| Saturday May 10 | |
 | ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Yoga - Guitar Workout (Adults/Teens) - (Intermediate Elective) Vinnie View Details About the Class Do something uplifting with your downtime and sharpen your guitar skills! Veteran NYC Guitar School teacher Vinnie DeMasi has been teaching our core curriculum for 14 years! This drop in class will concentrate on reviewing and practicing many of the skills taught in our beginner classes including chord changing, palm muting, arpeggios, bass-strum patterns etc. Vinnie will take you through a series of varying warm-ups and exercises at a challenging but relaxed pace in a fun, supportive environment. Students will have the opportunity to request specific techniques to work on and there will be a Q&A opportunity at the end of each class. Prerequisites: You are comfortable with open chords, mixed strumming patterns, or have completed through Beginners Guitar 3 or above. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Vinnie Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Sunday May 11 | |
 | ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 2: Strums For Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more. Here's how it works: 1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime. 2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress! 3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level. Most students graduate from this class after about 8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
 | ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Pete View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Pete Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock. Pete has been teaching at the NYC Guitar School for 3 years and loves helping students of all levels progress on their instrument of choice! He specializes in teaching kids, rock band class and private lessons. His teaching style is largely about helping students delve deeply into the music that interests and motivates them the most. He is patient and friendly and loves teaching as much as he loves music! Here's a song from his band! http://chimneys.bandcamp.com/track/apple-scent #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more. Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class! Here's how it works: 1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 2) Practice is easy with comprehensive video tutorials, including this simple 2-minute Level 1 warm-up video. 3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.) Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you! Prerequisites: Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Monday May 12 | |
 | ENROLL 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineSing/Play a Song Emily View Details Join for an hour of singing, playing, or both! Each class will introduce a song from an artist past or present and detail how musicians of all levels can play it. Concepts like singing and playing, strumming, tabs, barre chords and more will be explored in the context of pop, rock, folk, and beyond. Song recommendations welcome! Prerequisites: Beginners 3 and/or experience with 16th note strumming. Emily Born and raised in Northern California, Emily discovered her love for music when she began to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” at the top of her lungs on a family bike ride. Her parents took her to her first voice lesson and she instantly fell in love. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and has studied voice with diverse and acclaimed teachers in NYC. As a musical theatre actor, she has performed in regional theatres across the United States and toured nationally and internationally. She has also performed new musical theatre, pop, rock and her original music at several NYC music venues such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and Feinstein’s/54 Below. A lover of music and creativity, a lesson with Emily will be all about discovering the unique connection between your artistic and personal goals. Lessons will be approached from the standpoint that you are a unique individual and storyteller with your own voice and music to share. Bring your positive spirit and let’s make some music! #vocalteacher #ukulele #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 6: Precision Rhythm for Intermediate Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will dramatically advance your guitar technique as you mix and match individual notes and strums with alternate bass patterns, arpeggios, runs, slash chords and more, gaining the capacity to bring multiple voicings and embellishments to your playing. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 9: Barre Chords II for Advanced Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will mix and match E and A form barre chords over the entire fretboard and you will deepen your understanding of essential chord progressions. This is the final course in our Beginners series...after this class you are very ready for ensembles, rock bands, lead guitar, and much more in the vast world of guitar. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are comfortable with various chords including E shaped barre chords (major/minor/7th), B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory. PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
 | ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Greg View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Greg Born and raised in the outskirts of New York City, Greg began studying music at an early age into his college years. Starting with the saxophone in grade school and later moving on to guitar, it became clear that music would be a lifelong passion. Greg moved to the city in 2010 to intern at a recording studio and focus on his musical path. He has played guitar and bass in various NYC bands for over a decade including genres such as pop punk, indie rock and hardcore. Fueled with inspiration by a range of artists from the Beastie Boys to the Beatles, he is ready to lead his students on the path to guitar greatness! Greg loves teaching newcomers to help find their love of music. His lessons are focused on building self confidence in an encouraging environment by accomplishing student’s goals while having fun. His favorite things to teach students of all ages are pop, singer-songwriter, classic, indie and alt rock. #lead #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
 | ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 7: Master Guitar Moves for Advanced Beginners Eric T. View Details About the Class In this class you will expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| Tuesday May 13 | |
 | ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineOne Song - (Intermediate Elective) Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class called "One Song," we learn (drumroll) ONE SONG. Expanding repertoire is one of the most important ways we can hone our skills as guitarists, plus...it's fun! Each week we'll learn a different song using chords, strumming, and tab. Each class is a surprise and completely different. Past songs have included hits by David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Weezer, and Kacey Musgraves. Prerequisites: Knowledge of open chords, basic strumming, and tab reading required. Knowledge of barre chords is optional. Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| FULL 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineAdvanced Bass Skills Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class, you'll work on repertoire, music theory, fretboard knowledge, and bass technique. Dig in and become a band-ready bassist! Includes songs from the Motown catalogue as well as hits from across the decades. Must read tab, rhythm notation, and have some knowledge of notes on the fretboard. Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following: 1. Name all the natural notes (abcdefg) on every string of the bass, from the open string to the 12th fret. 2. Play 16th notes to a metronome at 60bpm on any open string, alternating your index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. 3. Play three major scales of your choice. 4. Play 1 minute of a song from the following list, along to the original recording, at full speed: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding), What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye), You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder), I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) Email the video to Tia@NYCGuitarSchool.com Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| Wednesday May 14 | |
 | ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Exercise/Sing a Song Anthony View Details Curious about learning how to sing? Then this is the class for you! Vocal Excercise/Sing a Song starts off with 20-30 mins of vocal exercises focusing on strengthening the lungs, purifying the vowels for harmonies, and harmony building exercises. Artists can sign up (via the chat) during exercises to work on a solo song in the second portion of the class. Each student then will have a chance to work on different areas of vocal performance such as lyrical analysis, breath management, and “audience banter.” No experience needed, all are welcome! PERFORMANCE NOTE: This class sometimes turns into a performing ensemble and in that case will be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to enroll in these performance ensembles...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**
Anthony Anthony has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, as well as various theaters around the US. He has received a BA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Throughout his training, he has shaped his voice with almost a dozen voice teachers combining all of their best methods into a succinct vocal strengthening exercise. Anthony specializes in various styles from Pop, Rock to Traditional and Contemporary Broadway. His goal is to help you gain the confidence and technical skills to conquer multiple musical styles. He has been teaching voice lessons and vocal coaching to students of all walks of life: experienced Broadway performers, hip hop artists wanting to improve their melodies, enthusiastic youths prepping for an “Annie” audition and those planning to sing while accompanying themselves on an instrument. Anthony has been relaxed and comfortable in-front of the piano since he was 6 and is sure he can make you feel the same way. Whether you’re playing Ode to Joy, or Wrecking Ball; we’ll approach it with your enjoyment in mind. Lessons will be fun and exciting, yet challenging. All you need to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude! #vocalteacher #7andup |
 | ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineFingerstyle Guitar Workshop - (Advanced Elective) Lenny View Details About the Class Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisites: At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstlye basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Lenny Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003. He specializes in classic American styles. Lenny is an accomplished finger picker and applies this technique to both folk and blues. You could say he wrote the book on finger picking--literally, since he is the author of the book "Finger Style Basics for Guitar", which is published by the Guitar School. His interest in the blues is focused mainly on acoustic delta variety (as in Robert Johnson, etc.) and related ragtime styles as in (Mississippi John Hurt, etc.) He enjoys transcribing the old recordings and providing the resulting tabs to his students. He is also a singer-songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen vein and is the creator and instructor of the Songwriter's Circle course at the Guitar School. In his latest performing venture, Lenny is exploring vintage jazz. He sings, plays and arranges for his swinging vocal harmony band, the Fascinators. #fingerstyle #guitar #12andup |
 | ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineIntro to Open Mic - Workshop, Show, and Share Samoa View Details Perform that song (or piece of a song) you’ve been practicing alone in your room! Whether it’s stringing together your first two chords, working toward singing in front of people, introducing your song writing, or playing a song that you are rehearsing at home - this introduction to open mic is a welcoming workshop for beginners who don't feel quite ready to perform on stage. Let’s play, connect with others, and express ourselves in a supportive environment with other students! Samoa Samoa spends most of her time making things and laughing. She has been part of NYCGS since 2009 photographing and shooting video of thousands of Open Mics, Rock Bands, and Student Showcases. When you meet her at the school, Samoa will most likely be on a ladder painting a wall. Samoa is a long time NYCGS student and supports the continuous growth and strong community at NYCGS. She even met her band mates of Audio Apocalypse and Op Ed at the school! By day, she is a toy designer and believes that everything is best approached with a sense of play. She attributes everything positive in her life to the support of her husband who encouraged her to buy her first guitar at the local music store 12 years ago, and her preschool Little Flowers Montessori education that her mom worked 2 shifts in order to afford, where her big sis would visit and sing to the class. |
| Thursday May 15 | |
 | ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR View Details Vocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing What’s more fun than singing alone in the shower? Making an even bigger sound with a group! In this Drop-In Group Singing Class, you’ll start with the time-tested basics of good vocal technique: breath support and tone production. And then the fun really begins! While learning to sing contemporary pop, rock, and R&B songs, you’ll develop a stronger, more resonant, more musical voice. You’ll improve your ear for rhythm, learn to harmonize, and improve your stage presence. And best of all, each week you’ll experience the sheer joy of singing together with a group of people, one of the most exhilarating and uplifting experiences on earth. You will emerge a better, happier singer. Open to anyone 18 & up, no prior voice study required. Optional recommendations: Water bottle & mini-recorder (or smartphone with voice memo function). For secure online registration click below, or to register by phone call 646-485-7244. Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Ensemble with Eric T. - (Advanced Elective) Eric T. View Details About the Class: Playing music with other people is one of the greatest gifts of learning the guitar! This class builds upon the amazing foundation gained from our beginner guitar curriculum. We expand our knowledge of chords and triads, improv, and lead playing while learning our favorite songs. Each session we will pick songs we love, deconstruct the elements of each guitar part, and use this knowledge to create a part that works within the group. Our goal by the end of the class is to be able to piece together all of our parts and take them to our virtual/online recording studio. Prerequisites: This class is ideal for guitarists that are comfortable with open chords, barre chords, basic pentatonic scales, rudimentary recording capabilities, and most importantly, love learning new songs and working with a team! **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
 | ENROLL 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineRecording And Music Production Workshop (Advanced Elective) Dylan View Details In need of some fresh ears to hear the track you've been working on? Come share it in our Music Production Workshop! You'll get and give feedback in a warm environment with fellow students and an experienced instructor. When we're not sharing our songs we're learning new techniques in mixing, mastering, arrangement, composition and sound design. Even if you are just setting up your home studio, or trying to use a specific software for the first time. Everyone gets a spot at the table to record and produce music here. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Saturday May 17 | |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Yoga - Guitar Workout (Adults/Teens) - (Intermediate Elective) Vinnie View Details About the Class Do something uplifting with your downtime and sharpen your guitar skills! Veteran NYC Guitar School teacher Vinnie DeMasi has been teaching our core curriculum for 14 years! This drop in class will concentrate on reviewing and practicing many of the skills taught in our beginner classes including chord changing, palm muting, arpeggios, bass-strum patterns etc. Vinnie will take you through a series of varying warm-ups and exercises at a challenging but relaxed pace in a fun, supportive environment. Students will have the opportunity to request specific techniques to work on and there will be a Q&A opportunity at the end of each class. Prerequisites: You are comfortable with open chords, mixed strumming patterns, or have completed through Beginners Guitar 3 or above. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Vinnie Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Sunday May 18 | |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 2: Strums For Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more. Here's how it works: 1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime. 2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress! 3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level. Most students graduate from this class after about 8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Pete View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Pete Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock. Pete has been teaching at the NYC Guitar School for 3 years and loves helping students of all levels progress on their instrument of choice! He specializes in teaching kids, rock band class and private lessons. His teaching style is largely about helping students delve deeply into the music that interests and motivates them the most. He is patient and friendly and loves teaching as much as he loves music! Here's a song from his band! http://chimneys.bandcamp.com/track/apple-scent #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more. Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class! Here's how it works: 1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 2) Practice is easy with comprehensive video tutorials, including this simple 2-minute Level 1 warm-up video. 3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.) Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you! Prerequisites: Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Monday May 19 | |
| ENROLL 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineSing/Play a Song Emily View Details Join for an hour of singing, playing, or both! Each class will introduce a song from an artist past or present and detail how musicians of all levels can play it. Concepts like singing and playing, strumming, tabs, barre chords and more will be explored in the context of pop, rock, folk, and beyond. Song recommendations welcome! Prerequisites: Beginners 3 and/or experience with 16th note strumming. Emily Born and raised in Northern California, Emily discovered her love for music when she began to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” at the top of her lungs on a family bike ride. Her parents took her to her first voice lesson and she instantly fell in love. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and has studied voice with diverse and acclaimed teachers in NYC. As a musical theatre actor, she has performed in regional theatres across the United States and toured nationally and internationally. She has also performed new musical theatre, pop, rock and her original music at several NYC music venues such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and Feinstein’s/54 Below. A lover of music and creativity, a lesson with Emily will be all about discovering the unique connection between your artistic and personal goals. Lessons will be approached from the standpoint that you are a unique individual and storyteller with your own voice and music to share. Bring your positive spirit and let’s make some music! #vocalteacher #ukulele #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 6: Precision Rhythm for Intermediate Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will dramatically advance your guitar technique as you mix and match individual notes and strums with alternate bass patterns, arpeggios, runs, slash chords and more, gaining the capacity to bring multiple voicings and embellishments to your playing. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 9: Barre Chords II for Advanced Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will mix and match E and A form barre chords over the entire fretboard and you will deepen your understanding of essential chord progressions. This is the final course in our Beginners series...after this class you are very ready for ensembles, rock bands, lead guitar, and much more in the vast world of guitar. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are comfortable with various chords including E shaped barre chords (major/minor/7th), B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory. PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Greg View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Greg Born and raised in the outskirts of New York City, Greg began studying music at an early age into his college years. Starting with the saxophone in grade school and later moving on to guitar, it became clear that music would be a lifelong passion. Greg moved to the city in 2010 to intern at a recording studio and focus on his musical path. He has played guitar and bass in various NYC bands for over a decade including genres such as pop punk, indie rock and hardcore. Fueled with inspiration by a range of artists from the Beastie Boys to the Beatles, he is ready to lead his students on the path to guitar greatness! Greg loves teaching newcomers to help find their love of music. His lessons are focused on building self confidence in an encouraging environment by accomplishing student’s goals while having fun. His favorite things to teach students of all ages are pop, singer-songwriter, classic, indie and alt rock. #lead #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 7: Master Guitar Moves for Advanced Beginners Eric T. View Details About the Class In this class you will expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| Tuesday May 20 | |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineOne Song - (Intermediate Elective) Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class called "One Song," we learn (drumroll) ONE SONG. Expanding repertoire is one of the most important ways we can hone our skills as guitarists, plus...it's fun! Each week we'll learn a different song using chords, strumming, and tab. Each class is a surprise and completely different. Past songs have included hits by David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Weezer, and Kacey Musgraves. Prerequisites: Knowledge of open chords, basic strumming, and tab reading required. Knowledge of barre chords is optional. Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| FULL 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineAdvanced Bass Skills Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class, you'll work on repertoire, music theory, fretboard knowledge, and bass technique. Dig in and become a band-ready bassist! Includes songs from the Motown catalogue as well as hits from across the decades. Must read tab, rhythm notation, and have some knowledge of notes on the fretboard. Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following: 1. Name all the natural notes (abcdefg) on every string of the bass, from the open string to the 12th fret. 2. Play 16th notes to a metronome at 60bpm on any open string, alternating your index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. 3. Play three major scales of your choice. 4. Play 1 minute of a song from the following list, along to the original recording, at full speed: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding), What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye), You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder), I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) Email the video to Tia@NYCGuitarSchool.com Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| Wednesday May 21 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Exercise/Sing a Song Anthony View Details Curious about learning how to sing? Then this is the class for you! Vocal Excercise/Sing a Song starts off with 20-30 mins of vocal exercises focusing on strengthening the lungs, purifying the vowels for harmonies, and harmony building exercises. Artists can sign up (via the chat) during exercises to work on a solo song in the second portion of the class. Each student then will have a chance to work on different areas of vocal performance such as lyrical analysis, breath management, and “audience banter.” No experience needed, all are welcome! PERFORMANCE NOTE: This class sometimes turns into a performing ensemble and in that case will be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to enroll in these performance ensembles...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**
Anthony Anthony has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, as well as various theaters around the US. He has received a BA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Throughout his training, he has shaped his voice with almost a dozen voice teachers combining all of their best methods into a succinct vocal strengthening exercise. Anthony specializes in various styles from Pop, Rock to Traditional and Contemporary Broadway. His goal is to help you gain the confidence and technical skills to conquer multiple musical styles. He has been teaching voice lessons and vocal coaching to students of all walks of life: experienced Broadway performers, hip hop artists wanting to improve their melodies, enthusiastic youths prepping for an “Annie” audition and those planning to sing while accompanying themselves on an instrument. Anthony has been relaxed and comfortable in-front of the piano since he was 6 and is sure he can make you feel the same way. Whether you’re playing Ode to Joy, or Wrecking Ball; we’ll approach it with your enjoyment in mind. Lessons will be fun and exciting, yet challenging. All you need to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude! #vocalteacher #7andup |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineFingerstyle Guitar Workshop - (Advanced Elective) Lenny View Details About the Class Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisites: At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstlye basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Lenny Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003. He specializes in classic American styles. Lenny is an accomplished finger picker and applies this technique to both folk and blues. You could say he wrote the book on finger picking--literally, since he is the author of the book "Finger Style Basics for Guitar", which is published by the Guitar School. His interest in the blues is focused mainly on acoustic delta variety (as in Robert Johnson, etc.) and related ragtime styles as in (Mississippi John Hurt, etc.) He enjoys transcribing the old recordings and providing the resulting tabs to his students. He is also a singer-songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen vein and is the creator and instructor of the Songwriter's Circle course at the Guitar School. In his latest performing venture, Lenny is exploring vintage jazz. He sings, plays and arranges for his swinging vocal harmony band, the Fascinators. #fingerstyle #guitar #12andup |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineIntro to Open Mic - Workshop, Show, and Share Samoa View Details Perform that song (or piece of a song) you’ve been practicing alone in your room! Whether it’s stringing together your first two chords, working toward singing in front of people, introducing your song writing, or playing a song that you are rehearsing at home - this introduction to open mic is a welcoming workshop for beginners who don't feel quite ready to perform on stage. Let’s play, connect with others, and express ourselves in a supportive environment with other students! Samoa Samoa spends most of her time making things and laughing. She has been part of NYCGS since 2009 photographing and shooting video of thousands of Open Mics, Rock Bands, and Student Showcases. When you meet her at the school, Samoa will most likely be on a ladder painting a wall. Samoa is a long time NYCGS student and supports the continuous growth and strong community at NYCGS. She even met her band mates of Audio Apocalypse and Op Ed at the school! By day, she is a toy designer and believes that everything is best approached with a sense of play. She attributes everything positive in her life to the support of her husband who encouraged her to buy her first guitar at the local music store 12 years ago, and her preschool Little Flowers Montessori education that her mom worked 2 shifts in order to afford, where her big sis would visit and sing to the class. |
| Thursday May 22 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR View Details Vocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing What’s more fun than singing alone in the shower? Making an even bigger sound with a group! In this Drop-In Group Singing Class, you’ll start with the time-tested basics of good vocal technique: breath support and tone production. And then the fun really begins! While learning to sing contemporary pop, rock, and R&B songs, you’ll develop a stronger, more resonant, more musical voice. You’ll improve your ear for rhythm, learn to harmonize, and improve your stage presence. And best of all, each week you’ll experience the sheer joy of singing together with a group of people, one of the most exhilarating and uplifting experiences on earth. You will emerge a better, happier singer. Open to anyone 18 & up, no prior voice study required. Optional recommendations: Water bottle & mini-recorder (or smartphone with voice memo function). For secure online registration click below, or to register by phone call 646-485-7244. Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Ensemble with Eric T. - (Advanced Elective) Eric T. View Details About the Class: Playing music with other people is one of the greatest gifts of learning the guitar! This class builds upon the amazing foundation gained from our beginner guitar curriculum. We expand our knowledge of chords and triads, improv, and lead playing while learning our favorite songs. Each session we will pick songs we love, deconstruct the elements of each guitar part, and use this knowledge to create a part that works within the group. Our goal by the end of the class is to be able to piece together all of our parts and take them to our virtual/online recording studio. Prerequisites: This class is ideal for guitarists that are comfortable with open chords, barre chords, basic pentatonic scales, rudimentary recording capabilities, and most importantly, love learning new songs and working with a team! **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineRecording And Music Production Workshop (Advanced Elective) Dylan View Details In need of some fresh ears to hear the track you've been working on? Come share it in our Music Production Workshop! You'll get and give feedback in a warm environment with fellow students and an experienced instructor. When we're not sharing our songs we're learning new techniques in mixing, mastering, arrangement, composition and sound design. Even if you are just setting up your home studio, or trying to use a specific software for the first time. Everyone gets a spot at the table to record and produce music here. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Tuesday May 27 | |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineOne Song - (Intermediate Elective) Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class called "One Song," we learn (drumroll) ONE SONG. Expanding repertoire is one of the most important ways we can hone our skills as guitarists, plus...it's fun! Each week we'll learn a different song using chords, strumming, and tab. Each class is a surprise and completely different. Past songs have included hits by David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Weezer, and Kacey Musgraves. Prerequisites: Knowledge of open chords, basic strumming, and tab reading required. Knowledge of barre chords is optional. Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| FULL 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineAdvanced Bass Skills Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class, you'll work on repertoire, music theory, fretboard knowledge, and bass technique. Dig in and become a band-ready bassist! Includes songs from the Motown catalogue as well as hits from across the decades. Must read tab, rhythm notation, and have some knowledge of notes on the fretboard. Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following: 1. Name all the natural notes (abcdefg) on every string of the bass, from the open string to the 12th fret. 2. Play 16th notes to a metronome at 60bpm on any open string, alternating your index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. 3. Play three major scales of your choice. 4. Play 1 minute of a song from the following list, along to the original recording, at full speed: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding), What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye), You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder), I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) Email the video to Tia@NYCGuitarSchool.com Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| Wednesday May 28 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Exercise/Sing a Song Anthony View Details Curious about learning how to sing? Then this is the class for you! Vocal Excercise/Sing a Song starts off with 20-30 mins of vocal exercises focusing on strengthening the lungs, purifying the vowels for harmonies, and harmony building exercises. Artists can sign up (via the chat) during exercises to work on a solo song in the second portion of the class. Each student then will have a chance to work on different areas of vocal performance such as lyrical analysis, breath management, and “audience banter.” No experience needed, all are welcome! PERFORMANCE NOTE: This class sometimes turns into a performing ensemble and in that case will be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to enroll in these performance ensembles...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**
Anthony Anthony has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, as well as various theaters around the US. He has received a BA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Throughout his training, he has shaped his voice with almost a dozen voice teachers combining all of their best methods into a succinct vocal strengthening exercise. Anthony specializes in various styles from Pop, Rock to Traditional and Contemporary Broadway. His goal is to help you gain the confidence and technical skills to conquer multiple musical styles. He has been teaching voice lessons and vocal coaching to students of all walks of life: experienced Broadway performers, hip hop artists wanting to improve their melodies, enthusiastic youths prepping for an “Annie” audition and those planning to sing while accompanying themselves on an instrument. Anthony has been relaxed and comfortable in-front of the piano since he was 6 and is sure he can make you feel the same way. Whether you’re playing Ode to Joy, or Wrecking Ball; we’ll approach it with your enjoyment in mind. Lessons will be fun and exciting, yet challenging. All you need to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude! #vocalteacher #7andup |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineFingerstyle Guitar Workshop - (Advanced Elective) Lenny View Details About the Class Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisites: At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstlye basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Lenny Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003. He specializes in classic American styles. Lenny is an accomplished finger picker and applies this technique to both folk and blues. You could say he wrote the book on finger picking--literally, since he is the author of the book "Finger Style Basics for Guitar", which is published by the Guitar School. His interest in the blues is focused mainly on acoustic delta variety (as in Robert Johnson, etc.) and related ragtime styles as in (Mississippi John Hurt, etc.) He enjoys transcribing the old recordings and providing the resulting tabs to his students. He is also a singer-songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen vein and is the creator and instructor of the Songwriter's Circle course at the Guitar School. In his latest performing venture, Lenny is exploring vintage jazz. He sings, plays and arranges for his swinging vocal harmony band, the Fascinators. #fingerstyle #guitar #12andup |
| Thursday May 29 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR View Details Vocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing What’s more fun than singing alone in the shower? Making an even bigger sound with a group! In this Drop-In Group Singing Class, you’ll start with the time-tested basics of good vocal technique: breath support and tone production. And then the fun really begins! While learning to sing contemporary pop, rock, and R&B songs, you’ll develop a stronger, more resonant, more musical voice. You’ll improve your ear for rhythm, learn to harmonize, and improve your stage presence. And best of all, each week you’ll experience the sheer joy of singing together with a group of people, one of the most exhilarating and uplifting experiences on earth. You will emerge a better, happier singer. Open to anyone 18 & up, no prior voice study required. Optional recommendations: Water bottle & mini-recorder (or smartphone with voice memo function). For secure online registration click below, or to register by phone call 646-485-7244. Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Ensemble with Eric T. - (Advanced Elective) Eric T. View Details About the Class: Playing music with other people is one of the greatest gifts of learning the guitar! This class builds upon the amazing foundation gained from our beginner guitar curriculum. We expand our knowledge of chords and triads, improv, and lead playing while learning our favorite songs. Each session we will pick songs we love, deconstruct the elements of each guitar part, and use this knowledge to create a part that works within the group. Our goal by the end of the class is to be able to piece together all of our parts and take them to our virtual/online recording studio. Prerequisites: This class is ideal for guitarists that are comfortable with open chords, barre chords, basic pentatonic scales, rudimentary recording capabilities, and most importantly, love learning new songs and working with a team! **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineRecording And Music Production Workshop (Advanced Elective) Dylan View Details In need of some fresh ears to hear the track you've been working on? Come share it in our Music Production Workshop! You'll get and give feedback in a warm environment with fellow students and an experienced instructor. When we're not sharing our songs we're learning new techniques in mixing, mastering, arrangement, composition and sound design. Even if you are just setting up your home studio, or trying to use a specific software for the first time. Everyone gets a spot at the table to record and produce music here. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Saturday May 31 | |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Yoga - Guitar Workout (Adults/Teens) - (Intermediate Elective) Vinnie View Details About the Class Do something uplifting with your downtime and sharpen your guitar skills! Veteran NYC Guitar School teacher Vinnie DeMasi has been teaching our core curriculum for 14 years! This drop in class will concentrate on reviewing and practicing many of the skills taught in our beginner classes including chord changing, palm muting, arpeggios, bass-strum patterns etc. Vinnie will take you through a series of varying warm-ups and exercises at a challenging but relaxed pace in a fun, supportive environment. Students will have the opportunity to request specific techniques to work on and there will be a Q&A opportunity at the end of each class. Prerequisites: You are comfortable with open chords, mixed strumming patterns, or have completed through Beginners Guitar 3 or above. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Vinnie Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Sunday June 1 | |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 2: Strums For Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more. Here's how it works: 1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime. 2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress! 3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level. Most students graduate from this class after about 8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Pete View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Pete Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock. Pete has been teaching at the NYC Guitar School for 3 years and loves helping students of all levels progress on their instrument of choice! He specializes in teaching kids, rock band class and private lessons. His teaching style is largely about helping students delve deeply into the music that interests and motivates them the most. He is patient and friendly and loves teaching as much as he loves music! Here's a song from his band! http://chimneys.bandcamp.com/track/apple-scent #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more. Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class! Here's how it works: 1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 2) Practice is easy with comprehensive video tutorials, including this simple 2-minute Level 1 warm-up video. 3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.) Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you! Prerequisites: Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Monday June 2 | |
| ENROLL 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineSing/Play a Song Dylan View Details Join for an hour of singing, playing, or both! Each class will introduce a song from an artist past or present and detail how musicians of all levels can play it. Concepts like singing and playing, strumming, tabs, barre chords and more will be explored in the context of pop, rock, folk, and beyond. Song recommendations welcome! Prerequisites: Beginners 3 and/or experience with 16th note strumming. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 6: Precision Rhythm for Intermediate Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will dramatically advance your guitar technique as you mix and match individual notes and strums with alternate bass patterns, arpeggios, runs, slash chords and more, gaining the capacity to bring multiple voicings and embellishments to your playing. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 9: Barre Chords II for Advanced Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will mix and match E and A form barre chords over the entire fretboard and you will deepen your understanding of essential chord progressions. This is the final course in our Beginners series...after this class you are very ready for ensembles, rock bands, lead guitar, and much more in the vast world of guitar. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are comfortable with various chords including E shaped barre chords (major/minor/7th), B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory. PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Greg View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Greg Born and raised in the outskirts of New York City, Greg began studying music at an early age into his college years. Starting with the saxophone in grade school and later moving on to guitar, it became clear that music would be a lifelong passion. Greg moved to the city in 2010 to intern at a recording studio and focus on his musical path. He has played guitar and bass in various NYC bands for over a decade including genres such as pop punk, indie rock and hardcore. Fueled with inspiration by a range of artists from the Beastie Boys to the Beatles, he is ready to lead his students on the path to guitar greatness! Greg loves teaching newcomers to help find their love of music. His lessons are focused on building self confidence in an encouraging environment by accomplishing student’s goals while having fun. His favorite things to teach students of all ages are pop, singer-songwriter, classic, indie and alt rock. #lead #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 7: Master Guitar Moves for Advanced Beginners Eric T. View Details About the Class In this class you will expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| Tuesday June 3 | |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineOne Song - (Intermediate Elective) Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class called "One Song," we learn (drumroll) ONE SONG. Expanding repertoire is one of the most important ways we can hone our skills as guitarists, plus...it's fun! Each week we'll learn a different song using chords, strumming, and tab. Each class is a surprise and completely different. Past songs have included hits by David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Weezer, and Kacey Musgraves. Prerequisites: Knowledge of open chords, basic strumming, and tab reading required. Knowledge of barre chords is optional. Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| FULL 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineAdvanced Bass Skills Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class, you'll work on repertoire, music theory, fretboard knowledge, and bass technique. Dig in and become a band-ready bassist! Includes songs from the Motown catalogue as well as hits from across the decades. Must read tab, rhythm notation, and have some knowledge of notes on the fretboard. Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following: 1. Name all the natural notes (abcdefg) on every string of the bass, from the open string to the 12th fret. 2. Play 16th notes to a metronome at 60bpm on any open string, alternating your index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. 3. Play three major scales of your choice. 4. Play 1 minute of a song from the following list, along to the original recording, at full speed: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding), What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye), You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder), I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) Email the video to Tia@NYCGuitarSchool.com Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| Wednesday June 4 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Exercise/Sing a Song Anthony View Details Curious about learning how to sing? Then this is the class for you! Vocal Excercise/Sing a Song starts off with 20-30 mins of vocal exercises focusing on strengthening the lungs, purifying the vowels for harmonies, and harmony building exercises. Artists can sign up (via the chat) during exercises to work on a solo song in the second portion of the class. Each student then will have a chance to work on different areas of vocal performance such as lyrical analysis, breath management, and “audience banter.” No experience needed, all are welcome! PERFORMANCE NOTE: This class sometimes turns into a performing ensemble and in that case will be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to enroll in these performance ensembles...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**
Anthony Anthony has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, as well as various theaters around the US. He has received a BA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Throughout his training, he has shaped his voice with almost a dozen voice teachers combining all of their best methods into a succinct vocal strengthening exercise. Anthony specializes in various styles from Pop, Rock to Traditional and Contemporary Broadway. His goal is to help you gain the confidence and technical skills to conquer multiple musical styles. He has been teaching voice lessons and vocal coaching to students of all walks of life: experienced Broadway performers, hip hop artists wanting to improve their melodies, enthusiastic youths prepping for an “Annie” audition and those planning to sing while accompanying themselves on an instrument. Anthony has been relaxed and comfortable in-front of the piano since he was 6 and is sure he can make you feel the same way. Whether you’re playing Ode to Joy, or Wrecking Ball; we’ll approach it with your enjoyment in mind. Lessons will be fun and exciting, yet challenging. All you need to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude! #vocalteacher #7andup |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineFingerstyle Guitar Workshop - (Advanced Elective) Lenny View Details About the Class Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisites: At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstlye basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Lenny Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003. He specializes in classic American styles. Lenny is an accomplished finger picker and applies this technique to both folk and blues. You could say he wrote the book on finger picking--literally, since he is the author of the book "Finger Style Basics for Guitar", which is published by the Guitar School. His interest in the blues is focused mainly on acoustic delta variety (as in Robert Johnson, etc.) and related ragtime styles as in (Mississippi John Hurt, etc.) He enjoys transcribing the old recordings and providing the resulting tabs to his students. He is also a singer-songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen vein and is the creator and instructor of the Songwriter's Circle course at the Guitar School. In his latest performing venture, Lenny is exploring vintage jazz. He sings, plays and arranges for his swinging vocal harmony band, the Fascinators. #fingerstyle #guitar #12andup |
| Thursday June 5 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR View Details Vocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing What’s more fun than singing alone in the shower? Making an even bigger sound with a group! In this Drop-In Group Singing Class, you’ll start with the time-tested basics of good vocal technique: breath support and tone production. And then the fun really begins! While learning to sing contemporary pop, rock, and R&B songs, you’ll develop a stronger, more resonant, more musical voice. You’ll improve your ear for rhythm, learn to harmonize, and improve your stage presence. And best of all, each week you’ll experience the sheer joy of singing together with a group of people, one of the most exhilarating and uplifting experiences on earth. You will emerge a better, happier singer. Open to anyone 18 & up, no prior voice study required. Optional recommendations: Water bottle & mini-recorder (or smartphone with voice memo function). For secure online registration click below, or to register by phone call 646-485-7244. Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Ensemble with Eric T. - (Advanced Elective) Eric T. View Details About the Class: Playing music with other people is one of the greatest gifts of learning the guitar! This class builds upon the amazing foundation gained from our beginner guitar curriculum. We expand our knowledge of chords and triads, improv, and lead playing while learning our favorite songs. Each session we will pick songs we love, deconstruct the elements of each guitar part, and use this knowledge to create a part that works within the group. Our goal by the end of the class is to be able to piece together all of our parts and take them to our virtual/online recording studio. Prerequisites: This class is ideal for guitarists that are comfortable with open chords, barre chords, basic pentatonic scales, rudimentary recording capabilities, and most importantly, love learning new songs and working with a team! **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineRecording And Music Production Workshop (Advanced Elective) Dylan View Details In need of some fresh ears to hear the track you've been working on? Come share it in our Music Production Workshop! You'll get and give feedback in a warm environment with fellow students and an experienced instructor. When we're not sharing our songs we're learning new techniques in mixing, mastering, arrangement, composition and sound design. Even if you are just setting up your home studio, or trying to use a specific software for the first time. Everyone gets a spot at the table to record and produce music here. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Saturday June 7 | |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Yoga - Guitar Workout (Adults/Teens) - (Intermediate Elective) Vinnie View Details About the Class Do something uplifting with your downtime and sharpen your guitar skills! Veteran NYC Guitar School teacher Vinnie DeMasi has been teaching our core curriculum for 14 years! This drop in class will concentrate on reviewing and practicing many of the skills taught in our beginner classes including chord changing, palm muting, arpeggios, bass-strum patterns etc. Vinnie will take you through a series of varying warm-ups and exercises at a challenging but relaxed pace in a fun, supportive environment. Students will have the opportunity to request specific techniques to work on and there will be a Q&A opportunity at the end of each class. Prerequisites: You are comfortable with open chords, mixed strumming patterns, or have completed through Beginners Guitar 3 or above. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Vinnie Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Sunday June 8 | |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 2: Strums For Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more. Here's how it works: 1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime. 2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress! 3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level. Most students graduate from this class after about 8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Pete View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Pete Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock. Pete has been teaching at the NYC Guitar School for 3 years and loves helping students of all levels progress on their instrument of choice! He specializes in teaching kids, rock band class and private lessons. His teaching style is largely about helping students delve deeply into the music that interests and motivates them the most. He is patient and friendly and loves teaching as much as he loves music! Here's a song from his band! http://chimneys.bandcamp.com/track/apple-scent #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more. Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class! Here's how it works: 1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 2) Practice is easy with comprehensive video tutorials, including this simple 2-minute Level 1 warm-up video. 3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.) Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you! Prerequisites: Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Monday June 9 | |
| ENROLL 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineSing/Play a Song Emily View Details Join for an hour of singing, playing, or both! Each class will introduce a song from an artist past or present and detail how musicians of all levels can play it. Concepts like singing and playing, strumming, tabs, barre chords and more will be explored in the context of pop, rock, folk, and beyond. Song recommendations welcome! Prerequisites: Beginners 3 and/or experience with 16th note strumming. Emily Born and raised in Northern California, Emily discovered her love for music when she began to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” at the top of her lungs on a family bike ride. Her parents took her to her first voice lesson and she instantly fell in love. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and has studied voice with diverse and acclaimed teachers in NYC. As a musical theatre actor, she has performed in regional theatres across the United States and toured nationally and internationally. She has also performed new musical theatre, pop, rock and her original music at several NYC music venues such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and Feinstein’s/54 Below. A lover of music and creativity, a lesson with Emily will be all about discovering the unique connection between your artistic and personal goals. Lessons will be approached from the standpoint that you are a unique individual and storyteller with your own voice and music to share. Bring your positive spirit and let’s make some music! #vocalteacher #ukulele #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 6: Precision Rhythm for Intermediate Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will dramatically advance your guitar technique as you mix and match individual notes and strums with alternate bass patterns, arpeggios, runs, slash chords and more, gaining the capacity to bring multiple voicings and embellishments to your playing. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 9: Barre Chords II for Advanced Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will mix and match E and A form barre chords over the entire fretboard and you will deepen your understanding of essential chord progressions. This is the final course in our Beginners series...after this class you are very ready for ensembles, rock bands, lead guitar, and much more in the vast world of guitar. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are comfortable with various chords including E shaped barre chords (major/minor/7th), B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory. PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Greg View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Greg Born and raised in the outskirts of New York City, Greg began studying music at an early age into his college years. Starting with the saxophone in grade school and later moving on to guitar, it became clear that music would be a lifelong passion. Greg moved to the city in 2010 to intern at a recording studio and focus on his musical path. He has played guitar and bass in various NYC bands for over a decade including genres such as pop punk, indie rock and hardcore. Fueled with inspiration by a range of artists from the Beastie Boys to the Beatles, he is ready to lead his students on the path to guitar greatness! Greg loves teaching newcomers to help find their love of music. His lessons are focused on building self confidence in an encouraging environment by accomplishing student’s goals while having fun. His favorite things to teach students of all ages are pop, singer-songwriter, classic, indie and alt rock. #lead #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 7: Master Guitar Moves for Advanced Beginners Eric T. View Details About the Class In this class you will expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| Tuesday June 10 | |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineOne Song - (Intermediate Elective) Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class called "One Song," we learn (drumroll) ONE SONG. Expanding repertoire is one of the most important ways we can hone our skills as guitarists, plus...it's fun! Each week we'll learn a different song using chords, strumming, and tab. Each class is a surprise and completely different. Past songs have included hits by David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Weezer, and Kacey Musgraves. Prerequisites: Knowledge of open chords, basic strumming, and tab reading required. Knowledge of barre chords is optional. Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| FULL 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineAdvanced Bass Skills Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class, you'll work on repertoire, music theory, fretboard knowledge, and bass technique. Dig in and become a band-ready bassist! Includes songs from the Motown catalogue as well as hits from across the decades. Must read tab, rhythm notation, and have some knowledge of notes on the fretboard. Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following: 1. Name all the natural notes (abcdefg) on every string of the bass, from the open string to the 12th fret. 2. Play 16th notes to a metronome at 60bpm on any open string, alternating your index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. 3. Play three major scales of your choice. 4. Play 1 minute of a song from the following list, along to the original recording, at full speed: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding), What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye), You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder), I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) Email the video to Tia@NYCGuitarSchool.com Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| Wednesday June 11 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Exercise/Sing a Song Anthony View Details Curious about learning how to sing? Then this is the class for you! Vocal Excercise/Sing a Song starts off with 20-30 mins of vocal exercises focusing on strengthening the lungs, purifying the vowels for harmonies, and harmony building exercises. Artists can sign up (via the chat) during exercises to work on a solo song in the second portion of the class. Each student then will have a chance to work on different areas of vocal performance such as lyrical analysis, breath management, and “audience banter.” No experience needed, all are welcome! PERFORMANCE NOTE: This class sometimes turns into a performing ensemble and in that case will be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to enroll in these performance ensembles...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**
Anthony Anthony has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, as well as various theaters around the US. He has received a BA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Throughout his training, he has shaped his voice with almost a dozen voice teachers combining all of their best methods into a succinct vocal strengthening exercise. Anthony specializes in various styles from Pop, Rock to Traditional and Contemporary Broadway. His goal is to help you gain the confidence and technical skills to conquer multiple musical styles. He has been teaching voice lessons and vocal coaching to students of all walks of life: experienced Broadway performers, hip hop artists wanting to improve their melodies, enthusiastic youths prepping for an “Annie” audition and those planning to sing while accompanying themselves on an instrument. Anthony has been relaxed and comfortable in-front of the piano since he was 6 and is sure he can make you feel the same way. Whether you’re playing Ode to Joy, or Wrecking Ball; we’ll approach it with your enjoyment in mind. Lessons will be fun and exciting, yet challenging. All you need to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude! #vocalteacher #7andup |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineFingerstyle Guitar Workshop - (Advanced Elective) Lenny View Details About the Class Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisites: At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstlye basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Lenny Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003. He specializes in classic American styles. Lenny is an accomplished finger picker and applies this technique to both folk and blues. You could say he wrote the book on finger picking--literally, since he is the author of the book "Finger Style Basics for Guitar", which is published by the Guitar School. His interest in the blues is focused mainly on acoustic delta variety (as in Robert Johnson, etc.) and related ragtime styles as in (Mississippi John Hurt, etc.) He enjoys transcribing the old recordings and providing the resulting tabs to his students. He is also a singer-songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen vein and is the creator and instructor of the Songwriter's Circle course at the Guitar School. In his latest performing venture, Lenny is exploring vintage jazz. He sings, plays and arranges for his swinging vocal harmony band, the Fascinators. #fingerstyle #guitar #12andup |
| Thursday June 12 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR View Details Vocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing What’s more fun than singing alone in the shower? Making an even bigger sound with a group! In this Drop-In Group Singing Class, you’ll start with the time-tested basics of good vocal technique: breath support and tone production. And then the fun really begins! While learning to sing contemporary pop, rock, and R&B songs, you’ll develop a stronger, more resonant, more musical voice. You’ll improve your ear for rhythm, learn to harmonize, and improve your stage presence. And best of all, each week you’ll experience the sheer joy of singing together with a group of people, one of the most exhilarating and uplifting experiences on earth. You will emerge a better, happier singer. Open to anyone 18 & up, no prior voice study required. Optional recommendations: Water bottle & mini-recorder (or smartphone with voice memo function). For secure online registration click below, or to register by phone call 646-485-7244. Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Ensemble with Eric T. - (Advanced Elective) Eric T. View Details About the Class: Playing music with other people is one of the greatest gifts of learning the guitar! This class builds upon the amazing foundation gained from our beginner guitar curriculum. We expand our knowledge of chords and triads, improv, and lead playing while learning our favorite songs. Each session we will pick songs we love, deconstruct the elements of each guitar part, and use this knowledge to create a part that works within the group. Our goal by the end of the class is to be able to piece together all of our parts and take them to our virtual/online recording studio. Prerequisites: This class is ideal for guitarists that are comfortable with open chords, barre chords, basic pentatonic scales, rudimentary recording capabilities, and most importantly, love learning new songs and working with a team! **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineRecording And Music Production Workshop (Advanced Elective) Dylan View Details In need of some fresh ears to hear the track you've been working on? Come share it in our Music Production Workshop! You'll get and give feedback in a warm environment with fellow students and an experienced instructor. When we're not sharing our songs we're learning new techniques in mixing, mastering, arrangement, composition and sound design. Even if you are just setting up your home studio, or trying to use a specific software for the first time. Everyone gets a spot at the table to record and produce music here. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Saturday June 14 | |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Yoga - Guitar Workout (Adults/Teens) - (Intermediate Elective) Vinnie View Details About the Class Do something uplifting with your downtime and sharpen your guitar skills! Veteran NYC Guitar School teacher Vinnie DeMasi has been teaching our core curriculum for 14 years! This drop in class will concentrate on reviewing and practicing many of the skills taught in our beginner classes including chord changing, palm muting, arpeggios, bass-strum patterns etc. Vinnie will take you through a series of varying warm-ups and exercises at a challenging but relaxed pace in a fun, supportive environment. Students will have the opportunity to request specific techniques to work on and there will be a Q&A opportunity at the end of each class. Prerequisites: You are comfortable with open chords, mixed strumming patterns, or have completed through Beginners Guitar 3 or above. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Vinnie Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Sunday June 15 | |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 2: Strums For Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more. Here's how it works: 1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime. 2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress! 3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level. Most students graduate from this class after about 8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Pete View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Pete Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock. Pete has been teaching at the NYC Guitar School for 3 years and loves helping students of all levels progress on their instrument of choice! He specializes in teaching kids, rock band class and private lessons. His teaching style is largely about helping students delve deeply into the music that interests and motivates them the most. He is patient and friendly and loves teaching as much as he loves music! Here's a song from his band! http://chimneys.bandcamp.com/track/apple-scent #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more. Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class! Here's how it works: 1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 2) Practice is easy with comprehensive video tutorials, including this simple 2-minute Level 1 warm-up video. 3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.) Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you! Prerequisites: Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Monday June 16 | |
| ENROLL 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineSing/Play a Song Emily View Details Join for an hour of singing, playing, or both! Each class will introduce a song from an artist past or present and detail how musicians of all levels can play it. Concepts like singing and playing, strumming, tabs, barre chords and more will be explored in the context of pop, rock, folk, and beyond. Song recommendations welcome! Prerequisites: Beginners 3 and/or experience with 16th note strumming. Emily Born and raised in Northern California, Emily discovered her love for music when she began to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” at the top of her lungs on a family bike ride. Her parents took her to her first voice lesson and she instantly fell in love. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and has studied voice with diverse and acclaimed teachers in NYC. As a musical theatre actor, she has performed in regional theatres across the United States and toured nationally and internationally. She has also performed new musical theatre, pop, rock and her original music at several NYC music venues such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and Feinstein’s/54 Below. A lover of music and creativity, a lesson with Emily will be all about discovering the unique connection between your artistic and personal goals. Lessons will be approached from the standpoint that you are a unique individual and storyteller with your own voice and music to share. Bring your positive spirit and let’s make some music! #vocalteacher #ukulele #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 6: Precision Rhythm for Intermediate Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will dramatically advance your guitar technique as you mix and match individual notes and strums with alternate bass patterns, arpeggios, runs, slash chords and more, gaining the capacity to bring multiple voicings and embellishments to your playing. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 9: Barre Chords II for Advanced Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will mix and match E and A form barre chords over the entire fretboard and you will deepen your understanding of essential chord progressions. This is the final course in our Beginners series...after this class you are very ready for ensembles, rock bands, lead guitar, and much more in the vast world of guitar. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are comfortable with various chords including E shaped barre chords (major/minor/7th), B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory. PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Greg View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Greg Born and raised in the outskirts of New York City, Greg began studying music at an early age into his college years. Starting with the saxophone in grade school and later moving on to guitar, it became clear that music would be a lifelong passion. Greg moved to the city in 2010 to intern at a recording studio and focus on his musical path. He has played guitar and bass in various NYC bands for over a decade including genres such as pop punk, indie rock and hardcore. Fueled with inspiration by a range of artists from the Beastie Boys to the Beatles, he is ready to lead his students on the path to guitar greatness! Greg loves teaching newcomers to help find their love of music. His lessons are focused on building self confidence in an encouraging environment by accomplishing student’s goals while having fun. His favorite things to teach students of all ages are pop, singer-songwriter, classic, indie and alt rock. #lead #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 7: Master Guitar Moves for Advanced Beginners Eric T. View Details About the Class In this class you will expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| Tuesday June 17 | |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineOne Song - (Intermediate Elective) Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class called "One Song," we learn (drumroll) ONE SONG. Expanding repertoire is one of the most important ways we can hone our skills as guitarists, plus...it's fun! Each week we'll learn a different song using chords, strumming, and tab. Each class is a surprise and completely different. Past songs have included hits by David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Weezer, and Kacey Musgraves. Prerequisites: Knowledge of open chords, basic strumming, and tab reading required. Knowledge of barre chords is optional. Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| FULL 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineAdvanced Bass Skills Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class, you'll work on repertoire, music theory, fretboard knowledge, and bass technique. Dig in and become a band-ready bassist! Includes songs from the Motown catalogue as well as hits from across the decades. Must read tab, rhythm notation, and have some knowledge of notes on the fretboard. Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following: 1. Name all the natural notes (abcdefg) on every string of the bass, from the open string to the 12th fret. 2. Play 16th notes to a metronome at 60bpm on any open string, alternating your index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. 3. Play three major scales of your choice. 4. Play 1 minute of a song from the following list, along to the original recording, at full speed: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding), What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye), You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder), I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) Email the video to Tia@NYCGuitarSchool.com Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| Wednesday June 18 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Exercise/Sing a Song Anthony View Details Curious about learning how to sing? Then this is the class for you! Vocal Excercise/Sing a Song starts off with 20-30 mins of vocal exercises focusing on strengthening the lungs, purifying the vowels for harmonies, and harmony building exercises. Artists can sign up (via the chat) during exercises to work on a solo song in the second portion of the class. Each student then will have a chance to work on different areas of vocal performance such as lyrical analysis, breath management, and “audience banter.” No experience needed, all are welcome! PERFORMANCE NOTE: This class sometimes turns into a performing ensemble and in that case will be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to enroll in these performance ensembles...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**
Anthony Anthony has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, as well as various theaters around the US. He has received a BA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Throughout his training, he has shaped his voice with almost a dozen voice teachers combining all of their best methods into a succinct vocal strengthening exercise. Anthony specializes in various styles from Pop, Rock to Traditional and Contemporary Broadway. His goal is to help you gain the confidence and technical skills to conquer multiple musical styles. He has been teaching voice lessons and vocal coaching to students of all walks of life: experienced Broadway performers, hip hop artists wanting to improve their melodies, enthusiastic youths prepping for an “Annie” audition and those planning to sing while accompanying themselves on an instrument. Anthony has been relaxed and comfortable in-front of the piano since he was 6 and is sure he can make you feel the same way. Whether you’re playing Ode to Joy, or Wrecking Ball; we’ll approach it with your enjoyment in mind. Lessons will be fun and exciting, yet challenging. All you need to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude! #vocalteacher #7andup |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineFingerstyle Guitar Workshop - (Advanced Elective) Lenny View Details About the Class Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisites: At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstlye basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Lenny Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003. He specializes in classic American styles. Lenny is an accomplished finger picker and applies this technique to both folk and blues. You could say he wrote the book on finger picking--literally, since he is the author of the book "Finger Style Basics for Guitar", which is published by the Guitar School. His interest in the blues is focused mainly on acoustic delta variety (as in Robert Johnson, etc.) and related ragtime styles as in (Mississippi John Hurt, etc.) He enjoys transcribing the old recordings and providing the resulting tabs to his students. He is also a singer-songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen vein and is the creator and instructor of the Songwriter's Circle course at the Guitar School. In his latest performing venture, Lenny is exploring vintage jazz. He sings, plays and arranges for his swinging vocal harmony band, the Fascinators. #fingerstyle #guitar #12andup |
| Thursday June 19 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR View Details Vocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing What’s more fun than singing alone in the shower? Making an even bigger sound with a group! In this Drop-In Group Singing Class, you’ll start with the time-tested basics of good vocal technique: breath support and tone production. And then the fun really begins! While learning to sing contemporary pop, rock, and R&B songs, you’ll develop a stronger, more resonant, more musical voice. You’ll improve your ear for rhythm, learn to harmonize, and improve your stage presence. And best of all, each week you’ll experience the sheer joy of singing together with a group of people, one of the most exhilarating and uplifting experiences on earth. You will emerge a better, happier singer. Open to anyone 18 & up, no prior voice study required. Optional recommendations: Water bottle & mini-recorder (or smartphone with voice memo function). For secure online registration click below, or to register by phone call 646-485-7244. Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Ensemble with Eric T. - (Advanced Elective) Eric T. View Details About the Class: Playing music with other people is one of the greatest gifts of learning the guitar! This class builds upon the amazing foundation gained from our beginner guitar curriculum. We expand our knowledge of chords and triads, improv, and lead playing while learning our favorite songs. Each session we will pick songs we love, deconstruct the elements of each guitar part, and use this knowledge to create a part that works within the group. Our goal by the end of the class is to be able to piece together all of our parts and take them to our virtual/online recording studio. Prerequisites: This class is ideal for guitarists that are comfortable with open chords, barre chords, basic pentatonic scales, rudimentary recording capabilities, and most importantly, love learning new songs and working with a team! **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineRecording And Music Production Workshop (Advanced Elective) Dylan View Details In need of some fresh ears to hear the track you've been working on? Come share it in our Music Production Workshop! You'll get and give feedback in a warm environment with fellow students and an experienced instructor. When we're not sharing our songs we're learning new techniques in mixing, mastering, arrangement, composition and sound design. Even if you are just setting up your home studio, or trying to use a specific software for the first time. Everyone gets a spot at the table to record and produce music here. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Saturday June 21 | |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Yoga - Guitar Workout (Adults/Teens) - (Intermediate Elective) Vinnie View Details About the Class Do something uplifting with your downtime and sharpen your guitar skills! Veteran NYC Guitar School teacher Vinnie DeMasi has been teaching our core curriculum for 14 years! This drop in class will concentrate on reviewing and practicing many of the skills taught in our beginner classes including chord changing, palm muting, arpeggios, bass-strum patterns etc. Vinnie will take you through a series of varying warm-ups and exercises at a challenging but relaxed pace in a fun, supportive environment. Students will have the opportunity to request specific techniques to work on and there will be a Q&A opportunity at the end of each class. Prerequisites: You are comfortable with open chords, mixed strumming patterns, or have completed through Beginners Guitar 3 or above. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Vinnie Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Sunday June 22 | |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 2: Strums For Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more. Here's how it works: 1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime. 2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress! 3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level. Most students graduate from this class after about 8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Pete View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Pete Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock. Pete has been teaching at the NYC Guitar School for 3 years and loves helping students of all levels progress on their instrument of choice! He specializes in teaching kids, rock band class and private lessons. His teaching style is largely about helping students delve deeply into the music that interests and motivates them the most. He is patient and friendly and loves teaching as much as he loves music! Here's a song from his band! http://chimneys.bandcamp.com/track/apple-scent #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more. Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class! Here's how it works: 1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 2) Practice is easy with comprehensive video tutorials, including this simple 2-minute Level 1 warm-up video. 3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.) Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you! Prerequisites: Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Monday June 23 | |
| ENROLL 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineSing/Play a Song Emily View Details Join for an hour of singing, playing, or both! Each class will introduce a song from an artist past or present and detail how musicians of all levels can play it. Concepts like singing and playing, strumming, tabs, barre chords and more will be explored in the context of pop, rock, folk, and beyond. Song recommendations welcome! Prerequisites: Beginners 3 and/or experience with 16th note strumming. Emily Born and raised in Northern California, Emily discovered her love for music when she began to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” at the top of her lungs on a family bike ride. Her parents took her to her first voice lesson and she instantly fell in love. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and has studied voice with diverse and acclaimed teachers in NYC. As a musical theatre actor, she has performed in regional theatres across the United States and toured nationally and internationally. She has also performed new musical theatre, pop, rock and her original music at several NYC music venues such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and Feinstein’s/54 Below. A lover of music and creativity, a lesson with Emily will be all about discovering the unique connection between your artistic and personal goals. Lessons will be approached from the standpoint that you are a unique individual and storyteller with your own voice and music to share. Bring your positive spirit and let’s make some music! #vocalteacher #ukulele #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 6: Precision Rhythm for Intermediate Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will dramatically advance your guitar technique as you mix and match individual notes and strums with alternate bass patterns, arpeggios, runs, slash chords and more, gaining the capacity to bring multiple voicings and embellishments to your playing. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 9: Barre Chords II for Advanced Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will mix and match E and A form barre chords over the entire fretboard and you will deepen your understanding of essential chord progressions. This is the final course in our Beginners series...after this class you are very ready for ensembles, rock bands, lead guitar, and much more in the vast world of guitar. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are comfortable with various chords including E shaped barre chords (major/minor/7th), B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory. PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Greg View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Greg Born and raised in the outskirts of New York City, Greg began studying music at an early age into his college years. Starting with the saxophone in grade school and later moving on to guitar, it became clear that music would be a lifelong passion. Greg moved to the city in 2010 to intern at a recording studio and focus on his musical path. He has played guitar and bass in various NYC bands for over a decade including genres such as pop punk, indie rock and hardcore. Fueled with inspiration by a range of artists from the Beastie Boys to the Beatles, he is ready to lead his students on the path to guitar greatness! Greg loves teaching newcomers to help find their love of music. His lessons are focused on building self confidence in an encouraging environment by accomplishing student’s goals while having fun. His favorite things to teach students of all ages are pop, singer-songwriter, classic, indie and alt rock. #lead #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 7: Master Guitar Moves for Advanced Beginners Eric T. View Details About the Class In this class you will expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| Tuesday June 24 | |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineOne Song - (Intermediate Elective) Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class called "One Song," we learn (drumroll) ONE SONG. Expanding repertoire is one of the most important ways we can hone our skills as guitarists, plus...it's fun! Each week we'll learn a different song using chords, strumming, and tab. Each class is a surprise and completely different. Past songs have included hits by David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Weezer, and Kacey Musgraves. Prerequisites: Knowledge of open chords, basic strumming, and tab reading required. Knowledge of barre chords is optional. Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| FULL 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineAdvanced Bass Skills Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class, you'll work on repertoire, music theory, fretboard knowledge, and bass technique. Dig in and become a band-ready bassist! Includes songs from the Motown catalogue as well as hits from across the decades. Must read tab, rhythm notation, and have some knowledge of notes on the fretboard. Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following: 1. Name all the natural notes (abcdefg) on every string of the bass, from the open string to the 12th fret. 2. Play 16th notes to a metronome at 60bpm on any open string, alternating your index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. 3. Play three major scales of your choice. 4. Play 1 minute of a song from the following list, along to the original recording, at full speed: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding), What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye), You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder), I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) Email the video to Tia@NYCGuitarSchool.com Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| Wednesday June 25 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Exercise/Sing a Song Anthony View Details Curious about learning how to sing? Then this is the class for you! Vocal Excercise/Sing a Song starts off with 20-30 mins of vocal exercises focusing on strengthening the lungs, purifying the vowels for harmonies, and harmony building exercises. Artists can sign up (via the chat) during exercises to work on a solo song in the second portion of the class. Each student then will have a chance to work on different areas of vocal performance such as lyrical analysis, breath management, and “audience banter.” No experience needed, all are welcome! PERFORMANCE NOTE: This class sometimes turns into a performing ensemble and in that case will be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to enroll in these performance ensembles...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**
Anthony Anthony has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, as well as various theaters around the US. He has received a BA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Throughout his training, he has shaped his voice with almost a dozen voice teachers combining all of their best methods into a succinct vocal strengthening exercise. Anthony specializes in various styles from Pop, Rock to Traditional and Contemporary Broadway. His goal is to help you gain the confidence and technical skills to conquer multiple musical styles. He has been teaching voice lessons and vocal coaching to students of all walks of life: experienced Broadway performers, hip hop artists wanting to improve their melodies, enthusiastic youths prepping for an “Annie” audition and those planning to sing while accompanying themselves on an instrument. Anthony has been relaxed and comfortable in-front of the piano since he was 6 and is sure he can make you feel the same way. Whether you’re playing Ode to Joy, or Wrecking Ball; we’ll approach it with your enjoyment in mind. Lessons will be fun and exciting, yet challenging. All you need to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude! #vocalteacher #7andup |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineFingerstyle Guitar Workshop - (Advanced Elective) Lenny View Details About the Class Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisites: At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstlye basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Lenny Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003. He specializes in classic American styles. Lenny is an accomplished finger picker and applies this technique to both folk and blues. You could say he wrote the book on finger picking--literally, since he is the author of the book "Finger Style Basics for Guitar", which is published by the Guitar School. His interest in the blues is focused mainly on acoustic delta variety (as in Robert Johnson, etc.) and related ragtime styles as in (Mississippi John Hurt, etc.) He enjoys transcribing the old recordings and providing the resulting tabs to his students. He is also a singer-songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen vein and is the creator and instructor of the Songwriter's Circle course at the Guitar School. In his latest performing venture, Lenny is exploring vintage jazz. He sings, plays and arranges for his swinging vocal harmony band, the Fascinators. #fingerstyle #guitar #12andup |
| Thursday June 26 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR View Details Vocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing What’s more fun than singing alone in the shower? Making an even bigger sound with a group! In this Drop-In Group Singing Class, you’ll start with the time-tested basics of good vocal technique: breath support and tone production. And then the fun really begins! While learning to sing contemporary pop, rock, and R&B songs, you’ll develop a stronger, more resonant, more musical voice. You’ll improve your ear for rhythm, learn to harmonize, and improve your stage presence. And best of all, each week you’ll experience the sheer joy of singing together with a group of people, one of the most exhilarating and uplifting experiences on earth. You will emerge a better, happier singer. Open to anyone 18 & up, no prior voice study required. Optional recommendations: Water bottle & mini-recorder (or smartphone with voice memo function). For secure online registration click below, or to register by phone call 646-485-7244. Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Ensemble with Eric T. - (Advanced Elective) Eric T. View Details About the Class: Playing music with other people is one of the greatest gifts of learning the guitar! This class builds upon the amazing foundation gained from our beginner guitar curriculum. We expand our knowledge of chords and triads, improv, and lead playing while learning our favorite songs. Each session we will pick songs we love, deconstruct the elements of each guitar part, and use this knowledge to create a part that works within the group. Our goal by the end of the class is to be able to piece together all of our parts and take them to our virtual/online recording studio. Prerequisites: This class is ideal for guitarists that are comfortable with open chords, barre chords, basic pentatonic scales, rudimentary recording capabilities, and most importantly, love learning new songs and working with a team! **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineRecording And Music Production Workshop (Advanced Elective) Dylan View Details In need of some fresh ears to hear the track you've been working on? Come share it in our Music Production Workshop! You'll get and give feedback in a warm environment with fellow students and an experienced instructor. When we're not sharing our songs we're learning new techniques in mixing, mastering, arrangement, composition and sound design. Even if you are just setting up your home studio, or trying to use a specific software for the first time. Everyone gets a spot at the table to record and produce music here. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Saturday June 28 | |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Yoga - Guitar Workout (Adults/Teens) - (Intermediate Elective) Vinnie View Details About the Class Do something uplifting with your downtime and sharpen your guitar skills! Veteran NYC Guitar School teacher Vinnie DeMasi has been teaching our core curriculum for 14 years! This drop in class will concentrate on reviewing and practicing many of the skills taught in our beginner classes including chord changing, palm muting, arpeggios, bass-strum patterns etc. Vinnie will take you through a series of varying warm-ups and exercises at a challenging but relaxed pace in a fun, supportive environment. Students will have the opportunity to request specific techniques to work on and there will be a Q&A opportunity at the end of each class. Prerequisites: You are comfortable with open chords, mixed strumming patterns, or have completed through Beginners Guitar 3 or above. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Vinnie Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Sunday June 29 | |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 2: Strums For Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more. Here's how it works: 1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime. 2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress! 3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level. Most students graduate from this class after about 8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Pete View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Pete Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock. Pete has been teaching at the NYC Guitar School for 3 years and loves helping students of all levels progress on their instrument of choice! He specializes in teaching kids, rock band class and private lessons. His teaching style is largely about helping students delve deeply into the music that interests and motivates them the most. He is patient and friendly and loves teaching as much as he loves music! Here's a song from his band! http://chimneys.bandcamp.com/track/apple-scent #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more. Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class! Here's how it works: 1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 2) Practice is easy with comprehensive video tutorials, including this simple 2-minute Level 1 warm-up video. 3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.) Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you! Prerequisites: Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Monday June 30 | |
| ENROLL 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineSing/Play a Song Emily View Details Join for an hour of singing, playing, or both! Each class will introduce a song from an artist past or present and detail how musicians of all levels can play it. Concepts like singing and playing, strumming, tabs, barre chords and more will be explored in the context of pop, rock, folk, and beyond. Song recommendations welcome! Prerequisites: Beginners 3 and/or experience with 16th note strumming. Emily Born and raised in Northern California, Emily discovered her love for music when she began to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” at the top of her lungs on a family bike ride. Her parents took her to her first voice lesson and she instantly fell in love. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and has studied voice with diverse and acclaimed teachers in NYC. As a musical theatre actor, she has performed in regional theatres across the United States and toured nationally and internationally. She has also performed new musical theatre, pop, rock and her original music at several NYC music venues such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and Feinstein’s/54 Below. A lover of music and creativity, a lesson with Emily will be all about discovering the unique connection between your artistic and personal goals. Lessons will be approached from the standpoint that you are a unique individual and storyteller with your own voice and music to share. Bring your positive spirit and let’s make some music! #vocalteacher #ukulele #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 6: Precision Rhythm for Intermediate Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will dramatically advance your guitar technique as you mix and match individual notes and strums with alternate bass patterns, arpeggios, runs, slash chords and more, gaining the capacity to bring multiple voicings and embellishments to your playing. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 9: Barre Chords II for Advanced Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will mix and match E and A form barre chords over the entire fretboard and you will deepen your understanding of essential chord progressions. This is the final course in our Beginners series...after this class you are very ready for ensembles, rock bands, lead guitar, and much more in the vast world of guitar. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are comfortable with various chords including E shaped barre chords (major/minor/7th), B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory. PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Greg View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Greg Born and raised in the outskirts of New York City, Greg began studying music at an early age into his college years. Starting with the saxophone in grade school and later moving on to guitar, it became clear that music would be a lifelong passion. Greg moved to the city in 2010 to intern at a recording studio and focus on his musical path. He has played guitar and bass in various NYC bands for over a decade including genres such as pop punk, indie rock and hardcore. Fueled with inspiration by a range of artists from the Beastie Boys to the Beatles, he is ready to lead his students on the path to guitar greatness! Greg loves teaching newcomers to help find their love of music. His lessons are focused on building self confidence in an encouraging environment by accomplishing student’s goals while having fun. His favorite things to teach students of all ages are pop, singer-songwriter, classic, indie and alt rock. #lead #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 7: Master Guitar Moves for Advanced Beginners Eric T. View Details About the Class In this class you will expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| Tuesday July 1 | |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineOne Song - (Intermediate Elective) Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class called "One Song," we learn (drumroll) ONE SONG. Expanding repertoire is one of the most important ways we can hone our skills as guitarists, plus...it's fun! Each week we'll learn a different song using chords, strumming, and tab. Each class is a surprise and completely different. Past songs have included hits by David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Weezer, and Kacey Musgraves. Prerequisites: Knowledge of open chords, basic strumming, and tab reading required. Knowledge of barre chords is optional. Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| FULL 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineAdvanced Bass Skills Tia VOCALS / GUITAR View Details In this class, you'll work on repertoire, music theory, fretboard knowledge, and bass technique. Dig in and become a band-ready bassist! Includes songs from the Motown catalogue as well as hits from across the decades. Must read tab, rhythm notation, and have some knowledge of notes on the fretboard. Evaluation required to join. To audition for this class, send a video of yourself doing the following: 1. Name all the natural notes (abcdefg) on every string of the bass, from the open string to the 12th fret. 2. Play 16th notes to a metronome at 60bpm on any open string, alternating your index and middle fingers for 30 seconds. 3. Play three major scales of your choice. 4. Play 1 minute of a song from the following list, along to the original recording, at full speed: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding), What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye), You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder), I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) Email the video to Tia@NYCGuitarSchool.com Tia VOCALS / GUITAR Tia Vincent-Clark grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her teaching career in 1999. Her patience, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are all reasons that we are thrilled to have Tia as an integral part of NYC Guitar School! Great with all ages and skill levels, Tia specializes in nurturing a love for guitar in beginners and also enjoys teaching bass and ukulele. She completed a BA in Music from The City College of New York in January of 2007 and holds a diploma in Audio Engineering and Production from The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Tia currently plays in two professional tribute bands as well as writing and performing in her original band Huh. #bassguitar #ukulele #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #vocalteacher |
| Wednesday July 2 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Exercise/Sing a Song Anthony View Details Curious about learning how to sing? Then this is the class for you! Vocal Excercise/Sing a Song starts off with 20-30 mins of vocal exercises focusing on strengthening the lungs, purifying the vowels for harmonies, and harmony building exercises. Artists can sign up (via the chat) during exercises to work on a solo song in the second portion of the class. Each student then will have a chance to work on different areas of vocal performance such as lyrical analysis, breath management, and “audience banter.” No experience needed, all are welcome! PERFORMANCE NOTE: This class sometimes turns into a performing ensemble and in that case will be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to enroll in these performance ensembles...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!**
Anthony Anthony has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, as well as various theaters around the US. He has received a BA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Throughout his training, he has shaped his voice with almost a dozen voice teachers combining all of their best methods into a succinct vocal strengthening exercise. Anthony specializes in various styles from Pop, Rock to Traditional and Contemporary Broadway. His goal is to help you gain the confidence and technical skills to conquer multiple musical styles. He has been teaching voice lessons and vocal coaching to students of all walks of life: experienced Broadway performers, hip hop artists wanting to improve their melodies, enthusiastic youths prepping for an “Annie” audition and those planning to sing while accompanying themselves on an instrument. Anthony has been relaxed and comfortable in-front of the piano since he was 6 and is sure he can make you feel the same way. Whether you’re playing Ode to Joy, or Wrecking Ball; we’ll approach it with your enjoyment in mind. Lessons will be fun and exciting, yet challenging. All you need to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude! #vocalteacher #7andup |
| ENROLL 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineFingerstyle Guitar Workshop - (Advanced Elective) Lenny View Details About the Class Fingerstyle is the third essential dimension of guitar playing, along with strumming and single-note picking. This class explores the technique by delving into classic Singer-Songwriter fare from the 60’s (such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell), up to today (such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz). We will also do custom guitar adaptations of great pop tunes that were not originally recorded for solo guitar (such as Elton John’s work). The focus here will be on our six strings, but those students who want to add vocals to the mix will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisites: At a minimum students should be comfortable with fingerstlye basics like: travis picking, arpeggios, thumb and finger alternation, etc. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Lenny Lenny Molotov has been teaching at NYC Guitar School since its inception in 2003. He specializes in classic American styles. Lenny is an accomplished finger picker and applies this technique to both folk and blues. You could say he wrote the book on finger picking--literally, since he is the author of the book "Finger Style Basics for Guitar", which is published by the Guitar School. His interest in the blues is focused mainly on acoustic delta variety (as in Robert Johnson, etc.) and related ragtime styles as in (Mississippi John Hurt, etc.) He enjoys transcribing the old recordings and providing the resulting tabs to his students. He is also a singer-songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen vein and is the creator and instructor of the Songwriter's Circle course at the Guitar School. In his latest performing venture, Lenny is exploring vintage jazz. He sings, plays and arranges for his swinging vocal harmony band, the Fascinators. #fingerstyle #guitar #12andup |
| Thursday July 3 | |
| ENROLL 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineVocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR View Details Vocal Workshop Level 1: Intro to Singing What’s more fun than singing alone in the shower? Making an even bigger sound with a group! In this Drop-In Group Singing Class, you’ll start with the time-tested basics of good vocal technique: breath support and tone production. And then the fun really begins! While learning to sing contemporary pop, rock, and R&B songs, you’ll develop a stronger, more resonant, more musical voice. You’ll improve your ear for rhythm, learn to harmonize, and improve your stage presence. And best of all, each week you’ll experience the sheer joy of singing together with a group of people, one of the most exhilarating and uplifting experiences on earth. You will emerge a better, happier singer. Open to anyone 18 & up, no prior voice study required. Optional recommendations: Water bottle & mini-recorder (or smartphone with voice memo function). For secure online registration click below, or to register by phone call 646-485-7244. Jaime VOCALS / GUITAR Jaime teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and heads the Vocal Studio at NYC Guitar School. He has been teaching since 2001, and especially loves working with beginners. Students are often surprised to find they really can sing when they thought they couldn't. Jaime specializes in pop, classic & alternative rock, soul, folk, country, and blues, and has an abiding love of dark chocolate. Jaime grew up in western Connecticut, where he was inspired to play guitar after watching Nirvana Unplugged on MTV. He lived in Chapel Hill, NC; touring in rock, blues, and country bands. He then studied songwriting and recording, as well as guitar and voice, at Berklee College of Music. He continues to study voice in NYC with Marlon Saunders. Jaime was the frontman and songwriter for alt-rock band The Spanish Channel, which released three albums, opened for national acts, was mentioned in SPIN and Guitar World, and toured nationally. He now performs solo acoustic in NYC and throughout the East Coast. JaimeGaramella.com #leadguitar #fingerstyle #vocalteacher #12andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Ensemble with Eric T. - (Advanced Elective) Eric T. View Details About the Class: Playing music with other people is one of the greatest gifts of learning the guitar! This class builds upon the amazing foundation gained from our beginner guitar curriculum. We expand our knowledge of chords and triads, improv, and lead playing while learning our favorite songs. Each session we will pick songs we love, deconstruct the elements of each guitar part, and use this knowledge to create a part that works within the group. Our goal by the end of the class is to be able to piece together all of our parts and take them to our virtual/online recording studio. Prerequisites: This class is ideal for guitarists that are comfortable with open chords, barre chords, basic pentatonic scales, rudimentary recording capabilities, and most importantly, love learning new songs and working with a team! **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineRecording And Music Production Workshop (Advanced Elective) Dylan View Details In need of some fresh ears to hear the track you've been working on? Come share it in our Music Production Workshop! You'll get and give feedback in a warm environment with fellow students and an experienced instructor. When we're not sharing our songs we're learning new techniques in mixing, mastering, arrangement, composition and sound design. Even if you are just setting up your home studio, or trying to use a specific software for the first time. Everyone gets a spot at the table to record and produce music here. Dylan Dylan Charles is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. His music runs the gamut from acoustic americana and rock/blues to jazzy soul and electo-pop. Touring nationally as a solo act and as a bandleader, he also co-founded and continues to perform with NYC soul band On The Sun and Arizona-based americana band The Border Crossers. In addition to his own projects, he frequently works with other artists as a multi-instrumentalist sideman, producer, co-writer and studio musician. Dylan has been playing guitar for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. He started working with New York City Guitar School when he moved to NYC in 2012 and is currently the program director for the school’s Rock Band program as well as a teacher at the Midtown and Brooklyn locations. In high school he taught lessons to fellow teens as part of a “Community Resources” program in his home town of Ann Arbor, MI. He frequently played local gigs through the Community High School jazz band program as well as with his own original music projects. He continued to teach, perform and record while studying jazz guitar at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006. In 2008 Dylan moved to Bisbee, AZ where he created and coached an after school rock band program at the Bisbee High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Bisbee elementary, middle and high schools. Dylan also founded a non-profit program called “The Friday Project” when, because of budget cuts, Bisbee Unified School District cut Fridays from the school week. The program provided a wide variety of free workshops to kids and teens that were all taught by local residents in an effort to keep kids engaged in learning and exploring their passions in the absence of a traditional public school structure. Dylan’s positive energy and encouraging teaching style has helped so many students reach their music goals. Call or email us to set up a lesson with Dylan yourself and visit www.dylancharles.com for music, videos and a calendar of his upcoming performances. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #musicproduction #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Saturday July 5 | |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineGuitar Yoga - Guitar Workout (Adults/Teens) - (Intermediate Elective) Vinnie View Details About the Class Do something uplifting with your downtime and sharpen your guitar skills! Veteran NYC Guitar School teacher Vinnie DeMasi has been teaching our core curriculum for 14 years! This drop in class will concentrate on reviewing and practicing many of the skills taught in our beginner classes including chord changing, palm muting, arpeggios, bass-strum patterns etc. Vinnie will take you through a series of varying warm-ups and exercises at a challenging but relaxed pace in a fun, supportive environment. Students will have the opportunity to request specific techniques to work on and there will be a Q&A opportunity at the end of each class. Prerequisites: You are comfortable with open chords, mixed strumming patterns, or have completed through Beginners Guitar 3 or above. **Note: Classes with low enrollment will be cancelled two days in advance. Be sure to sign up for your favorite classes before then to reserve your spot!** Vinnie Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He's performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He's been onstage backing Herb Reed's Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or '80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 bands!!!!) Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. Five of Vin's lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard's 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie's experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses He also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS's own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Sunday July 6 | |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 2: Strums For Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class If you know your basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, but would like to be able to play entire songs with confidence--and mixed strums--then this is the class for you! You will become comfortable changing between these chords while using mixed strumming patterns, including the incredibly delicious sounding, ubiquitous and useful “basic strum” and “best strum" in the context of inspiring songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran and more. Here's how it works: 1. Come to class weekly to learn songs and skills and get encouragement and feedback from your teacher. The course topics cycle every 8 weeks or so, so you can start anytime. 2. Practice at home using the included video practice library. Start each session with the Beginner Guitar 2 warm-up video to reinforce fundamentals and maximize your progress! 3. The secret to success is remembering what you want--so review the Beginner Guitar 2 Class Graduation Video frequently, and play along with as many stops and pauses as you need. First you may be confused. Then you may be challenged. Finally, you will crush it! When you do, you're ready for the next class level. Most students graduate from this class after about 8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! Prerequisites: You have completed Beginners 1 or are comfortable with basic open chords and can play along with the graduation video for the Beginner 1 level class. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Pete View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Pete Pete began playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. He soon began working on his calluses learning songs by Megadeth, Metallica, The Beatles, and Yes. He also made sure to attend the National Guitar Workshop every summer. When he was old enough, Pete entered The Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Composition and Production. While at Berklee, he wrote a vast array of arrangements and compositions for orchestra, big band, string quartet, rock bands, and even got some work writing electronic music for video games. Pete also played in a variety of bands and ensembles in the greater Boston area as a guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 he relocated to New York and began playing as a sideman in numerous Brooklyn-based bands on keyboards, mandolin, accordion, lap steel, vocals, bass and, of course, guitar. He currently plays 11 instruments and is always working on new ones! Pete can also be found at various venues around NYC playing a wide variety of genres including: bluegrass, gypsy jazz, folk, experimental and indie rock. Pete has been teaching at the NYC Guitar School for 3 years and loves helping students of all levels progress on their instrument of choice! He specializes in teaching kids, rock band class and private lessons. His teaching style is largely about helping students delve deeply into the music that interests and motivates them the most. He is patient and friendly and loves teaching as much as he loves music! Here's a song from his band! http://chimneys.bandcamp.com/track/apple-scent #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class Absolute and Total Beginners start here! Starting from zero, learn basic chords like D, G, Em, C, D7, Am, C, A and E, with super broken down step-by-step explanations of chord diagrams, strings and fingers--and real songs by artists like John Legend, Sublime, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more. Yes, you really can and will learn to play guitar in this class! Here's how it works: 1) Attend class weekly. In every class you'll connect with your classmates, practice new skills step by step, and learn a new and fun song. Guitars are provided in NYC! (Need to miss a session? No problem--make it up with another group session for free or a discounted private lesson.) 2) Practice is easy with comprehensive video tutorials, including this simple 2-minute Level 1 warm-up video. 3) Graduate. Your teacher will let you know when you're ready to move to Level 2—or you can record a video of yourself playing along with that graduation video. Send it to info@nycguitarschool.com so that our NYC Guitar School team can declare a day of celebration and place you in your next class.) Most absolute beginner students feel ready for the next level after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! You do you! Prerequisites: Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| Monday July 7 | |
| ENROLL 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineSing/Play a Song Emily View Details Join for an hour of singing, playing, or both! Each class will introduce a song from an artist past or present and detail how musicians of all levels can play it. Concepts like singing and playing, strumming, tabs, barre chords and more will be explored in the context of pop, rock, folk, and beyond. Song recommendations welcome! Prerequisites: Beginners 3 and/or experience with 16th note strumming. Emily Born and raised in Northern California, Emily discovered her love for music when she began to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” at the top of her lungs on a family bike ride. Her parents took her to her first voice lesson and she instantly fell in love. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and has studied voice with diverse and acclaimed teachers in NYC. As a musical theatre actor, she has performed in regional theatres across the United States and toured nationally and internationally. She has also performed new musical theatre, pop, rock and her original music at several NYC music venues such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and Feinstein’s/54 Below. A lover of music and creativity, a lesson with Emily will be all about discovering the unique connection between your artistic and personal goals. Lessons will be approached from the standpoint that you are a unique individual and storyteller with your own voice and music to share. Bring your positive spirit and let’s make some music! #vocalteacher #ukulele #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 6: Precision Rhythm for Intermediate Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will dramatically advance your guitar technique as you mix and match individual notes and strums with alternate bass patterns, arpeggios, runs, slash chords and more, gaining the capacity to bring multiple voicings and embellishments to your playing. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 9: Barre Chords II for Advanced Beginners Emilio View Details About the Class In this class you will mix and match E and A form barre chords over the entire fretboard and you will deepen your understanding of essential chord progressions. This is the final course in our Beginners series...after this class you are very ready for ensembles, rock bands, lead guitar, and much more in the vast world of guitar. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are comfortable with various chords including E shaped barre chords (major/minor/7th), B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. You can also play a few basic licks over a 12 barre blues progression and understand basic diatonic chord theory. PERFORMANCE NOTE: In-person level 8 or 9 classes might turn into a performing ensembles. That means it might be temporarily closed to drop-in sign-ups for four weeks in preparation to perform a song at a seasonal showcase, typically held in early August, November, March and June. Fear not! You are not required to perform...but you really should, it's super fun and it will super-charge your learning! For more info visit nycguitarschool.com/ensembles. Emilio Emilio came to New York from Chicago as a wide-eyed freshman studying film and sociology at New York University. In the seven years since, he realized he was the happiest when music was a priority, which has taken him all over the world, most recently here to the NYC Guitar School. He is delighted to have joined their fantastic staff, and promises to bring all the excitement and energy he has for guitar to fulfilling the needs of faculty and students. In addition to his work at the NYC Guitar School, Emilio plays guitar and drums with several bands and projects throughout the city, enjoys running around Prospect Park, and cheering on his hometown Chicago Bulls. #leadguitar #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar #ukulele #bassguitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 4: Chords for Intermediate Beginners Greg View Details About the Class In this class you will acquire a powerful vocabulary of open chords which will give you the skill and knowledge to play thousands of songs, including incorporating the small barre and becoming confident using your pinky. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: Greg Born and raised in the outskirts of New York City, Greg began studying music at an early age into his college years. Starting with the saxophone in grade school and later moving on to guitar, it became clear that music would be a lifelong passion. Greg moved to the city in 2010 to intern at a recording studio and focus on his musical path. He has played guitar and bass in various NYC bands for over a decade including genres such as pop punk, indie rock and hardcore. Fueled with inspiration by a range of artists from the Beastie Boys to the Beatles, he is ready to lead his students on the path to guitar greatness! Greg loves teaching newcomers to help find their love of music. His lessons are focused on building self confidence in an encouraging environment by accomplishing student’s goals while having fun. His favorite things to teach students of all ages are pop, singer-songwriter, classic, indie and alt rock. #lead #fingerstyle #7andup #guitar |
| ENROLL 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM @ NYCGS - OnlineBeginners 7: Master Guitar Moves for Advanced Beginners Eric T. View Details About the Class In this class you will expand your guitar capacity, understanding, and skill with riffs, licks, diatonic chord theory, and more as you prepare to move into barre chords, lead guitar and beyond. Most students graduate from this class after 6-8 sessions. But faster or slower is OK! To be confident about what class level is right for you, try playing along with the class graduation videos. If you can play along with the previous graduation video but not with the graduation video for this class, then you're in the right place! Before your first class, try playing along with the the warm-up video which you will do in every class--there are 9 warm-ups, so be sure to select the correct level. Don't worry about fully understanding or mastering everything, just get used to it. (BTW to maximize your progress, use this video as a warm-up everytime you practice at home, too!) If you are able to pass the graduation video check out our next class in the series! Prerequisites: You are also comfortable with various chords including B7, Gadd5, Dm, small barre F, as well as basic open chords. Eric T. Eric is joining us from Hamilton, Canada. This is his second stint making America “home”. The first was as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music in Boston studying bass and guitar performance. His professional experience includes everything from bar gigs co-starring the weekly hockey game to cross-country indie tours stuffed in a cramped van to backing up Grammy and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning artists. The genres are equally diverse as the gigs; folk/singer-songwriter, rock, top 40, r&b, country and jazz just to name a few. Although the bass has been Eric’s primary musical instrument, his guitar playing has always held an important role. In fact, during a decade of teaching, most his students have been guitarists...let’s face it, only a select few listen to Jimi Hendrix and want to be Noel Redding! #bassguitar #leadguitar #fingerstyle #16andup #guitar |