Expert-selected instructors you can trust. Our musician-led team personally interviews and evaluates every teacher.
Available for Ithaca students
Try adjusting your filters.
Flexible scheduling No contracts Start or pause lessons anytime
Half-hour lesson
Sign Up$35 per lesson
Sign Up$50 per lesson
Sign Up$65 per lesson
Sign UpAll Major Payment Methods Accepted
Ithaca students can keep guitar progress steady around classes, activities, family routines, and Downtown plans, while keeping the assignment easy to remember.
Strong instruction helps guitar students turn local music interests, school preparation, and favorite artists into organized weekly progress, with enough detail for focused weekly practice.
4.9 out of 5 average lesson rating
A beginner can start with simple songs while an advancing player works on tone, fretboard knowledge, style, and expressive control.
Live online guitar lessons let Ithaca students reach an excellent teacher and prepare for the music they want to make. Younger players can build chord changes and steady strumming for school music, while teens can shape a recital piece or learn to accompany a singer. A realistic early goal is trading short phrases with another guitarist, then listening closely enough to leave room for the other part. Adults in Ithaca may want to play familiar songs with family or friends, or return to music after a break. Teens considering music after high school can explore Ithaca College’s music program; lessons can help them prepare their playing and musicianship.
For a change of sound from home practice, hear Opera Ithaca and notice how singers shape a phrase; that can give an aspiring guitarist ideas for accompanying a voice. Cayuga Chamber Orchestra and Ithaca Community Orchestra offer another chance to listen for how individual parts fit together. At Ithaca College, student recitals and community concerts may include solo guitar, duets, or small ensembles, though programs vary. Those different settings can help an Ithaca learner imagine a recital piece or a duet to work toward. When your child performs, this concert attire guide can help you plan what to wear.
An acoustic, classical, or electric guitar can each be a good first instrument; the right choice depends on the sound you want and where you will practice. If your Ithaca home has shared walls or limited room, think about volume and storage: an electric guitar with headphones can keep practice quieter, while any guitar needs a safe resting place and a stable chair. Ithaca Guitar Works, Cayuga Music Shop, and Hickey's Music Center are places to see guitars and compare how they feel in your hands. A guitar takes little floor space, which can make it easier to keep ready for a short practice. Keep it protected from knocks and temperature swings, and have its strings and setup checked when playing becomes uncomfortable or the instrument will not stay in tune.
Your teacher will choose guitar books and supplies to fit the songs and skills you are working on, so you can start with only what you need. A music stand keeps chord charts or notation at eye level while you play. Ask your teacher which edition to use, then the Lesson With You shop can supply the selected materials. Ithaca Guitar Works and Cayuga Music Shop are local places to look for a stand, strings, or books. Tompkins County Public Library can be a starting point for exploring guitar books and music to listen to; your teacher can help connect that listening to your next practice goal in Ithaca.
Families and adult learners use Lesson With You for patient guitar instruction, clear weekly practice goals, and steady support.
"We highly recommend Lessons With You. Our eight-year-old son started online learning to play the guitar with his instructor, Jeff Frantom, in August. Jeff is a fabulous teacher and has great teaching techniques for children."
- Ursel D., Parent of a Guitar Student
Lesson With You keeps guitar lesson pricing simple for Ithaca, New York: $35 for 30 minutes, $50 for 45 minutes, and $65 for 60 minutes. The first trial lesson is free, and there are no long-term contracts.
Many beginners start with 30 minutes, while older or more advanced students may choose 45 or 60 minutes for chords, strumming, fingerpicking, tab, repertoire, and performance preparation. Compare 30-, 45-, and 60-minute rates in our Ithaca guitar lesson pricing guide.
Lesson With You selects teachers for strong musical training and teaching skill, including advanced degrees from top music schools. You or your child in Ithaca meets with the same dedicated guitar teacher each week, which gives the teacher time to understand what feels easy, what needs slower practice, and what music keeps you interested. The free first lesson is a chance to meet and see whether the teacher’s way of explaining guitar feels like a good fit.
Guitar lessons follow a plan built around the learner, with small steps that can be practiced between weekly meetings. An Ithaca beginner might first settle into two chord shapes, then work on changing between them without losing the beat. Someone preparing a recital can spend more time shaping the melody and playing through the piece from start to finish. The pace stays realistic, so practice has a clear purpose without expecting a big leap every week.
Ithaca offers several ways to hear music and bring a new idea back to the guitar. At Cornell University, a concert can give a learner a chance to notice how musicians shape a phrase; the Cornell Concert Series can offer another listening experience. Hearing a melody or rhythm performed live may spark a song choice, a question about sound, or a reason to keep practicing. Those experiences can give an Ithaca guitarist something personal to explore in the next lesson.
Families in Ithaca can make guitar part of a child’s week through short practice sessions and songs shared at home. Teens can use lessons to shape music they care about, while adults can begin with familiar chords or return to an instrument they once set aside. The same weekly routine gives older learners room to make music at a comfortable pace and choose goals that suit their lives.
Start with Ithaca Guitar Works or Cayuga Music Shop for a music stand, strings, or a guitar book your teacher recommends. Tompkins County Public Library can help you explore guitar books and music for listening. Your teacher will choose materials for your level and goals, and the Lesson With You shop can supply the selected books and supplies.
Yes, live online guitar lessons can work well for beginners in Ithaca. The teacher can hear your rhythm, note clarity, chord changes, and singing or strumming, while video helps them see your hands and posture. Small finger movements or subtle technique details can be harder to judge on screen, so a well-lit camera aimed at the guitar and hands helps. You play on the instrument you use for practice, and the teacher can demonstrate a passage for you to try.
For guitar lessons, plan on an acoustic, classical, or electric guitar, reliable internet, a camera-ready device, and a quiet space. Beginners can often start with a comfortable acoustic or classical guitar, or an electric guitar with a small practice amp, plus picks, a tuner, and a capo when assigned.
Choose the guitar that fits the music you want to play: acoustic for a full strummed sound, classical for nylon strings, or electric for a different range of tones. If you share walls or have a small practice space in Ithaca, an electric guitar with headphones may help keep practice quieter. A teacher can help you decide based on your goals and comfort.
Many children are ready to start guitar around age seven or eight, once they can hold the instrument comfortably, follow a short direction, and stay with a simple practice task. Readiness matters more than a birthday: a smaller guitar may help a younger child, and older beginners do well too. Teens in Ithaca can connect guitar practice with school music if that fits their interests, while adults can start at any age.
Lesson With You rates are $35 for 30 minutes, $50 for 45 minutes, and $65 for 60 minutes. The first 30-minute trial lesson is free.
The free first lesson gives you and your child a chance to meet the guitar teacher, talk about musical interests, and try a few simple sounds or chords. In a typical week, the teacher helps set one or two clear practice goals, such as changing between chords or keeping a steady strum. You practice in short sessions, then bring questions or a song idea to the next lesson. Ithaca families can choose goals that fit their own musical routines.
Start with the free trial form, choose a teacher or request a match, and we will help confirm a lesson time that works for your schedule.
New guitar students are eligible for a free 30-minute trial lesson with no credit card required.
Lessons are billed one week at a time with no long-term contracts. Contact support if you are planning lessons for multiple students or a higher weekly frequency.
Note reading is useful, but guitar study can also include chords, strumming, fingerpicking, tab, notation, rhythm, ear training, improvisation, and repertoire.
Exercises and method books help students connect setup, tone, rhythm, reading, and musical phrasing. Teachers tie that work directly to the music students are learning.
No. Ithaca students take live online lessons on their own guitar, so a busy transit week does not require another trip.
Yes. Adults in Ithaca can start with beginner chords and strumming for songs they enjoy, or return to guitar by rebuilding finger strength and refreshing familiar pieces. Weekly lessons give you a regular point to ask questions and choose a manageable practice goal, even when work and family make the week full. Your teacher can help shape lessons around the music you want to play and the time you have.
Yes. Guitar lessons can help you prepare for school concerts or recitals by building steady rhythm, clean chord changes, and confidence playing a piece through. If you or your child takes part in school music at an Ithaca school, lessons can also support the guitar skills needed for that music.
Meet your teacher in a free lesson. No contracts ever.
