Guitar Lessons in Iowa
What guitar lessons cost across Iowa, and how to find the right teacher.
Guitar lesson prices across Iowa
A one-hour guitar lesson in Iowa typically costs $58 to $85, and a half hour $32 to $46. Most towns sit close to that range. The Des Moines area runs highest, up to $92 an hour.
Every town has two guides: a guitar lessons guide, with local schools, events and places to play, and a costs guide, with that town's prices in detail.
| Town | 30 minutes | One hour | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines area | |||
| Des Moines | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Ankeny | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| West Des Moines | $32–$48 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Urbandale | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Waukee | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Johnston | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Altoona | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Clive | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Grimes | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Indianola | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Newton | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Norwalk | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Pleasant Hill | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Davenport area | |||
| Davenport | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Bettendorf | $32–$46 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Cedar Rapids area | |||
| Cedar Rapids | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Marion | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Iowa City area | |||
| Iowa City | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Coralville | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| North Liberty | $32–$47 | $59–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Waterloo area | |||
| Waterloo | $32–$46 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Cedar Falls | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Waverly | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Ames area | |||
| Ames | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Boone | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Other Iowa towns | |||
| Burlington | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Clinton | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Council Bluffs | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Dubuque | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Fort Dodge | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Le Mars | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Marshalltown | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Mason City | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Muscatine | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Oskaloosa | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Ottumwa | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Pella | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Sioux City | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Spencer | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Storm Lake | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
No Iowa town by that name yet. Lessons are live online, so you can still start from anywhere in Iowa.
Meet a Guitar Teacher in Iowa Before You Continue Weekly
The first meeting gives you or your child a chance to meet the teacher and see whether the teaching style feels like the right match before weekly lessons begin.
- Meet the teacher before weekly billing begins
- Hear real-time feedback on the guitar you practice with
- Talk through songs, style, and setup questions
- Pick a weekly length after the first meeting
Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in Iowa
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How guitar learning works in Iowa
How does guitar fit school music in Iowa?
Iowa elementary music in grades 1–6 includes playing, listening, and reading music, so guitar study can develop alongside a child’s school music even when the student’s main instrument is guitar. In Davenport, the district starts elementary orchestra in fourth grade, then band and choir in fifth. These groups offer ensemble experience, while private guitar lessons give a player focused time on the instrument itself. Iowa leaves high school fine arts credits beyond required subject areas to districts, so the courses available to an older student depend on the school district.
When school music starts in Iowa districts
Who runs what for Iowa guitarists?
Iowa’s student guitar route sits mainly with the Iowa Music Teachers Association (IMTA), which offers precollege district and state auditions through participating teachers. The Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) runs school music events and rates solo and small ensemble performances, while the Iowa Music Educators Association (IMEA) speaks for music educators and students. These roles are different: IMTA is the clearest route for a guitar student seeking state auditions, while IHSMA’s school events serve a broader school music system.
Who runs what in Iowa
Iowa Music Teachers Association (IMTA)
- Runs
- Runs precollege festivals and district and state auditions.
- For
- Students entered by a participating IMTA teacher.
Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA)
- Runs
- Runs school solo and small ensemble, All-State, and other music events.
- For
- School music students.
Iowa Music Educators Association (IMEA)
- Runs
- Represents music educators and students in Iowa.
- For
- Music educators and students.
Auditions and events in Iowa
How does a guitarist reach Iowa's top student honors?
For guitar, Iowa’s clearest route to student honors is the Iowa Music Teachers Association’s precollege District and State Auditions, rather than the All-State band, chorus, or orchestra route. An IMTA-member teacher enters a student at one district audition center, and state auditions follow. The 2027 state auditions are scheduled for March 13 at Grinnell College. A separate IMTA/Music Teachers National Association performance competition starts with Iowa’s state competition: only first-place winners advance to division competition, and division winners move on to national finals. The Iowa competition takes place in late October each year.
The guitar route in Iowa, step by step
- District auditionThe district round comes before the state round in the IMTA precollege audition path.
- State auditionState auditions follow the district round; the 2027 event is set for March 13 at Grinnell College.
- Division competitionIn the IMTA/MTNA performance competition, Iowa first-place winners advance to division competition.
- National finalsDivision winners advance to Music Teachers National Association national finals.
What do auditions ask you to prepare?
Iowa’s requirements point guitar students toward prepared solo performance rather than a single statewide list of scales or etudes. At the Iowa High School Music Association State Solo and Small Ensemble Festival, performances receive ratings against standards and written comments from adjudicators, so polished playing and musical control matter. The Iowa Music Teachers Association state audition follows a district round, giving a student a reason to choose and refine a suitable solo well ahead of time. In weekly lessons, expect a prepared event piece to take three to six months, depending on the student’s level and how much practice fits each week.
What else is there to enter?
The Iowa Music Teachers Association offers noncompetitive student festivals, which suit a guitarist who wants to perform without competing. Its district and state auditions provide a more evaluative goal for students ready to have their playing assessed. A student who prefers informal music-making can also build toward playing with others through local guitar and jazz gatherings.
Homeschool and private school students
Homeschool guitar students can take part in individual music-making beyond school groups, but Iowa’s All-State groups are band, chorus, and orchestra rather than guitar. Homeschool choirs in the Des Moines area serve singers, so they are not a guitar ensemble option. A solo performance goal gives a homeschooled guitarist a way to share progress outside a school program.
Starting at any age
Starting a child on guitar
Guitar often suits a child once they can comfortably hold the instrument and coordinate both hands; many begin in the elementary years, before school orchestra starts in Davenport in fourth grade. Weekly one-on-one lessons also let the teacher match the pace to the child while school music develops listening and basic musicianship.
A teen in Iowa
A teen can begin with songs they enjoy and build toward the Iowa Music Teachers Association’s district and state audition route if that goal appeals. Iowa’s high school fine arts credits are determined by districts, so guitar study often has to fit around the student’s own school course choices rather than a specific guitar ensemble calendar. A dedicated weekly lesson gives you or your child a steady place to develop technique and repertoire while school, activities, and audition preparation compete for time.
Starting or coming back as an adult
Adults can start guitar at any age, and returning players can rebuild from their current skills. In Des Moines, the Heart of Iowa Classical Guitar Society welcomes visitors to play ensemble music together without membership, and the Fiddlers’ Association of Iowa welcomes guitarists at its monthly gathering. In Dubuque, adults of any age who play a string instrument can join the non-auditioned Dubuque Community String Orchestra. A teacher meets you where you are, whether you want to play with others or simply enjoy songs on your own.
Finding the right teacher
What should a good guitar teacher do?
A strong guitar teacher listens for what you want to play, then builds the technique and reading that make those songs easier rather than turning every lesson into an audition. For a student considering Iowa Music Teachers Association auditions, the teacher should help choose repertoire and shape it over time; a beginner child needs a different pace than a teen or adult returning to guitar. Training matters, but so does a teacher whose way of explaining fits the learner. Lesson With You lets you choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one, and every teacher holds at least a bachelor’s degree in guitar.
How do live online guitar lessons work?
In a live Zoom guitar lesson, your teacher can hear your timing, tone, and chord changes while watching your hands and posture, then give feedback as you play. Set your device so both hands and the guitar neck are visible, and keep the instrument tuned and ready between weekly lessons. Online learning removes the commute and gives you access to a teacher who fits, rather than limiting the choice to whoever is closest. A student in Des Moines and a student in Newton get the same teacher choice and the same one-on-one lesson.
What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You
GabrielMaster’s in GuitarWillBachelor’s in GuitarJacobBachelor’s in GuitarGuitar in Iowa
Where to hear guitar
Across Iowa, students can hear live music in concert halls and community settings. In Davenport, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra presents masterworks, movie concerts, chamber music, and community traditions, with free Masterworks admission for school music ensembles and student groups and $5 tickets for family members. The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra offers free admission for students and children at its concerts. In Iowa City, local university concerts and recitals are free and open to the public.
Where to play with others
Guitarists can find informal playing opportunities that suit different styles. In Council Bluffs, Field Co. Creative hosts a monthly open blues jam where musicians can plug in and play together. In Cedar Falls, UNI’s Amp Club brings young musicians who already play an instrument or sing into coached bands, with rehearsals and performance opportunities. The Des Moines Community Jazz Center also offers youth combo and big band playing opportunities, giving middle- and high-school students a structured way to explore jazz with others.
Guitar around Iowa, area by area
Des Moines area
In Des Moines, high-school-age students and younger can get $5 rush tickets to Des Moines Symphony Masterworks concerts, while older students can get $10 tickets, subject to availability. The Des Moines Community Orchestra offers free concerts, including a fall concert that takes place in late October. These performances give guitar students a chance to hear how instrumental parts work together, even when guitar is not the focus.
- Town guides
- Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Waukee, Johnston, Altoona, Clive
Cedar Rapids area
Summer brings 18 free outdoor concerts from the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band at sites across the Cedar Rapids metro area, an accessible way to hear live ensemble music. For guitar students, those concerts offer a useful chance to listen for timing and phrasing in a live group setting.
- Town guides
- Cedar Rapids, Marion
Sioux City area
In Sioux City, students 18 and under can reserve free tickets to Sioux City Symphony concerts through Concert Crew, while college students can get $10 tickets on concert day with a student ID. Hearing a symphony gives a guitarist a chance to follow how a musical line fits within a larger ensemble. The student offers make live performance accessible to younger players and college musicians alike.
- School year
- Aug 24 to May 26, 39 lesson weeks (Sioux City Community School District)
- Town guides
- Sioux City, South Sioux City
Ames area
Ames listeners can hear concerts at Iowa State University, where admission is free for youth under 18 and ISU students; general public admission is $10. Roosevelt Summer Sundays adds free outdoor concerts at Roosevelt Park. Both settings give a guitar student a chance to listen closely to phrasing and ensemble playing and bring those ideas into solo practice.
Dubuque area
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Classics concerts welcome students from elementary school through college for $10, with tickets sold at the Five Flags Theater counter on the day of the event. Music at the Star offers six free live performances on Sunday evenings during summer at the Alliant Amphitheatre. These give guitar students two ways to hear live music, from classical programs to a summer concert series.
- Town guides
- Dubuque
A little guitar history in Iowa
Iowa’s guitar history includes Tom Bedell, who began importing guitars bearing his name from Spirit Lake at age 14 in 1963 and later started Bedell Guitar Company. In Des Moines, BilT Guitars makes custom electric instruments, using some wood sourced from Iowa. Pella native Dave Keuning, founding guitarist of The Killers, performs with BilT guitars made in Iowa. These connections give a student local examples of guitar as both a craft and a working instrument, without making one style the only path.
Start Guitar Lessons at Lesson With You
- Meet the teacher before weekly billing begins
- Hear real-time feedback on the guitar you practice with
- Talk through songs, style, and setup questions
- Pick a weekly length after the first meeting
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a teacher who understands the music you want to play and can build technique at a pace that suits you or your child. For an audition goal, look for experience guiding students through prepared repertoire, and remember IMTA festival entry requires an IMTA-member teacher. Lesson With You lets you choose a teacher or ask us for a recommendation.
Yes, a live one-on-one lesson lets a teacher hear timing and tone and see your hands while you play, so feedback can happen in real time. A camera angle that shows both hands and the neck helps, and weekly lessons work without a commute. Online lessons also give you a broader teacher choice than whoever is closest.
The clearest guitar route is the Iowa Music Teachers Association’s precollege district and state auditions, entered through an IMTA-member teacher. Students also can enter the IMTA/Music Teachers National Association performance competition, where Iowa winners advance to division and then national finals. Iowa’s All-State groups are band, chorus, and orchestra, not guitar.
Homeschool guitar students can pursue Iowa Music Teachers Association district and state auditions through an IMTA-member teacher. Iowa’s All-State groups are band, chorus, and orchestra, so that route is not a guitar honor path. Homeschool choirs serve singers, not guitarists.
A child can start when they can comfortably hold a guitar and coordinate both hands, often during the elementary years. Iowa elementary music includes playing and reading music, so private guitar lessons give a child focused time to develop on the instrument. A teacher can adjust the pace to the child’s hands and attention.
No, adults can begin or return to guitar at any age. Des Moines has the Fiddlers’ Association of Iowa gathering, which welcomes guitarists, and Iowa City offers a community jazz jam open to community members and visiting musicians. Weekly lessons can start from your current level and musical goals.
Guitar lessons in Iowa typically cost about $65 an hour, or $32 to $46 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.