Guitar Lessons in New York

What guitar lessons cost across New York, and how to find the right teacher.

Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 22 min read

Guitar lesson prices across New York
Meet teachers
How guitar learning works in New York
Auditions and events in New York
Starting at any age
Finding the right teacher
Guitar in New York
Area by area
A little guitar history in New York
Frequently Asked Questions

Guitar lesson prices across New York

A one-hour guitar lesson in New York typically costs $79 to $126, and a half hour $42 to $69. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The New York area runs highest, up to $137 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.

Find your town

Town	30 minutes	One hour	Guides
New York area
New York	$45–$73	$83–$133	Lessons Costs
Brooklyn	$45–$73	$84–$134	Lessons Costs
Queens	$44–$72	$83–$132	Lessons Costs
Manhattan	$46–$75	$86–$137	Lessons Costs
Bronx	$45–$73	$84–$134	Lessons Costs
Staten Island	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Yonkers	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
New Rochelle	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Mount Vernon	$44–$72	$82–$131	Lessons Costs
White Plains	$43–$70	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Levittown	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Freeport	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
Hicksville	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
West Babylon	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Valley Stream	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Coram	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Central Islip	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
East Meadow	$42–$69	$79–$127	Lessons Costs
Commack	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Elmont	$43–$70	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Baldwin	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Long Beach	$44–$71	$82–$130	Lessons Costs
New City	$41–$67	$77–$123	Lessons Costs
Spring Valley	$44–$72	$82–$131	Lessons Costs
Uniondale	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Huntington Station	$43–$70	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Centereach	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Bay Shore	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
Oceanside	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Port Chester	$44–$72	$83–$132	Lessons Costs
Franklin Square	$43–$70	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Harrison	$41–$68	$78–$124	Lessons Costs
Shirley	$42–$68	$79–$125	Lessons Costs
Monsey	$43–$71	$81–$130	Lessons Costs
Glen Cove	$42–$69	$79–$125	Lessons Costs
Deer Park	$43–$70	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Lindenhurst	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
West Islip	$43–$70	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Holbrook	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Plainview	$43–$70	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Rockville Centre	$43–$70	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Peekskill	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Medford	$42–$68	$78–$125	Lessons Costs
Dix Hills	$41–$67	$77–$123	Lessons Costs
Copiague	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Garden City	$42–$69	$79–$125	Lessons Costs
Merrick	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
East Patchogue	$42–$68	$79–$125	Lessons Costs
Selden	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Massapequa	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Mineola	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
North Amityville	$44–$71	$82–$130	Lessons Costs
Hauppauge	$42–$68	$78–$124	Lessons Costs
North Bellmore	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
West Hempstead	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
East Massapequa	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
Lynbrook	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
North Bay Shore	$43–$70	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Nanuet	$42–$68	$78–$125	Lessons Costs
Melville	$41–$67	$77–$123	Lessons Costs
East Northport	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Holtsville	$42–$68	$79–$125	Lessons Costs
Roosevelt	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Ronkonkoma	$42–$68	$78–$125	Lessons Costs
Syosset	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Wantagh	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Lake Ronkonkoma	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Woodmere	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Scarsdale	$41–$68	$78–$124	Lessons Costs
Port Washington	$42–$69	$79–$125	Lessons Costs
North Babylon	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
North Massapequa	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
North Valley Stream	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
Bethpage	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Massapequa Park	$43–$71	$81–$130	Lessons Costs
Mastic Beach	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Kings Park	$42–$68	$78–$125	Lessons Costs
Floral Park	$43–$70	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Farmingville	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Pearl River	$41–$67	$77–$123	Lessons Costs
Bellmore	$43–$70	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Westbury	$43–$70	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Mastic	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Hampton Bays	$41–$67	$77–$122	Lessons Costs
Seaford	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Sayville	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Greenlawn	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
South Farmingdale	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
New Cassel	$43–$70	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Manorville	$40–$65	$74–$118	Lessons Costs
North New Hyde Park	$43–$70	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Jefferson Valley-Yorktown	$42–$68	$79–$125	Lessons Costs
Nesconset	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Jericho	$42–$68	$78–$125	Lessons Costs
East Islip	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Rocky Point	$41–$67	$77–$122	Lessons Costs
St. James	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Stony Brook	$42–$68	$78–$124	Lessons Costs
Ridge	$41–$66	$76–$121	Lessons Costs
Salisbury	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Patchogue	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
North Merrick	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Inwood	$43–$70	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
North Wantagh	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Tarrytown	$42–$68	$79–$125	Lessons Costs
Elwood	$42–$68	$78–$125	Lessons Costs
Miller Place	$42–$68	$78–$124	Lessons Costs
Dobbs Ferry	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Suffern	$42–$69	$79–$126	Lessons Costs
Mount Sinai	$42–$68	$78–$124	Lessons Costs
Great Neck	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
North Bellport	$42–$68	$78–$125	Lessons Costs
Lake Grove	$42–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Middle Island	$41–$67	$77–$123	Lessons Costs
North Lindenhurst	$43–$70	$81–$128	Lessons Costs
Sleepy Hollow	$43–$70	$80–$128	Lessons Costs
Terryville	$42–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
Mount Kisco	$43–$69	$80–$127	Lessons Costs
West Haverstraw	$43–$71	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Chestnut Ridge	$41–$67	$77–$123	Lessons Costs
Buffalo area
Buffalo	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Niagara Falls	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
North Tonawanda	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Lockport	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Lackawanna	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Kenmore	$32–$51	$60–$92	Lessons Costs
Tonawanda	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Depew	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Eggertsville	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Albany area
Albany	$34–$56	$64–$102	Lessons Costs
Saratoga Springs	$34–$56	$64–$102	Lessons Costs
Schenectady	$35–$56	$65–$103	Lessons Costs
Troy	$34–$56	$64–$102	Lessons Costs
Cohoes	$34–$56	$64–$102	Lessons Costs
Latham	$34–$55	$63–$100	Lessons Costs
East Glenville	$33–$53	$61–$98	Lessons Costs
Roessleville	$34–$55	$63–$101	Lessons Costs
Loudonville	$33–$54	$63–$100	Lessons Costs
Rochester area
Rochester	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Geneva	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Syracuse area
Syracuse	$33–$53	$61–$97	Lessons Costs
Oswego	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Fulton	$33–$52	$60–$95	Lessons Costs
De Witt	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Poughkeepsie area
Poughkeepsie	$41–$68	$78–$124	Lessons Costs
Kiryas Joel	$43–$70	$81–$129	Lessons Costs
Middletown	$41–$67	$77–$123	Lessons Costs
Beacon	$41–$66	$76–$121	Lessons Costs
Woodbury	$38–$61	$70–$112	Lessons Costs
Myers Corner	$40–$64	$74–$118	Lessons Costs
Binghamton area
Binghamton	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Johnson City	$32–$48	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Endicott	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Endwell	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Utica area
Utica	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Rome	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Jamestown area
Jamestown	$36–$59	$68–$108	Lessons Costs
Dunkirk	$36–$59	$68–$108	Lessons Costs
Watertown area
Watertown	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Fort Drum	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Other New York towns
Amsterdam	$40–$66	$76–$120	Lessons Costs
Auburn	$39–$63	$73–$116	Lessons Costs
Batavia	$36–$59	$68–$108	Lessons Costs
Corning	$39–$64	$73–$116	Lessons Costs
Cortland	$39–$64	$74–$117	Lessons Costs
Elmira	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Glens Falls	$33–$54	$62–$99	Lessons Costs
Gloversville	$40–$66	$76–$120	Lessons Costs
Ithaca	$37–$60	$69–$110	Lessons Costs
Kingston	$35–$58	$66–$105	Lessons Costs
Olean	$36–$59	$67–$107	Lessons Costs
Oneonta	$40–$66	$76–$120	Lessons Costs
Plattsburgh	$37–$61	$70–$112	Lessons Costs

Meet a Guitar Teacher in New York Before You Continue Weekly

A good first lesson should leave the student feeling comfortable with the teacher and clearer about what to practice next.

Meet your guitar teacher before continuing weekly
Work with the same dedicated teacher each week
Get live feedback on chords, rhythm, songs, and setup
Choose 30, 45, or 60 minutes after the first lesson

60+ Instructors

70,000+ Lessons taught

4.9/5 Average lesson rating

Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in New York

Browse guitar teachers, compare availability, and start with a free trial before choosing weekly lessons in New York.

Instrument

Day & Time

Student Age

Student Skill Level

5 guitar instructors available in the next 5 days

Will Orchard

Top Rated 5.0

Bachelor’s in GuitarMulti-Genre SpecialistTheory ExpertiseStudent Favorite

Genres: Acoustic, Bass, Electric Guitar, Ukulele

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults

✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 6 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in New York via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ / 30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Will

Gabriel Maia

Top Rated 5.0

Master’s in GuitarTechnique ExpertVersatile RepertoireStudent Favorite

Genres: Acoustic, Bass, Electric Guitar, Ukulele

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults

✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English, Portuguese, Spanish🏆 Experience: 6 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in New York via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ / 30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Gabriel

Jacob Billings

Top Rated 5.0

Bachelor’s in GuitarPatient & ThoroughVersatile RepertoirePopular

Genres: Acoustic, Classical, Electric Guitar

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults

✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 6 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in New York via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ / 30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Jacob

Jess Kerber

Top Rated 5.0

Bachelor’s in SingingFun & UpbeatWarm & EncouragingPopular

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults

✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 8 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in New York via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ / 30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Jess

How guitar learning works in New York

How does guitar fit school music in New York?

New York districts organize school music around band, orchestra, and chorus, so guitar study usually develops alongside rather than inside those groups. In Three Village Central School District, band and orchestra instrument study starts in grade 3 and chorus in grade 4; Lynbrook Public Schools lets students join band in grade 3, then offers band, chorus, and orchestra in grade 4. Guitarists can build individual skills while taking part in the school music opportunities that suit them, with lessons supporting both reading and confident playing.

Who runs what for New York guitarists?

New York's main school music route is run by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), which sponsors spring solo, small-ensemble, and major-ensemble festivals. Guitarists can enter graded solo festivals through a member school, but guitar is not part of NYSSMA's Conference All-State bands, choruses, orchestras, or jazz ensembles. The New York State Music Teachers Association (NYSMTA) offers student competitions, while the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) supports performance opportunities for outstanding student musicians. These serve different aims, so knowing which one includes guitar helps you choose a realistic goal.

Who runs what in New York

New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA)

Runs: Runs spring solo, small-ensemble, and major-ensemble festivals.
For: Students registered through a member school.

New York State Music Teachers Association (NYSMTA)

Runs: Offers student competitions, including MTNA competitions.
For: Students in eligible age and school divisions.

New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA)

Runs: Provides performance opportunities for outstanding student musicians.
For: Outstanding student musicians.

New York Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (NY-ACDA)

Runs: Offers honor-choir opportunities at NYSSMA conferences.
For: Students nominated by a New York-based ACDA member in a choral setting.

Auditions and events in New York

How does a guitarist reach New York's top student honors?

For a New York student, the clearest NYSSMA route begins with a graded guitar solo and a school music program that registers the student; the school must be a NYSSMA member. At the spring solo festival, the player receives an evaluation, and guitarists can attend a Zone 11 Strings I–IV festival that accepts classical guitar. This is a solo evaluation route, not a ladder into Conference All-State, whose groups do not include guitar. A separate option is the Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition for junior high, high school, and collegiate students. The NYSSMA spring season runs from March into early June, while Area All-State rehearsals and concerts take place in October for eligible groups.

The guitar route in New York, step by step

School registrationRegister through a NYSSMA member school for the spring solo festival; home-educated students need district approval.
Graded solo festivalPerform an approved graded solo with scales and sight-reading in spring; Zone 11 accepts classical guitar in March.
Separate competitionsThe Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition offers another student performance route.

The New York guitar year

AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJul

New York International Young Musician CompetitionEntry fee: $150 solo entry; $180 late solo entryStart the piece May to Aug

Start the piece May to AugNov 22

NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble FestivalsNew York State School Music AssociationStart the piece Sep to Dec

Start the piece Sep to DecMar

Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

For a NYSSMA guitar solo, choose an approved piece from the current NYSSMA Manual at the right level, then prepare the required major scales and sight-reading excerpt. The number of scales depends on level and instrument, so the exact assignment comes from the manual. Solo accompanists are generally not required, and festivals usually do not allow them for non-vocal solos. An All-State candidate must prepare a Level 6 piece and receive a recommendation from the high-school ensemble director, though guitar is not included in the Conference All-State groups. In weekly lessons, plan on three to six months to shape an event piece securely.

What else is there to enter?

Students who want a separate judged performance goal can consider the New York International Young Musician Competition, open to ages 6 to 29, or the Elite International Music Competition, which accepts applicants ages 6 to 22 through preliminary auditions. For the 2026 New York International Young Musician Competition, the early application deadline is November 22 and the late deadline is December 6. The Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition is another student competition; its application fee is $35 for students of NYSMTA members and $55 for nonmembers.

Guitar events in New York, 2026–27

New York International Young Musician Competition

When: Early application deadline November 22, 2026; late deadline December 6, 2026
Entry: $150 solo entry; $180 late solo entry
Who: Ages 6–29; age divisions include K–12 students

Elite International Music Competition

When: winners recital registration in December 2026
Entry: Ask the organizer
Who: Ages 6–22; preliminary-audition applicants

NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals

New York State School Music Association

When: March–early June 2027; dates vary by zone and festival
Entry: Ask the organizer
Who: K–12 students registered through a NYSSMA member school

Homeschool and private school students

A homeschooled New York student may enter a NYSSMA solo festival through the resident public school district, but the district decides whether to register them; homeschooled students cannot apply for Area All-State or All-State. A K–12 private-school student can enter NYSSMA solo festivals, Area All-State, and All-State if the school pays the participation fee and registers the student. That makes it worth asking the school or district early which route it can support.

Starting at any age

Starting a child on guitar

A child can begin guitar when the instrument fits their hands well enough to hold comfortably and press the strings without strain. Starting privately lets you build sound, rhythm, basic reading, and relaxed hand habits at the child’s pace, rather than waiting for a school ensemble opening. Lessons also give your child a regular chance to play complete music and hear progress from week to week, which helps sustain interest as school activities and musical goals change.

A teen in New York

For a teen guitarist, the strongest school-linked goal is a spring NYSSMA solo festival, with registration handled through a member school. That school connection shapes the calendar, so it helps to settle the repertoire early enough to prepare alongside classes and other activities. Separate student competitions offer another route for a teen who wants a judged performance. Weekly lessons give the preparation a steady pace without making music feel like a second full-time commitment.

Starting or coming back as an adult

It is not too late to begin or return to guitar as an adult in New York; a teacher can start with the music and pace that feel useful to you, then build technique around your goals. In Rochester, Eastman Rochester New Horizons offers adults small ensembles and other groups without auditions. In White Plains, the NewWSO welcomes prospective members without an audition, though several sections are currently full. These options give you a practical goal for lessons, whether you are rebuilding confidence or preparing to play with others.

Finding the right teacher

What should a good guitar teacher do?

A strong guitar teacher builds clean fretting, relaxed picking, rhythm, and reading while choosing music that keeps you or your child engaged. In New York, that can include preparing a graded NYSSMA solo or developing classical guitar skills for an ensemble, but the right pace depends on age, experience, and personality. Training matters, and so does a teacher who listens well and explains in a way the student understands. Lesson With You teachers hold at least a bachelor's degree in guitar; you can choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one who fits your goals.

How do live online guitar lessons work?

A live Zoom guitar lesson lets the teacher hear timing, tone, and string noise in real time, and see both hands well enough to correct finger placement and posture. A stable camera aimed at the guitar and a quiet room are usually enough to begin. There is no commute, and you can work with a teacher who fits rather than only whoever is closest. A student in New York and a student in Depew have the same choice of teacher and the same weekly one-on-one lesson, which makes it easier to keep a steady rhythm through a busy school year.

What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You

A teacher with a degree in guitarEvery Lesson With You guitar teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar.

GabrielMaster’s in Guitar

WillBachelor’s in Guitar

JacobBachelor’s in Guitar

Meet the teachers below

The same teacher every weekLive, one-on-one lessons with one teacher who knows your goals.

Practice goals every weekEach lesson ends with what to practice before the next one.

Switch or pause anytimeSwitch teachers at no cost, or pause with 24 hours' notice. There's no term to sign up for.

Guitar in New York

Where to hear guitar

Across New York, guitar students can hear the instrument in jazz, folk, and chamber settings. In New York City, the 2026–27 Jazz at Lincoln Center season at Frederick P. Rose Hall includes the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. In Oneonta, school-aged students and college students with ID receive free tickets to Catskill Symphony Orchestra concerts, and accompanying adults pay $10. These concerts let a student hear guitar in varied musical contexts.

Where to play with others

Guitarists can find informal playing beyond dedicated ensembles. In New York City, the Idaho Bar hosts an old-time community jam on the first and third Mondays of each month, welcoming players at all skill levels. The Jazz Foundation of America’s Monday Night Jam is free and open to the public, and musicians who want to perform can arrive early to sign up. These are useful options for a player who wants to build confidence playing with others without making a formal audition the first step.

Guitar around New York, area by area

New York area

In New York City, full-time students age 35 or younger can use a People's Symphony Concerts pass for its concerts. In Long Island City, Kupferberg Center for the Arts presents free outdoor concerts at Gantry Plaza State Park on Tuesdays. Guitarists seeking a chance to play with others can consider the New York City Guitar Orchestra, which has an audition, or the Brooklyn Classical Guitar Society's open mic for classical players of all ages and levels.

School year: Sep 10 to Jun 25, 40 lesson weeks (New York City Public Schools)
Town guides: New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, Newark, Jersey City

Buffalo area

Buffalo listeners can hear free performances at the Buffalo AKG's Lipsey Summer Jazz series on the museum's Lincoln Stairs. The Buffalo Chamber Music Society also offers students free admission, including three free Sunday concerts at Kleinhans Music Hall. For a guitarist, these distinct settings offer a chance to hear both jazz improvisation and chamber music without requiring a formal concert commitment.

School year: Sep 3 to Jun 24, 42 lesson weeks (Buffalo City School District)
Town guides: Buffalo, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Lockport, Lackawanna, Kenmore, Tonawanda, Depew

Albany area

Albany's free Alive at Five summer concert series gives guitarists a chance to hear live music in an outdoor setting. In Schenectady, SUNY Schenectady's Guitar Ensemble meets Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m.; non-music majors and certificate students audition. That group offers a defined ensemble goal for a guitarist ready to play with others, while the concert series provides a relaxed listening option.

Town guides: Albany, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Troy, Cohoes, Latham, East Glenville, Roessleville

Rochester area

Rochester has guitar-specific ways to listen and play. Students and children attend Chamber Music Rochester concerts for free at Beston Hall at Nazareth University, and most of Eastman's more than 800 annual performances are free and open to the public. For players, Eastman's Youth Guitar Ensemble II serves high school students with at least two years of classical study, while a separate yearlong course brings grades 5–8 guitarists together.

Town guides: Rochester, Geneva

Syracuse area

Current students with ID can get a free ticket at the door to a Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music concert. For a guitarist, hearing chamber players balance distinct musical lines can sharpen the ear for tone, timing, and voice leading in solo pieces. That listening focus gives a student a concrete way to connect a local concert with the details of home practice.

School year: Sep 8 to Jun 25, 39 lesson weeks (Syracuse City School District)
Town guides: Syracuse, Oswego, Fulton, De Witt

Poughkeepsie area

The Town of Poughkeepsie's Music at Greenvale offers free Tuesday summer concerts at Greenvale Park. This outdoor series gives guitarists a different listening setting from a formal hall and a chance to hear how performers shape music for an open-air audience. Families can make it a simple summer outing while a student considers which styles they would most enjoy learning.

Town guides: Poughkeepsie, Kiryas Joel, Middletown, Beacon, Woodbury, Myers Corner

Binghamton area

In Binghamton, children age 17 and under can attend Binghamton Philharmonic concerts at Forum Theatre for free. In Vestal, most of the academic-year concerts at Binghamton University Music Department are free to attend. Together, these events give guitar students a chance to hear orchestral and campus performances and consider the different roles an instrument can play in a larger ensemble.

Town guides: Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott, Endwell

A little guitar history in New York

New York has a distinct guitar-making history as well as a continuing classical guitar scene. John D’Angelico opened his first guitar shop in Manhattan's Little Italy in 1932, and John Monteleone still makes archtop guitars in Islip for widely known players including Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Julian Lage, and Ben Harper. In Brooklyn, Brooklyn College's Guitar Ensemble performs contemporary works and arrangements across musical periods and has premiered more than 15 new works. For a student, that history shows guitar as both a crafted instrument and a serious ensemble voice.

Start Guitar Lessons at Lesson With You

Meet your guitar teacher before continuing weekly
Work with the same dedicated teacher each week
Get live feedback on chords, rhythm, songs, and setup
Choose 30, 45, or 60 minutes after the first lesson

60+ Instructors

70,000+ Lessons taught

4.9/5 Average lesson rating

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a good guitar teacher in New York?

Choose a guitar teacher whose approach fits your goals, experience, and personality, and who can explain technique clearly. Lesson With You offers live weekly Zoom lessons with teachers who hold at least a bachelor's degree in guitar; you can select one yourself or ask for a recommendation. Your first 30-minute lesson is free, with no payment method needed.

Do live video guitar lessons really work?

Yes, a teacher can hear your timing and tone and see your fretting and picking hands in real time over Zoom. A camera positioned to show the guitar and a quiet practice space help the teacher give specific feedback, without a commute. Weekly one-on-one lessons also give you a steady way to build technique and repertoire.

How does a guitarist reach New York's top student honors?

Start with a graded NYSSMA solo festival through a member school, where a guitarist performs an approved solo, scales, and sight-reading. Guitar is not included in NYSSMA Conference All-State groups, but students can pursue separate competitions such as the Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition. A teacher can help you build an appropriate solo over several months.

Can homeschool students enter New York music contests?

Yes, a homeschooled student may enter a NYSSMA solo festival through their resident public school district if the district agrees to register them. Homeschool students cannot apply for NYSSMA Area All-State or All-State. A K–12 private-school student has a broader NYSSMA route when the school pays the participation fee and registers them.

What age should a child start guitar lessons?

A child can start when they can comfortably hold a guitar and press its strings, rather than waiting for a particular school grade. Private lessons build basic technique, rhythm, and reading even though New York schools generally do not offer guitar as a standard band or orchestra pathway. The teacher can match the instrument and pace to the child's hands and attention.

Is it too late to learn guitar as an adult in New York?

No, adults begin or return to guitar at every experience level, and lessons can start with the music you want to play. New York City and Brooklyn offer guitar ensemble and open-mic options, while Huntington has a folk jam for amateur musicians. A weekly teacher helps you build the skills to enjoy playing alone or with others.

How much are guitar lessons in New York?

Guitar lessons in New York typically cost about $94 an hour, or $42 to $69 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.

Guitar lesson prices across New York

Meet a Guitar Teacher in New York Before You Continue Weekly

Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in New York

Will Orchard

Gabriel Maia

Jacob Billings

Jess Kerber

How guitar learning works in New York

How does guitar fit school music in New York?

Who runs what for New York guitarists?

Auditions and events in New York

How does a guitarist reach New York's top student honors?

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

What else is there to enter?

Homeschool and private school students

Starting at any age

Starting a child on guitar

A teen in New York

Starting or coming back as an adult

Finding the right teacher

What should a good guitar teacher do?

How do live online guitar lessons work?

Guitar in New York

Where to hear guitar

Where to play with others

Guitar around New York, area by area

New York area

Buffalo area

Albany area

Rochester area

Syracuse area

Poughkeepsie area

Binghamton area

A little guitar history in New York

Start Guitar Lessons at Lesson With You

More for New York

Frequently Asked Questions