Guitar Lessons in Maryland
What guitar lessons cost across Maryland, and how to find the right teacher.
Guitar lesson prices across Maryland
A one-hour guitar lesson in Maryland typically costs $68 to $108, and a half hour $36 to $59. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The Frederick area runs highest, up to $122 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore area | |||
| Baltimore | $36–$59 | $68–$108 | LessonsCosts |
| Columbia | $36–$58 | $67–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Ellicott City | $35–$57 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Glen Burnie | $35–$58 | $66–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Dundalk | $36–$58 | $67–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Towson | $35–$58 | $66–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Severn | $36–$58 | $67–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Bel Air South | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Odenton | $36–$58 | $66–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Catonsville | $35–$57 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Annapolis | $36–$59 | $68–$108 | LessonsCosts |
| Essex | $35–$58 | $66–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Woodlawn | $36–$58 | $66–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Severna Park | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Owings Mills | $35–$58 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Randallstown | $35–$57 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Pasadena | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Pikesville | $35–$57 | $66–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Middle River | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Eldersburg | $34–$55 | $63–$100 | LessonsCosts |
| Bel Air North | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Milford Mill | $36–$58 | $67–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Parkville | $36–$59 | $67–$107 | LessonsCosts |
| Crofton | $36–$59 | $67–$107 | LessonsCosts |
| Perry Hall | $35–$58 | $66–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Ilchester | $35–$57 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Carney | $35–$58 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Lochearn | $36–$58 | $67–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Elkridge | $36–$58 | $66–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Reisterstown | $36–$58 | $67–$107 | LessonsCosts |
| North Laurel | $36–$59 | $67–$107 | LessonsCosts |
| Edgewood | $34–$56 | $64–$102 | LessonsCosts |
| Arnold | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Cockeysville | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Arbutus | $35–$57 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Westminster | $36–$58 | $67–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Rosedale | $35–$57 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Maryland City | $35–$58 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Lake Shore | $34–$56 | $64–$102 | LessonsCosts |
| Ferndale | $36–$58 | $67–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Aberdeen | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Parole | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Brooklyn Park | $35–$58 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Mays Chapel | $35–$57 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Rossville | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Havre de Grace | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Joppatowne | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Overlea | $35–$58 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Honeygo | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Riviera Beach | $36–$58 | $67–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Annapolis Neck | $35–$57 | $65–$104 | LessonsCosts |
| Linthicum | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Fort Meade | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| White Marsh | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Bel Air | $35–$57 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Scaggsville | $35–$58 | $66–$105 | LessonsCosts |
| Frederick area | |||
| Frederick | $38–$63 | $72–$115 | LessonsCosts |
| Waldorf | $37–$61 | $70–$111 | LessonsCosts |
| Germantown | $39–$63 | $72–$115 | LessonsCosts |
| Silver Spring | $40–$65 | $75–$119 | LessonsCosts |
| Gaithersburg | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Bethesda | $39–$64 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Rockville | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Bowie | $38–$62 | $71–$114 | LessonsCosts |
| Aspen Hill | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Wheaton | $39–$64 | $73–$117 | LessonsCosts |
| North Bethesda | $39–$64 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Potomac | $38–$61 | $71–$112 | LessonsCosts |
| Clinton | $37–$60 | $69–$110 | LessonsCosts |
| Olney | $38–$61 | $71–$112 | LessonsCosts |
| Chillum | $40–$65 | $75–$119 | LessonsCosts |
| College Park | $39–$64 | $73–$117 | LessonsCosts |
| Montgomery Village | $39–$64 | $74–$117 | LessonsCosts |
| Clarksburg | $38–$62 | $71–$113 | LessonsCosts |
| Laurel | $39–$64 | $73–$117 | LessonsCosts |
| South Laurel | $38–$63 | $72–$114 | LessonsCosts |
| Ballenger Creek | $37–$61 | $70–$111 | LessonsCosts |
| Fairland | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Fort Washington | $37–$61 | $70–$111 | LessonsCosts |
| Greenbelt | $39–$63 | $72–$115 | LessonsCosts |
| Landover | $39–$64 | $73–$117 | LessonsCosts |
| North Potomac | $39–$63 | $72–$115 | LessonsCosts |
| Suitland | $39–$63 | $72–$115 | LessonsCosts |
| Camp Springs | $38–$62 | $71–$113 | LessonsCosts |
| Langley Park | $41–$66 | $76–$122 | LessonsCosts |
| Hyattsville | $39–$64 | $74–$117 | LessonsCosts |
| Beltsville | $38–$62 | $71–$114 | LessonsCosts |
| Redland | $38–$62 | $71–$113 | LessonsCosts |
| East Riverdale | $40–$65 | $75–$119 | LessonsCosts |
| Seabrook | $39–$64 | $73–$117 | LessonsCosts |
| Oxon Hill | $38–$61 | $70–$112 | LessonsCosts |
| Damascus | $37–$60 | $69–$110 | LessonsCosts |
| Takoma Park | $40–$64 | $74–$118 | LessonsCosts |
| Calverton | $39–$63 | $72–$115 | LessonsCosts |
| Adelphi | $39–$64 | $73–$117 | LessonsCosts |
| White Oak | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Glenmont | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Glassmanor | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Cloverly | $38–$61 | $70–$112 | LessonsCosts |
| Hillcrest Heights | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Bensville | $36–$59 | $68–$108 | LessonsCosts |
| Summerfield | $39–$63 | $72–$115 | LessonsCosts |
| Colesville | $38–$62 | $71–$114 | LessonsCosts |
| Linganore | $38–$61 | $70–$112 | LessonsCosts |
| Accokeek | $35–$58 | $66–$106 | LessonsCosts |
| Lake Arbor | $39–$63 | $72–$115 | LessonsCosts |
| Urbana | $37–$60 | $69–$110 | LessonsCosts |
| Kettering | $38–$62 | $71–$113 | LessonsCosts |
| Flower Hill | $39–$63 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Glenn Dale | $38–$62 | $71–$113 | LessonsCosts |
| Brock Hall | $37–$61 | $70–$111 | LessonsCosts |
| Green Valley | $36–$59 | $68–$108 | LessonsCosts |
| New Carrollton | $40–$64 | $74–$118 | LessonsCosts |
| Westphalia | $37–$60 | $69–$109 | LessonsCosts |
| Kemp Mill | $39–$64 | $73–$116 | LessonsCosts |
| Rosaryville | $37–$60 | $69–$109 | LessonsCosts |
| Largo | $38–$62 | $71–$114 | LessonsCosts |
| Brandywine | $36–$58 | $67–$107 | LessonsCosts |
| Travilah | $37–$59 | $68–$109 | LessonsCosts |
| Lanham | $38–$63 | $72–$114 | LessonsCosts |
| Mitchellville | $38–$62 | $71–$113 | LessonsCosts |
| Friendly | $37–$61 | $70–$111 | LessonsCosts |
| Walker Mill | $38–$62 | $71–$113 | LessonsCosts |
| La Plata | $37–$60 | $69–$109 | LessonsCosts |
| Forestville | $38–$61 | $70–$112 | LessonsCosts |
| Hagerstown area | |||
| Hagerstown | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Halfway | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Lexington Park area | |||
| Lexington Park | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| California | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Other Maryland towns | |||
| Cambridge | $34–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Cumberland | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Easton | $35–$56 | $65–$103 | LessonsCosts |
| Elkton | $34–$55 | $63–$100 | LessonsCosts |
| Ocean Pines | $34–$56 | $64–$102 | LessonsCosts |
| Salisbury | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
No Maryland town by that name yet. Lessons are live online, so you can still start from anywhere in Maryland.
Meet a Guitar Teacher in Maryland Before You Continue Weekly
For parents, the first lesson can show how the teacher connects with the student. For adults, it can make starting feel less intimidating.
- 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 Maryland
Browse guitar teachers, compare availability, and start with a free trial before choosing weekly lessons in Maryland.
Filter by Day & Time

Will Orchard

Gabriel Maia

Jacob Billings

Jess Kerber
Try adjusting your filters.
How guitar learning works in Maryland
Maryland's student guitar honor route runs through the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA), which sponsors district and state Solo & Ensemble Festivals for eligible school musicians. MMEA also runs auditions for nine All State Ensembles, but those are not the route for guitar solo honors. The Maryland State Music Teachers Association (MSMTA) offers student competitions, festivals, recitals, and examinations, giving guitarists another performance path. These groups serve different purposes, so your next step depends on whether you want a school-based adjudicated solo or a broader student music event.
Who runs what in Maryland
Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA)
- Runs
- Sponsors district and state Solo & Ensemble Festivals and All State auditions.
- For
- Eligible Maryland school music students.
Maryland State Music Teachers Association (MSMTA)
- Runs
- Offers student competitions, festivals, recitals, and examinations.
- For
- Students through its teacher network.
Maryland Band Directors Association (MBDA)
- Runs
- Supports music educators and helps guide student events.
- For
- Music educators and their students.
Maryland Choral Educators Association (MCEA)
- Runs
- Supports music educators and helps guide student events.
- For
- Music educators and their students.
Maryland Orchestra Directors Association (MODA)
- Runs
- Supports music educators and helps guide student events.
- For
- Music educators and their students.
Auditions and events in Maryland
How does a guitarist reach Maryland's top student honors?
For a Maryland guitar student seeking a state solo honor, the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) State Solo & Ensemble Festival follows a qualifying district or county festival. Grades 6–12 students must earn a Superior rating on grade 2–6 music to advance. The 2027 festival takes place May 15 at Towson University’s Center for the Arts; registration is due March 17, with late registration through March 31. MMEA’s All-State auditions follow a separate calendar, with educator nominations from mid-August through late September and caregiver registration from late September through mid-October, but they are not the route to a guitar solo honor.
The guitar route in Maryland, step by step
- District or county festivalGrades 6–12 students in eligible school music settings perform grade 2–6 music; district dates are typically winter or spring.
- Qualify for stateEarn a Superior rating on the district performance; state registration is due March 17, 2027, with late registration through March 31.
- State Solo & Ensemble FestivalPerform at the MMEA festival on May 15, 2027, at Towson University.
The Maryland guitar year
MTNA Competitions — Maryland State CompetitionMaryland State Music Teachers AssociationStart the piece May to Aug
2027 State Solo & Ensemble FestivalMaryland Music Educators AssociationStart the piece Nov to Feb
Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent
What do auditions ask you to prepare?
For the state guitar festival, choose a selection from MMEA’s repertoire list at the same grade level used to qualify at district, and keep the performance within 10 minutes. Scales and sight-reading are not required. Published accompaniment is required and may be live or recorded; a recording must be downloaded onto the playback device rather than streamed. The adjudicator provides a comment sheet after the performance. In weekly lessons, three to six months on an event piece gives time to refine the notes, tone, timing, and coordination with the accompaniment.
Homeschool and private school students
Homeschool students cannot enter the MMEA State Solo & Ensemble Festival under its stated eligibility rules, which require attendance at a public, parochial, or independent school and participation in an appropriate school music class or sponsored ensemble. Maryland Christian Youth Band and Orchestra in Silver Spring offers homeschool and after-school musicians band and orchestra groups, an alternate way to make music with others. The proposed House Bill 1528 was awaiting a House hearing in the 2026 session, so it is not a current route into school activities.
Starting at any age
Starting a child on guitar
Many children can begin guitar once they can hold it comfortably and focus for a short lesson; there is no fixed starting age. A private teacher can build hand coordination, reading, and chord skills at a pace that suits your child, while helping them find music they want to play. Guitar gives a young learner a way to make music before joining a group, and lessons can continue alongside school music or personal playing as their interests grow.
A teen in Maryland
A Maryland teen can build guitar skill through private lessons and, if part of a school music class or school-sponsored ensemble, work toward the district Solo & Ensemble Festival and state qualification. The route depends on that school music connection, so a teen should ask the school music director how guitar participation fits. Weekly lessons can support schoolwork and personal repertoire at the same time, giving the student steady progress without making every piece serve an audition.
Starting or coming back as an adult
It is not too late to begin or return to guitar as an adult in Maryland. Informal playing groups include Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster and the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society Guitar Orchestra in Catonsville, which welcomes players of all levels and styles. A teacher can start from your current experience, whether you are learning your first chords or rebuilding technique, and help you prepare to join others when you feel ready.
Finding the right teacher
What should a good guitar teacher do?
A good guitar teacher matches the work to the player: a child may need short, clear steps, while a teen preparing a school solo needs steady help shaping a piece and an adult may want to return to familiar songs. For Maryland’s state solo route, a teacher who understands repertoire and helps build secure technique can make preparation feel manageable. Training matters, but so does whether the teacher’s explanations suit your goals and personality. Our teachers all hold at least a bachelor’s degree in guitar, and you can choose one yourself or ask us to recommend a fit.
How do live online guitar lessons work?
In a live Zoom guitar lesson, your teacher hears your tone, rhythm, and transitions and watches your hands as you play, so corrections happen in real time. Set the camera where both hands are visible and keep the room quiet; your guitar stays at home, with no commute. Weekly one-on-one lessons give you a dedicated teacher who learns how you respond to feedback and adjusts the work accordingly. A student in Baltimore and a student in Summerfield have the same choice of teacher and the same lesson, rather than being limited to whoever is closest.
What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You
Guitar in Maryland
Where to hear guitar
Guitar students can hear a range of live music across Maryland. In Easton, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship hosts a monthly acoustic folk circle where participants can lead a song, join in, or listen. Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance welcomes varied instruments and skill levels to its monthly Friday jam in Bushwood, with Irish, Cajun, folk, blues, old-time, and country tunes. These settings let you hear guitar alongside other instruments and styles.
Where to play with others
Maryland guitarists can also play in the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society Guitar Orchestra, which welcomes players of all levels and styles for rehearsals in Catonsville. Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance holds a monthly Friday night jam at Bushwood Mill in Bushwood, welcoming varied instruments and skill levels for Irish, Cajun, folk, blues, old-time, and country tunes. The orchestra offers a guitar-focused ensemble setting, while the Bushwood jam is informal and open to a range of experience.
Guitar around Maryland, area by area
Baltimore area
Baltimore's Baltimore Symphony Orchestra offers student rush tickets for $10 when available, released at noon on concert day with a valid student ID. In Westminster, Carroll Community College presents free student ensemble concerts, including a Rock ’N’ Roll Ensemble performance. These performances give guitar students distinct ways to hear orchestral and popular ensemble music in the region.
- Town guides
- Baltimore, Columbia, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Dundalk, Towson, Severn, Bel Air South
Hagerstown area
Hagerstown offers students a way to hear the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, with free admission in most sections or half-price premium seats at select classical performances for K–12 students. The Hagerstown Municipal Band's free Sunday summer concerts add another regular listening option. Both give a guitar student a chance to hear ensemble sound and follow how rhythm and melody work together.
- School year
- Aug 25 to Jun 8, 41 lesson weeks (Washington County Public Schools)
- Town guides
- Hagerstown, Martinsburg, Halfway
Salisbury area
Salisbury's Salisbury Community Band welcomes qualified musicians, including high school students entering 11th grade or above for summer concerts, and requires a minimum skill level. Guitar is not a typical wind-band part, so this is not a direct guitar ensemble route. Students can also attend Salisbury Symphony Orchestra concerts for $5, while children accompanied by an adult can attend its Children’s Concert free.
- School year
- Sep 1 to Jun 11, 39 lesson weeks (Wicomico County Public Schools)
- Town guides
- Salisbury
Cumberland area
Cumberland's Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series brings free Thursday concerts to the Canal Place Festival Grounds for 10 weeks from June through August. Sunday in the Park offers free weekly live music at Constitution Park from May through September. These recurring outdoor concerts give a guitar student two local options for hearing live music across the warmer months.
- Town guides
- Cumberland
Easton area
Easton’s Mid-Shore Community Band is an all-volunteer ensemble that rehearses in town and welcomes adults and approved high school students; its wind-band format is not designed for guitar. Students up to age 18 can reserve complimentary tickets to Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra concerts, subject to availability. Carpe Diem Arts also presents free, all-ages lunchtime concerts at Brookletts Place.
- School year
- Aug 24 to Jun 14, 40 lesson weeks (Talbot County Public Schools)
- Town guides
- Easton
Cambridge area
Cambridge's free live music includes the Main Stage concert at Groove City Culture Fest and the fall and winter concert series at Christ Episcopal Church. The church series has free admission, making it an accessible listening option for a guitar student and family. Together, these events offer two different settings for hearing performers in Cambridge.
- Town guides
- Cambridge
A little guitar history in Maryland
Baltimore-born guitarist Robbie Basho began playing while studying at the University of Maryland and became known for pioneering steel-string guitar as a solo concert instrument. His story gives Maryland students a local example of guitar as a focused performance voice, as well as an instrument for songs and accompaniment. The Baltimore International Guitar Competition keeps solo guitar in public view, with its application deadline in early July and competition rounds in late September. For a student, that history points to a serious path in solo playing alongside the familiar work of learning songs and playing with others.
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 whose approach fits your goals, age, and way of learning, and who can guide the technique and repertoire you want to build. Our weekly one-on-one live Zoom lessons are taught by musicians with at least a bachelor’s degree in guitar, and you can choose your teacher or ask us to recommend one.
Yes, a teacher can hear your timing and tone and watch both hands in real time, then demonstrate a correction as you play. A clear camera view and a quiet room support focused weekly lessons without a commute.
For guitar, the MMEA State Solo & Ensemble Festival is the state solo honor route, reached by earning a Superior rating at a district or county festival. Eligible students in grades 6–12 must be enrolled in a school music class or school-sponsored ensemble and perform from MMEA’s state repertoire list.
Homeschool students are not eligible for the MMEA State Solo & Ensemble Festival, which requires attendance at a public, parochial, or independent school and participation in a school music class or sponsored ensemble. Maryland Christian Youth Band & Orchestra in Silver Spring offers homeschool and after-school musicians band and orchestra groups as another way to play with others.
A child can start when the guitar fits comfortably and they can focus for a short lesson; there is no single required starting age. A teacher can match the instrument and first skills to the child’s coordination and interests.
No, adults can begin or return to guitar at any age, and Maryland has informal folk jams and guitar ensemble playing for different experience levels. Weekly lessons can start from what you already know and build toward the music you want to play.
Guitar lessons in Maryland typically cost about $80 an hour, or $36 to $59 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.
