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Guitar Lessons in Virginia

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

Marc Levesque - About Us - Lesson With You
Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 19 min read

Guitar lesson prices across Virginia

A one-hour guitar lesson in Virginia typically costs $70 to $112, and a half hour $37 to $61. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The Arlington area runs highest, up to $118 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.

Town30 minutesOne hourGuides
Virginia Beach area
Virginia Beach$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Chesapeake$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Norfolk$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
Newport News$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Hampton$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Suffolk$32–$47$58–$85LessonsCosts
Williamsburg$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Portsmouth$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Poquoson$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Gloucester Point$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Arlington area
Arlington$39–$64$73–$116LessonsCosts
Fredericksburg$37–$61$70–$112LessonsCosts
Alexandria$39–$64$73–$117LessonsCosts
Centreville$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Dale City$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Reston$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
McLean$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Leesburg$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Lake Ridge$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Ashburn$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Burke$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Woodbridge$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Manassas$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Linton Hall$38–$61$70–$112LessonsCosts
Annandale$38–$63$72–$114LessonsCosts
Oakton$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Fair Oaks$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
South Riding$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Sterling$39–$63$73–$115LessonsCosts
West Falls Church$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Springfield$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Tysons$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Cherry Hill$38–$61$70–$112LessonsCosts
Fairfax$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Herndon$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Brambleton$38–$63$72–$114LessonsCosts
Bailey's Crossroads$39–$64$74–$118LessonsCosts
Chantilly$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
McNair$39–$64$73–$117LessonsCosts
West Springfield$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Montclair$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Buckhall$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Woodlawn$39–$64$73–$116LessonsCosts
Rose Hill$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Lorton$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Culpeper$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Merrifield$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Lincolnia$38–$62$71–$114LessonsCosts
Sudley$38–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Franklin Farm$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Kingstowne$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Franconia$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Gainesville$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
Idylwood$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Hybla Valley$39–$64$74–$117LessonsCosts
Burke Centre$38–$63$72–$114LessonsCosts
Bull Run$38–$63$72–$114LessonsCosts
Manassas Park$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Fort Hunt$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Stone Ridge$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Vienna$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Wolf Trap$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
Front Royal$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
Great Falls$36–$59$67–$107LessonsCosts
Falls Church$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Broadlands$38–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Groveton$38–$61$71–$112LessonsCosts
Huntington$39–$64$74–$117LessonsCosts
Newington$38–$61$71–$112LessonsCosts
Kings Park West$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Mount Vernon$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Sugarland Run$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Fairfax Station$37–$60$69–$109LessonsCosts
Cascades$38–$62$71–$114LessonsCosts
Lansdowne$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Newington Forest$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Wakefield$38–$61$71–$112LessonsCosts
New Baltimore$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Dranesville$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Lowes Island$38–$62$72–$114LessonsCosts
Lake Barcroft$38–$62$71–$114LessonsCosts
Independent Hill$36–$59$68–$109LessonsCosts
Triangle$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Richmond area
Richmond$33–$52$60–$94LessonsCosts
Tuckahoe$33–$52$60–$95LessonsCosts
Mechanicsville$33–$51$60–$94LessonsCosts
Petersburg$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Short Pump$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
Chester$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Hopewell$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Meadowbrook$32–$48$59–$89LessonsCosts
Midlothian$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
Laurel$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
Colonial Heights$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
Glen Allen$33–$52$60–$95LessonsCosts
Bon Air$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
East Highland Park$33–$52$60–$94LessonsCosts
Highland Springs$32–$51$60–$92LessonsCosts
Brandermill$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Lakeside$33–$53$61–$96LessonsCosts
Manchester$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
Wyndham$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
Roanoke area
Roanoke$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Cave Spring$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Salem$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Hollins$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Lynchburg area
Lynchburg$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Forest$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Timberlake$31–$44$57–$80LessonsCosts
Charlottesville area
Charlottesville$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Lake Monticello$33–$52$60–$95LessonsCosts
Blacksburg area
Blacksburg$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Christiansburg$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Radford$32–$47$59–$86LessonsCosts
Staunton area
Staunton$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Waynesboro$32–$45$58–$81LessonsCosts
Stuarts Draft$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Other Virginia towns
Bristol$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Danville$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Harrisonburg$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Martinsville$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Winchester$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts

Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in Virginia

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

5 guitar instructors available in the next 5 days
Will Orchard

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 Virginia via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Will
Gabriel Maia

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 Virginia via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Gabriel
Jacob Billings

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 Virginia via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Jacob
Jess Kerber

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 Virginia via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Jess

How guitar learning works in Virginia

How does guitar fit school music in Virginia?

Guitar is not a standard school ensemble in Virginia, so a student's school route depends on whether their school offers a guitar class. Virginia provides music in every elementary school and offers it in every middle and high school, but those classes are not all guitar-specific. At Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School in Arlington, instrumental music begins in grades 4 and 5. A school guitar class matters later because it can qualify a high school student for the All-Virginia Guitar Ensemble.

Who runs what for Virginia guitarists?

Virginia has two distinct routes for student guitarists: the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) supports school-based music and the All-Virginia Guitar Ensemble, while the Virginia Music Teachers Association (VMTA) runs student festivals and competitions through participating teachers. That difference matters because VMEA honors depend on school music participation and a member teacher, while VMTA opportunities are entered through a dues-paid member teacher and generally require a sustained teacher-student relationship. For a student, the right first step depends on whether the goal is a school honor ensemble or a solo performance opportunity.

Who runs what in Virginia

Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA)

Runs
Supports music education and runs the All-Virginia Guitar Ensemble.
For
Eligible high school guitarists in grades 9–12.

Virginia Music Teachers Association (VMTA)

Runs
Runs student festivals, competitions, and state auditions.
For
Students entered by a dues-paid member teacher.

Virginia Guitar Directors Association (VGDA)

Runs
Provides graded guitar ensemble repertoire and evaluation criteria.
For
Guitar ensemble directors and their students.

Auditions and events in Virginia

How does a guitarist reach Virginia's top student honors?

For Virginia's top school honor opportunity, the route begins with a high school student in grades 9–12 who is enrolled in a school guitar class, or who regularly takes another school music class when the school has no qualifying guitar program. The student's teacher must be a current National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and VMEA member. Students then use the All-Virginia Guitar Ensemble's audition information to enter the statewide process; the available route does not set out a district or regional preliminary round. A separate solo route runs through VMTA: classical guitarists in grades 10–12 can enter Level III district auditions, with the Valley District event scheduled for May 22, 2027, in Harrisonburg. VMTA's Lynchburg State Auditions are held in late October, with registration usually due in mid-September.

The guitar route in Virginia, step by step

  1. Check school eligibilityIn grades 9–12, enroll in school guitar, or regularly participate in another school music class if guitar is unavailable.
  2. Enter All-Virginia auditionsA current NAfME/VMEA member teacher is required; follow the ensemble's audition information.
  3. Pursue a solo auditionClassical guitarists in grades 10–12 may enter VMTA Level III district auditions; the Valley District event is in May in Harrisonburg.

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

Virginia's All-Virginia Guitar Ensemble audition has eligibility requirements tied to school music participation, while the ensemble's own audition information sets the performance material. For VMTA competitions and festivals, students generally perform from memory, so a guitarist should be ready to play a polished solo without relying on the page. A teacher can divide a demanding piece into small sections and build a reliable performance over three to six months of weekly lessons, leaving time to strengthen memory as well as technique.

What else is there to enter?

Virginia's student guitar opportunities include VMTA district festivals and competitions, which suit students ready to perform for adjudication, and its state auditions for more advanced solo goals. The VMTA Fall Festival district events are held in November, while the Valley District classical guitar Level III audition is scheduled for May in Harrisonburg. Students who prefer creating to competing can consider the VMEA Student Composition Festival, held in November in Richmond; submissions need sponsorship from a current VMEA member, and the festival has no submission fee.

Homeschool and private school students

Homeschooled guitarists can pursue VMEA district, regional, and state opportunities, including All-Virginia Guitar Ensemble auditions, when they regularly participate in an approved homeschool guitar or other music program. For 2026–27, VMEA ensemble assessment and honor-event eligibility requires active participation in an approved program serving more than one family. A student outside such a program may enter district Solo & Ensemble through a participating school's VMEA-member director, with the required school and director approvals.

Starting at any age

Starting a child on guitar

Guitar suits children once they can comfortably hold the instrument and use both hands for simple finger movements; the right starting point is individual rather than a fixed school grade. Virginia provides music throughout elementary school, but guitar-specific school classes are not universal, so private lessons can build steady rhythm, basic chords, and note reading before a school opportunity appears. A dedicated teacher can also adapt the instrument size and early pieces to your child's hands, then help keep progress moving alongside school music.

A teen in Virginia

A Virginia teen can pursue guitar through school music and, in grades 9–12, the All-Virginia Guitar Ensemble if the school's music participation rules are met. The school honor route and VMTA solo contests are separate, so a teen should choose based on whether ensemble playing or an individual performance goal feels more motivating. Weekly lessons help fit practice around classes and other commitments, while a teacher can keep the student's chosen music moving forward without adding a second school calendar to manage.

Starting or coming back as an adult

Adults can find a welcoming way to play guitar with others in Arlington, where the Capital Area Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association holds bluegrass and old-time jams twice a month. Its slow jam welcomes players and singers at every level, with experienced musicians helping newcomers settle into group playing. It is not too late to begin or return, and a teacher can meet you where you are, whether you want to build basic chords or prepare tunes for a jam.

Finding the right teacher

What should a good guitar teacher do?

A good guitar teacher gives a student a clear path from the music they enjoy to the skills needed to play it well, including sound rhythm, confident chord changes, and careful note reading. In Virginia, a teacher who understands school guitar participation and VMTA's memorized performance expectations can help match the route to the student's goal, age, and personality. Every Lesson With You teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar, but fit matters too. You can choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one, then switch at no cost if the match is not right.

How do live online guitar lessons work?

A live Zoom guitar lesson lets your teacher hear tone, timing, and chord changes in real time and see both hands clearly enough to offer specific corrections. Set up the guitar, a stable device, and a quiet place where the player and instrument fit in view; the teacher can then demonstrate and listen as the student tries the idea. A Virginia Beach guitarist and a Great Falls guitarist get the same choice of teacher and the same one-on-one weekly lesson, without a commute or a limit to whoever is closest. The consistent weekly time makes lessons easier to keep alongside school, work, and practice.

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.
Gabriel MaiaGabrielMaster’s in GuitarWill OrchardWillBachelor’s in GuitarJacob BillingsJacobBachelor’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 Virginia

Where to hear guitar

Across Hampton Roads, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra performs in Norfolk, Newport News, and Virginia Beach, with student tickets for elementary through graduate students starting at $15. Virginia Opera brings productions to Norfolk, Richmond, and Fairfax; its 2027 student nights include Hansel and Gretel in January and Turandot in March. These are larger concert settings rather than guitar recitals, but they let a student hear how the instrument can fit into orchestral and operatic music.

Where to play with others

A guitar community also takes shape along Southwest Virginia's Crooked Road, a 333-mile heritage music trail linking venues, jams, and festivals centered on bluegrass, country, and old-time music. Its Youth Fiddlers Convention in Abingdon gives young musicians a route into the region's established convention tradition. For a guitarist drawn to those styles, the trail offers a way to connect playing with a broader musical community without requiring a school ensemble.

Guitar around Virginia, area by area

Virginia Beach area

Virginia Beach has two free summer concert series for families: Bands in the Sand presents Thursday shows, while Party at the Pier brings Thursday evening concerts to Little Island Park. Both offer a chance to hear guitar as part of live bands, even though they are not guitar ensembles. In Virginia Beach, Symphonicity also holds community orchestra and chorus auditions as needed during the season, another way to experience local ensemble music.

School year
Aug 24 to Jun 11, 39 lesson weeks (Virginia Beach City Public Schools)

Richmond area

Richmond offers a strong concert setting for young listeners. Children ages 3–18 attend Richmond Symphony Symphony Series and Neighborhood concerts for free, and college students can get tickets starting at $10 with valid identification. The Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia also presents a Richmond-area season, with concerts free for children and students. These performances give a developing guitarist a chance to hear varied ensemble music without needing to be a performer.

School year
Aug 24 to Jun 4, 38 lesson weeks (Richmond Public Schools)

Roanoke area

Roanoke combines a community ensemble opportunity with accessible concerts. The RSO Multi-Level Community Ensemble welcomes beginner through advanced players, with different semester charges by level. Families can hear free Music on the Mountain concerts at Mill Mountain Discovery Center on the second Sunday of each month in late spring and early summer. A summer visit to Philpott Lake in Franklin County also brings free Concerts by Canoe on select Fridays, with donations accepted.

School year
Aug 11 to May 27, 39 lesson weeks (Roanoke City Public Schools)

Charlottesville area

Charlottesville Symphony concerts offer student tickets for $12, and UVA students can reserve one free ticket in advance. The 2026–27 season includes masterworks and family holiday concerts with the UVA University Singers. The UVA Faculty Artist Series also features chamber and solo performances, including piano, percussion, and string music. These concerts help a guitarist hear how different instruments shape phrasing, ensemble balance, and musical style.

School year
Aug 12 to May 28, 39 lesson weeks (Charlottesville City Schools)

Blacksburg area

Blacksburg's free Summer Arts Festival concerts, presented by Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg, take place on Henderson Lawn on Fridays in June and July. The varied programs offer families a chance to hear live music together. These public performances provide a regular setting for listening, without duplicating the area's guitar ensemble concert.

School year
Aug 11 to May 28, 39 lesson weeks (Montgomery County Public Schools)

Staunton area

Staunton gives families a low-barrier way to hear live music: young people age 18 and under can attend regular Staunton Music Festival events for free. Jazz in the Park adds free, family-friendly summer concerts on Thursdays at Gypsy Hill Park. For a guitarist, these concerts offer a chance to hear how guitar works within jazz and other live groups, even though the performances are not guitar-specific.

A little guitar history in Virginia

Virginia's guitar history connects classical playing with the state's older picking traditions. Suffolk-born Charlie Byrd began studying guitar at age 10, while Wayne Henderson, born in Grayson County, became known for finger-picking and success at fiddlers' conventions. The Tidewater Guitar Orchestra, founded in 1995, shows the instrument's range in ensemble settings, from South American music and the Great American Songbook to classical works. In Richmond, VCU's Guitar Ensemble and Community Guitar Ensemble have performed music from Bach to the Beatles. For a student, these examples show that guitar study can lead toward many styles and ways of playing together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a teacher whose approach fits your goals, age, and learning style, and who can help you build the skills your chosen path requires. Lesson With You lets you choose a teacher or ask for a recommendation, then meet in a free 30-minute first lesson before deciding on weekly lessons.

Yes, a live lesson lets your teacher hear your timing and tone and see your fretting and picking hands in real time. You need a device positioned so the guitar and both hands are visible, and there is no commute or limit to the closest teacher.

A high school guitarist can pursue the All-Virginia Guitar Ensemble in grades 9–12 by meeting its school music participation rules and working with a current NAfME/VMEA member teacher. Classical guitarists in grades 10–12 also have a solo route through VMTA Level III district auditions and state auditions.

Yes, homeschool guitarists can pursue VMEA events if they regularly participate in an approved homeschool music program, including one serving more than one family for 2026–27 honor events. Other homeschool students may enter district Solo & Ensemble through a participating school's VMEA-member director with the required approvals.

A child can start when they can comfortably hold a guitar and coordinate simple movements with both hands; there is no single age that fits everyone. A teacher can choose an instrument size and first steps that suit your child's hands and attention span.

No, adults can start or return to guitar at any age, and Virginia has ways to play with others, including Arlington's CABOMA jams and Richmond's VCU Community Guitar Ensemble. Weekly lessons can begin at your current level and focus on the music you want to play.

Guitar lessons in Virginia typically cost about $83 an hour, or $37 to $61 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.