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Music Classes NYC

Discover a world of musical possibilities with a wide range of classes in New York City. From beginner guitar lessons to advanced vocal training, you'll learn from industry professionals and gain the skills to excel in the performing arts.

85 classes have spots left

Beginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners

New York City Guitar School @ 251 W 30th St, New York, NY

Unlock your musical potential with a guitar course designed for absolute beginners. Students will learn basic chords, practice with real songs, and connect with classmates at the New York City Guitar School. Guitars are provided, so all you need to bring is your desire to rock!

(60) Beginner 18 and older
$357

12 sessions

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Acting Lessons: Audition Technique (Private - 30 minutes)

Grace Music Studio NY @ 5th Ave & Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY

Refine your audition skills and boost your confidence with personalized coaching from industry professionals. Master the art of selection, preparation, and presentation to shine in auditions for Film, TV, Stage, and Musical Theatre. Elevate your craft with expert guidance and tailored feedback.

(3) All levels 5 and older

Piano Lessons for Beginners: First Year (Private - 30 minutes)

Grace Music Studio NY @ 5th Ave & Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY

Embark on a musical journey with a skilled instructor at a Brooklyn studio. Learn piano fundamentals, music theory, and play delightful tunes. Experience the joy of making music in a supportive environment.

(3) All levels 5 and older
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Piano Lessons for Beginners: Second Year (Private - 30 minutes)

Grace Music Studio NY @ 5th Ave & Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY

Transform your piano skills from beginner to intermediate with a focus on scales, composition, and classical pieces. Accelerate your learning in a supportive environment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Join now to enhance your music journey!

(3) All levels 5 and older

Voice Lessons (Private - 30 minutes)

Grace Music Studio NY @ 5th Ave & Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY

Refine your vocal technique and explore diverse repertoire with personalized instruction at Grace Music Studio NY. Master the art of singing across various genres and discover the unique potential of your voice.

(3) All levels 5 and older

Acting Lessons: Monologue Coaching (Private - 30 minutes)

Grace Music Studio NY @ 5th Ave & Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY

Refine your acting craft with a seasoned instructor specializing in Classical and Contemporary monologues. Dive into character interpretation and performance techniques in intimate one-on-one sessions. Experience the art of acting come alive in personalized coaching sessions.

(3) All levels 5 and older

8 Week: The Art of Musical Performance

The New York Performing Arts Academy @ 244 West 54th St, New York, NY

Unleash your inner singing actor and take your stage presence to new heights in this immersive program at the New York Performing Arts Academy. Dive deep into the art of performing a song, infusing it with emotion and authenticity. Join a vibrant community of passionate performers and explore the thrilling world of musical theatre, opera, and concert/cabaret.

(7) All levels 17 and older
$695

8 sessions

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12 Week: The Art of Musical Performance

The New York Performing Arts Academy @ 244 West 54th St, New York, NY

Unleash your inner singing actor and take your stage presence to new heights with The Art of Musical Performance program at The New York Performing Arts Academy. Discover the delicate balance between vocal technique and raw emotional expression, and master the art of performing a song. Join a vibrant, supportive learning environment and create unforgettable musical moments.

(7) All levels 17 and older
$995

12 sessions

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Private Piano Lessons: Adult Students (1 hour)

Natalia Huang Piano Studio @ 15 E 40th St, New York, NY

Discover the joy of playing the piano with personalized instruction from an experienced instructor at Natalia Huang Piano Studio. Our private lessons for adult students focus on technique, ear training, sight-reading, and music appreciation. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your musical abilities and bring your passion for piano to life.

(3) All levels 18 and older

Guitar 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners

Brooklyn Guitar School @ 78 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Start your guitar journey from scratch and learn basic chords and songs by popular artists like John Legend and Taylor Swift at Brooklyn Guitar School. This course is designed specifically for absolute beginners, providing step-by-step explanations and comprehensive video tutorials to help you master the guitar. Join now and discover your hidden talent!

(14) Beginner 18 and older

Flamenco / Spanish Guitar (1 Hour Private Lessons)

Diego Campo's Guitar Lessons @ 770 Herkimer street, Brooklyn, NY

Master the art of Flamenco and Spanish guitar with personalized private lessons. Develop your technique, learn traditional pieces, and gain a deeper understanding of the instrument's history and theory. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your skills, these flexible and tailored lessons will help you become a great guitarist.

(1) All levels 5 and older

Drum Lessons - All Levels (Private - 1 Hour)

Conor Hall Drums @ 24-09 41st Ave, Queens, NY

Unlock your rhythm and unleash your inner drummer with private drum lessons at Conor Hall Drums. From beginners to advanced students, you'll explore techniques, notation, grooves, and styles, and even dive into odd time signatures and improvisation. Get behind the drum set and experience the joy of making music.

(3) All levels 10 and older

Clarinet Lessons (Private)

City Music Schools @ 412 W 42nd St, New York, NY

Discover the joy of learning a musical instrument with expert private instruction at City Music Schools. Unleash your inner musician and pursue your passion for music in a flexible and affordable environment. Join us today and embark on a musical learning experience.

(37) All levels 6 and older

Guitar 3: Guitar for Near Beginners

Brooklyn Guitar School @ 78 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Take your guitar playing to the next level with a focus on rhythm! Master bass strums, palm mutes, scratches, and sixteenth notes to play with confidence and expression. Prerequisites: completion of Guitar 1 and 2 or comfort with basic open chords and strumming patterns.

(14) Beginner 18 and older

Guitar 2: Strums for Absolute Beginners

Brooklyn Guitar School @ 78 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Take your guitar playing to the next level with mixed strums and confidence! Learn to play entire songs using basic and best strums in this inspiring class at Brooklyn Guitar School. Build on your knowledge of basic chords and become comfortable changing between them while playing songs by artists like Adele, Bill Withers, Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran, and more.

(14) Beginner 18 and older

Let’s Sing with Elana Hedrych

New York Jazz Workshop @ 265 W 37th St, New York, NY

Unleash your inner jazz singer and explore the language of jazz in this vocal workshop. Develop your technique, expand your range, and learn a vast selection of jazz standards. Join us and discover the joy of singing jazz in a supportive and welcoming environment.

(18) Intermediate 18 and older
$180

4 sessions

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4 Week: The Art of Musical Performance

The New York Performing Arts Academy @ 244 West 54th St, New York, NY

Unleash your inner singing actor and take your stage presence to the next level at The New York Performing Arts Academy. Dive deep into the art of performing a song, weaving it seamlessly into the character's journey. Join this vibrant, supportive learning environment and become a master of musical moments.

(7) All levels 17 and older
$395

4 sessions

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Piano Lessons (Private)

City Music Schools @ 412 W 42nd St, New York, NY

Discover the joy of music with expert instruction from City Music Schools. Unleash your musical talent and learn to play any instrument or voice with our affordable private lessons. Enroll today and embark on a musical journey that will last a lifetime.

(37) All levels 6 and older

Guitar Lessons: Acoustic / Electric (Private)

City Music Schools @ 412 W 42nd St, New York, NY

Discover the joy of playing the guitar with private lessons at City Music Schools. Whether you prefer acoustic or electric, our experienced instructors will guide you in honing your skills. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best!

(37) All levels 6 and older

Drum Lessons (Private)

City Music Schools @ 412 W 42nd St, New York, NY

Learn to master the beat with private music lessons at the renowned City Music Schools. Unlock your rhythmic potential with expert instruction on any instrument or voice, and discover a world of musical possibilities.

(37) All levels 6 and older
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Reviews for Music Classes in NYC

Music Classes in NYC are rated 4.7 stars based on 146 verified reviews from actual CourseHorse.com purchasers.

  • Private Piano Lessons: Adult Students (1 hour)

    Anonymous review on 9/10/2023
    The instructor was great!
  • Drum Lessons - All Levels (Private - 1 Hour)

    Reviewed by Will Z. on 5/17/2023
    Conor is a great drummer and great teacher! Very easy going and encouraging, I can feel myself growing into a better drummer already
  • Flamenco / Spanish Guitar (1 Hour Private Lessons)

    Reviewed by Thomas B. on 1/8/2023
    Diego is knowledgeable, patient and a great teacher!
  • Guitar Lessons: Acoustic / Electric (Private)

    Reviewed by Vanessa G. on 6/30/2022
    I loved the lessons. The instructor had me explore songs and artists that I never heard of before, even though they were quite famous, I just haven't been exposed to it. It was so helpful to play actual songs, such as Everly Brothers' "Dream" and how he broke down the first part of "Over the Hills and Far Away" from Led Zeppelin.
  • Private Piano Lessons: Adult Students (1 hour)

    Reviewed by Donna M. on 11/8/2021
    Ross my teacher at Natalia Huang studios was so warm, kind, gentle and very very effective... an exceptional instructor. I will definitely be back. Kudos to Ross, also Matt was very good with following up with my booking etc. My experience was excellent, I have already told several friends. Thanks so much for your kindness Ross and Matt. Donna
  • Beginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners

    Anonymous review on 5/25/2020
    Friendliest staff in town!
  • Beginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners

    Anonymous review on 5/15/2020
    It was super fun! Learned so much and glad I did it.
  • Beginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners

    Reviewed by edwin l. on 4/7/2020
    Emily was great had alot of enthusiasm energy and made each class exciting and engaging even when we had to go remote due to Corona!
  • Beginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners

    Anonymous review on 3/13/2020
    I really enjoyed the class and always wanted to learn how to play, but found it difficult to start on my own. I am truly an absolute beginner, and it was nice to take a class with peers that were at the same level. If you’ve always dreamed of playing guitar, I would recommend this class to turn the dream into reality. With a little commitment, it’s not as hard as you would think. Have fun!
  • Beginners 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners

    Reviewed by Linda H. on 9/27/2019
    The teacher was very professional, upbeat, patient, knowledgeable, and personable. He was encouraging and gave the right amount of challenge during the course.

Discover the Best Music Classes in NYC

Music is an artform that involves the blending of elements like rhythm, melody, harmony, and other emotionally evocative sounds into a pleasing aesthetic arrangement. While some genres like dissonant death metal may completely ignore the “pleasing” component of the arrangement, all genres are consciously working with the core elements of music in an attempt to produce art that evokes feelings and carries some sort of meaning.

Learning how to play music involves both a theoretical component and a practical component. The theoretical side of music involves understanding the fundamental principles of how sounds relate to one another. The relationship may be the sonic relationship between notes, as is the case with melodies and harmonies, or temporally, as with rhythm. The practical component covers technical skill in an instrument; there must be something to make the sounds in the first place. Whether the instrument is a piano, a guitar, or even your own voice, engaging with music involves manipulating some interface with a degree of technical skill. While any music class will attempt to cover both the theoretical and the practical components, the focus will naturally shift more towards one side of the equation. You can expect, for example, to learn the basics of music theory while taking a guitar class, but the lesson will likely focus primarily on how to play the instrument itself.

Why You Should Learn Music in NYC

From Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” to Jay Z’s “Empire State of Mind,” good old “New York, New York” carries a musical appeal that transcends genre. With resources for any type of musician, including thriving conservatories like Tisch and Julliard, the musical theater of Broadway, and thriving local music scenes, New York is an excellent environment to get formal music training.

New York also boasts a strong niche as a center for jazz. New York’s jazz history extends back over a century to when Harlem served as a birthing ground for stars like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s.

In-Person Music Classes & Schools in NYC

Whether you’re looking to continue the great tradition of New York jazz or exploring a style of your own, there are plenty of opportunities to leverage New York City’s thriving music scene and find quality in-person classes.

Paying homage to the history of Harlem, classes focused on jazz form a solid core of the course offerings available to New York City residents.

Located in Midtown Manhattan rather than the heart of Harlem, The New York Jazz Workshop has built a strong reputation within the jazz community since it opened in 2008. A community-based jazz school for students of all ages, The New York Jazz Workshop seeks to make world-class jazz instruction accessible to those outside of major universities and conservatories. Most instructors are associated with renowned institutions like NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, The Juilliard School, Columbia University, and The Manhattan School of Music, ensuring the quality of education will rival that offered by a major conservatory.

New York Jazz Workshop’s “Let’s Sing” series offers workshops designed to provide foundational skills, helping beginner and intermediate-level students develop vocal techniques and familiarize themselves with the language of jazz. In Let’s Sing w/ Elana Hedrych, learn techniques for breathing and vocalization to help strengthen your singing voice, tips for phrasing, rhythm, improvisation, and mid-session communication, and also basic principles of music theory.

More advanced jazz vocalists may instead be interested in Jazz Singing with Michelle Walker. This weekly course aimed at intermediate and advanced singers features a chance to workshop vocal techniques alongside professional accompaniment from a solo artist and from a full jazz band. Michelle Walker is known in the jazz community for her charisma and her ability to effortlessly blend genres, incorporating elements of blues, bebop, swing, and soul into a distinctive sound.

Jazz enthusiasts with very specific interests may be interested in New York Jazz Academy’s Summer Jazz Intensives program, a summer-long series of weekly crash courses in different areas of jazz music. These workshops run between two and four days, with rotating weekly curricula devoted to specific instruments (including guitar, piano, and vocals) and to subgenres of jazz (including bebop, Brazilian music, and improvisation). Students have flexibility to choose which workshops they attend, so be sure to reference the course schedule on the New York Jazz Academy’s website to see which dates best match your personal interests.

City Music Schools in Hell’s Kitchen was founded in 1921 with a single goal: to make quality music education accessible to everyone. Today, City Music Schools offers affordable private instruction in practically any instrument. By offering short-term enrollment options, City Music Schools provides flexible access to quality instruction without needing to commit to an expensive long-term tuition. Course offerings from City Music Schools include private lessons devoted to Voice techniques, to orchestral instruments like Piano, Viola, Cello, Oboe, and Flute, to popular instruments like Guitar and Drums, and even to zanier instruments like Accordion and Banjo. Because each class is with a private instructor, you can be sure that class content will be tailored to your needs and skill level. Private lessons also provide a great deal of flexibility in coordinating a preferred time slot, with slots offered from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. City Music Schools requests that you please bring your own musical instrument with you for all lessons.

While City Music Schools offers classes in a wide array of instruments, other organizations focus solely on a single type of instrument. If you’re looking for a particular instrument, consider one of the many specialist organizations in New York.

Conor Hall Drums offers Private Drum Lessons for drummers of all levels out of his personal studio in Astoria, Queens. Conor has extensive training in jazz drumming and in world music, but his inspirations are various and he can both perform and teach a blend of styles including jazz, rock, R&B, world music, hip hop, and Latin rhythms.

Aspiring guitarists can look to the Brooklyn Guitar School or the Queens Guitar School, local branches of the New York City Guitar School. New York City Guitar School believes that people succeed through committed practice, and so their lessons break down long-term goals into smaller, achievable steps. While many levels of guitar are offered, beginners might look consider Guitar I: Guitar for Absolute Beginners at Brooklyn Guitar School or Guitar I: Absolute Beginners at Queens Guitar School for a thorough introduction to the instrument. Starting from zero, these courses teach the basics of guitar playing techniques and common chords, playing along with popular songs from a diverse selection of bands like Sublime, John Legend, and Taylor Swift. Most students feel they’ve mastered beginner techniques after six to eight sessions.

A more orchestral string instrument, the violin, is the focus of NYC Violin Studio, a music school based in Hell’s Kitchen. Instead of following a single model of instruction, like the Suzuki method, NYC Violin Studio operates from a belief that it is best to expose learners to a wide range of pedagogical models. Beginner Violin Technique is designed to help students build a strong foundation, focusing extensively on bow technique, which is essential to producing beautiful sound at any level.

Virtual Music Classes & Schools

In addition to the robust music communities available in New York City, CourseHorse offers an impressive range of online music classes available to anybody with an internet connection. No matter whether you’re a New York resident who can’t work on the schedule of online classes or you’re looking to tap into New York’s music community from a different state, the various online courses organized by New York institutions seek to make music more accessible to all.

By opting for an online class, you are securing all of the core benefits of in-person instruction. An instructor will be working with you in real time, demonstrating techniques for you to follow, responding to your own technique as you play, and providing feedback and technical advice as you go. Moreover, online classes provide you with more access to niche subjects that may not be available in your local scene, and instructors are typically willing to provide flexible scheduling to find a time that best accommodates your busy schedule.

If you consider yourself a bit of an audiophile, be advised that online classes do come with some additional technical demands. While high quality speakers and microphones are not essential - even basic equipment is functional - the sound quality of a session will depend on your equipment, and cannot hope to match the acoustics of being in the same room as your instructor. While the notes will still be recognizable, the discrepancy in quality may prove frustrating to those particularly sensitive to such matters.

If you can’t make it to the in-person “Let’s Sing” classes offered by the New York Jazz Workshop, there’s always the option to opt for the online versions of the program. Depending on your schedule, you can sing With Olivia Foschi on Wednesday evening or With Jocelyn Medina on Thursday evening. As with the in-person classes, you’ll learn techniques for breathing and vocalization to help strengthen your singing voice, tips for phrasing, rhythm, improvisation, and mid-session communication, and also basic principles of music theory. Be assured that you’ll find the same quality instruction, delivered in a manner more accommodating to the limitations of your schedule.

Other New York organizations that offer online instruction to supplement in-person offerings are the Irish Arts Center and the 92nd Street Y. The Irish Arts Center offers online classes in a wide range of traditional Irish instruments, including Fiddle, Irish Mandolin, Celtic Harp, and even Tin Whistle. In each class, you’ll learn techniques for how to play your chosen instrument as well as develop listening skills to pick up tunes by ear. Additionally, they offer theory classes like an Introduction to Music Theory, designed to provide a strong foundation in basic principles of music theory, and a course devoted to Learning Tunes by Ear and developing active listening skills to recognize and latch onto common musical patterns, especially those found in Irish melodies.

The 92nd Street Y offers similar classes in Music Theory and Ear Training for Singers, which is designed specifically for vocalists to help them build aural listening skills while learning fundamental components of music theory. The class helps participants develop sight-singing skills that allow them not only to read musical notation and reproduce the correct notes, but also to form a theoretical understanding of the tonal relationships between the notes.

Private Group Music Classes in NYC

If you’ve ever joked about a reunion as “getting the band back together,” you’ve tapped into a prevalent cultural assumption that playing music together facilitates a special bond. This assumption certainly is not without merit; while music as a solo endeavor does serve as a great outlet for creative expression, merging that expression with a group of like minded individuals is a great way to collaborate and bond on a deeper level. To get the band back together for some group bonding, CourseHorse offers online music classes for private groups.

Although CourseHorse doesn’t currently have any public listings for virtual jam sessions, they can work with you on an individual basis to organize a customized musical event. You can reach out to CourseHorse to learn about the options they can provide, and they’ll get to work scheduling the perfect event for your group.

If you’ve got a team of music lovers who don’t necessarily all play instruments, music can still be the centerpiece of a team social event. Let your team flex their music knowledge with a Music Trivia night, or have a bit of Christmas in July with Holiday Music Karaoke Trivia.

Booking a class with CourseHorse is a simple, streamlined process, so you can spend less time scheduling and more time jamming. The easy-to-follow checkout process gives you options to customize your event to your specific needs, and gives plenty of flexibility in scheduling. You can even change your booking details after the fact, so you don’t need to worry if your band size grows unexpectedly. CourseHorse will reserve your booking date, but allows you to change your group size after the fact, and will not finalize payment details until you’ve locked in your headcount.

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