brooklyn Guitar School Student Showcase featuring Intermediate and Advanced Adult Students! Join us and your host, Michelangelo, next Saturday 11/2 at Freddy’s Bar for original music, awesome covers, and (of course) lots of wonderful people from our NYCGS community.

Come be inspired! RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3YwOIrA 🎸

On October 30th, immerse yourself in an enchanting night of music at 54 Below with Season of the Witch! Come out to support NYC Guitar School students John Adam and Henry Cyranka (of Super Friendly Aviator) as they play alongside a stellar lineup of Broadway performers.

Get tickets here: https://54below.org/events/season-of-the-witch/ 🎸

Samoa’s Intro to Open Mic on Wednesdays at 7pm is the perfect welcoming online introduction to song sharing for beginners who don’t feel quite ready to perform on stage. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3YxBz1t 🎸

Whether it’s stringing together your first two chords, working toward singing in front of people, introducing your song writing, or playing a song that you are rehearsing at home, join us to play, connect with others, and express yourself in a supportive environment with other students!

Meet new NYCGS Suzuki Guitar teacher Anna Leone! Sign up for a Suzuki guitar consultation with Anna here: https://bit.ly/3U5Rdi7

Anna Leone began playing guitar at age seven in her native Brazil and soon focused her studies on classical music. She has performed as a soloist across Brazil, the USA, and Finland, with TV and radio appearances featuring her repertoire of Latin American and Spanish classical music.
A decorated competitor, Anna has won over 12 prizes and earned three honorable mentions in competitions throughout Brazil, the USA, and Europe. She has also participated in master classes with esteemed guitarists such as Marcin Dylla, Tilman Hoppstock, Odair Assad, Matteo Mela, and Lorenzo Micheli.

Anna earned her bachelor’s degree in music performance from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO) under Maria Haro. She was awarded a scholarship to study at James Madison University in the USA, where she completed her master’s in music performance and served as a teaching assistant. In 2021, she earned a second master’s degree from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, mentored by Ismo Eskelinen and Andrzej Wilkus, and joined the Augustine Strings Artist Hall that same year. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at Stony Brook University under João Luiz Rezende.

Teaching since 2012, Anna worked as a teaching assistant at James Madison University and a private instructor and music teacher at the International School of Music Finland. In 2024, she became a certified Suzuki guitar teacher under Seth Himmelhock at the Hartt Suzuki Institute.

Nobody’s Fault is playing Connolly’s TOMORROW Friday, October 4th so let’s go cheer them on! Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3TIncV0

Want to mingle and mix with other music-lovers in Queens? Join us for a Night Out at Hei Tiki for drinks and social hour, hosted by Queens Guitar School teacher Lyn Philistine!

Tuesday, 10/1 @ 7pm
Hei Tiki - 34-20 Broadway, Astoria
RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3BaBVSe
21+

Head out to Otto's this Sunday, September 29th for an awesome show featuring all of these incredible NYCGS students and alums!

Sunday, 9/29 @ 5pm
Otto’s Shrunken Head - 538 E 14th St

Featuring:
Ed & Samoa
City Noise
Killdeer
The Eclectics
Jasmine & Matt

Meet NYCGS teacher Charlie Looker! Book a guitar lesson with Charlie at our UES location: https://bit.ly/3TBmDwc

Charlie Looker is a native New Yorker who has been teaching guitar since the 00s to students of all ages and skill levels. He studied composition at Wesleyan University with Anthony Braxton and Alvin Lucier, jazz guitar with Chris Rosenberg (Manhattan School of Music), and classical music theory/counterpoint with Mark Stambaugh (Manhattan School of Music).

Charlie is also an active performer and composer, working with numerous projects both locally and internationally, spanning the worlds of indie rock, pop, metal, jazz, and improvised music. Some of his notable credits include work with Amanda Palmer, Dirty Projectors, Mary Halvorson, William Parker, and Xiu Xiu. This eclectic professional background feeds into his highly-individualized approach to his students’ needs.

From advanced music theory to loose, informal jamming on just two chords, Charlie is always committed first and foremost to helping the student achieve their unique personal goals, while also expanding their horizons and tying in elements from across many genres and traditions. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a fellow professional, Charlie will meet you right where you are, help you go where you want to go, and introduce many cool surprises along the way.

Ever wondered why your guitar buzzes, how often you should change your strings, or what makes some guitars easier to play than others?

Join NYCGS resident guitar repair guru, Elizabeth Cornell (Black Cat Guitar Repair) on Thursday, 9/26 at 5:30pm for a free Q&A session in the lounge at our Midtown location! No need to sign up — just drop in.

More info here: https://bit.ly/47wtbSQ

Elizabeth keeps NYC Guitar School's 400 guitars in top playing condition and is also the staff repair person at Funkadelic Studios. Bring all your guitar-related questions and don't miss this opportunity to learn from a pro!

NYCGS founder Dan Emery shares 4 Secrets To Finding The Time To Play Guitar (Or Accomplish ANY Goal)!

Secret #1: Make It EASY To Practice Guitar
AKA Priming Your Environment To Reduce “Activation Energy”

Imagine walking into your apartment after work – your favorite Netflix series is paused in the middle of an exciting scene on a big screen and your guitar is in a case in your closet under a pile of dirty clothes.

How much activation energy will it take to play guitar? So much! You’d have to expend energy deciding not to watch TV, then you’d have to open the closet, move the dirty clothes, open the case, get out your guitar, find a place to sit, tune your guitar, decide what to practice–I’m exhausted and de-motivated just writing about it! Let’s just watch TV!

Now, instead, imagine that you come home and your guitar is tuned and waiting, sitting in a stand, right next to your favorite guitar-playing chair. On the table in front of that chair is a chart of your most recent song and a practice plan. It’s so easy and so fun to play guitar!

Prime Your Environment To Make It EASY To Do What You Want To Do
(and to make it INCONVENIENT to do what you don’t want to do!)

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3MKd6iK
Stay tuned for parts 2,3 & 4.

Have you ever wanted to just play a sweet guitar solo but didn't know what to do? Sign up for our Lead Guitar Level I class with Julian! This 10 week course starts this coming Monday, 9/23 and there are just a few spots left.

🎸 Sign up here! https://bit.ly/4dcIUra 🎸

This class is for beginning to intermediate guitar players who know chords/barre chords and how to play songs but have never played single note solos before.

This class was developed by Suke Cerulo of the Lead Guitar Workshop and it will teach you from the ground up, how to play a major and minor pentatonic scale using one pattern and how to change keys. You will learn all of the core techniques like hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides and bends and will understand how to choose the right scale to play and how to navigate the fretboard in three octaves.

You will also learn about the “King Box”, the “Blue Note” and many other awesome sounds and techniques shown through licks and examples. You will learn to think like a musician and be a better guitar player, building a solid foundation in music. Don’t miss out!

Want to mingle and mix with other music-lovers on the UES? Join us for a Night Out at Biddy’s Pub for drinks and social hour, hosted by Jen!

Wednesday, 9/18 @ 7:30pm
Biddy’s Pub - 301 E 91 St, NYC
RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4ghK73f
21+

Meet NYCGS teacher Ben Fitts! Book a guitar lesson with Ben here: https://bit.ly/4d1FrM1

Ben grew up with New York City Guitar School. After studying with NYCGS in camps and lessons, Ben began gigging as a professional musician at 17 and started teaching lessons soon thereafter. Ben has a B.A. from Hampshire College where he studied music composition, guitar performance, and music production. At Hampshire, Ben explored jazz, avant-garde and classical guitar and spent his free time playing in a variety of metal, rock, and punk bands.

Ben started teaching at NYCGS shortly after graduating from college in 2019, and has been here ever since. In addition to recording as a session guitarist, Ben currently plays lead guitar in the indie rock band War Honey. The band is currently signed to Handstand Records and have released two extended plays that have both received radio airplay and critical acclaim, and have together accumulated hundreds of thousands of streams. Outside of music, Ben enjoys writing fiction and making zines. He is the author of the books My Birth And Other Regrets and Snailbutter, and over forty published short stories.

Ben believes that the guitar is a creative tool that each person will learn to use a little differently. Whether it’s helping his students learn their favorite songs, play killer lead solos or even create their own music, Ben’s favorite part of teaching is guiding students to reach their own goals.

There are just a few spots left for our upcoming Kids Rock Band programs, running mid-September to mid-June!

Rehearse, rock, and perform every week in a fully equipped Midtown music studio with an expert coach in preparation for a professional showcase at an NYC club. Studio to stage!

Our philosophy is that when music loving kids are empowered and trusted, they step up. Focused age-matched rehearsals with experienced and supportive coaches are an essential foundation for building a strong community in which students grow in competence, resilience and confidence (musical and personal). Original songs and student-driven arrangements are encouraged.

Make music and make friends! More info at nycguitarschool.com 🎸

Celebrate Alec Goldfarb’s widely acclaimed new release Fire Lapping at the Creek with the Alfredo Colon Quartet and Bergamot Quartet!

Tuesday, 9/17 @ 8pm
Littlefield - 635 Sackett St. BK, NY
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3ACN1iG

Fire Lapping at the Creek explores the occulted history of the blues in an experimental setting with an NYC Allstar sextet: Chris Tordini (bass), David Leon (saxophone), Yuma Uesaka (clarinets), Xavier Del Castillo (saxophone), Alec Goldfarb (guitar), and Steven Crammer (Drums).

There are just a few spots left for our upcoming Teen Rock Band programs, running mid-September to mid-June!

Rehearse, rock, and perform every week in a fully equipped Midtown music studio with an expert coach in preparation for a professional showcase at an NYC club. Studio to stage!

Our philosophy is that when music loving teens are empowered and trusted, they step up. Focused age-matched rehearsals with experienced and supportive coaches are an essential foundation for building a strong community in which students grow in competence, resilience and confidence (musical and personal). Original songs and student-driven arrangements are encouraged.

Make music and make friends! More info at nycguitarschool.com 🎸

Our next In-Person Open Mic is this Sunday, 9/15!

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3AGIRql 🎸

Practice and polish your original song or cover at home, then bring your guitar (or ukulele, violin, harmonica, etc.) and meet your friendly fellow performers at NYC Guitar School to perform in a fun and encouraging environment. BEGINNERS welcome to perform. Josh is your host for the evening!

Happy Labor Day - we hope you’re having a relaxing holiday weekend!

We just want to take a moment to express our appreciation for each and every one of you. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, a friend or family member, you’re a part of our incredible team and it’s your hard work and dedication that keeps us going!

Keep up the amazing work, we’re in for a fantastic fall. On to greatness!

📷: , Mass Appeal 2024

Want to mingle and mix with other music-lovers in Brooklyn? Join us for a Night Out at 4th Ave Pub for drinks and social hour, hosted by Kina! 🍻🎸

Wednesday, 9/4 @ 7:30pm
4th Ave Pub - 76 4th Ave. BK, NY
RSVP! https://bit.ly/3Xkhueu
21+