Levine offers private lessons, group classes, ensembles, and jam sessions for guitarists of all styles, ages and abilities. Students may begin studying guitar at Levine as young as age 3 1/2 as part of the Suzuki method, age 6 for traditional private lessons and age 8 for group classes. We offer faculty artists who specialize in teaching adults as well as advanced students of any age.
Learn more about the Suzuki program for guitar.
For more information, contact the Guitar Department Chair Risa Carlson at (202) 686-8000 x1104 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Private Lessons
Private lessons provide students with individual instruction with one of Levine’s talented faculty members and are geared towards the specific goals, needs and aspirations of each student regardless of experience or age. For new students, we take the time and ...
Levine offers private instruction year round in 22 instruments and voice – for the beginner, lifelong amateur, or budding virtuoso. Private lessons provide students with individual instruction with one of Levine’s talented faculty members and are geared towards the specific ...
Master Teacher Franco Platino works with small groups arranged by level and age to perfect right- and left-hand technique, as well as sightreading skills. Appropriate for intermediate to advanced school-aged and adult students. Groups meet weekly or bi-weekly. Day and ...
Group Classes
(Ages 8 - 10)
For Levine summer campers and their friends, this course builds on the skills started in camp using great songs from around the world. Students learn the fundamental habits of great guitar players while mastering note reading, basic ...
(Ages 16 - 21)
This monthly class provides advanced jazz guitar students with the opportunity to learn repertoire and play with each other in a coached environment. Students learn jazz repertoire similar to the requirements of a typical college undergraduate jazz ...
(Adults)
The perfect birthday or Father’s Day gift! Take your playing to the next level with this intense rock 'n roll experience. Designed for all levels of guitar players, bass players, drummers and singers, you'll be matched with other like-minded musicians ...
(Adults)
It’s never too late to start learning the guitar! This is the perfect class for adult novices interested in starting a strong foundation on the guitar. Concepts covered include note reading, basic right- and left-hand technique, scales, arpeggios, and several ...
(Adults)
For adults with experience playing the blues guitar idiom, this advanced class will bring your guitar skills to the next level! With a heavy emphasis on improvisation and advanced forms of the blues, concepts covered will include altering and ‘dressing ...
(Ages 11 - 18)
This fun-filled camp is a great opportunity for talented young musicians in middle and high school who are interested in performing rock, jazz or blues. Participants are grouped into bands based upon skill level, the wishes of ...
(Ages 14 - 18)
Summer is the perfect time to improve your guitar skills! For intermediate and advanced jazz, rock, and blues guitarists, this week-long class will take your playing to the next level while learning popular and jazz songs. Concepts ...
(Adults)
The perfect introduction to the blues for adult novices! Participants will learn the skills needed to join a blues jam/open mic or even just jam along to their favorite recordings. Concepts covered include the 12-bar blues form, the blues scale, ...
(Ages 10 - 15)
Learn how to play the electric guitar this summer during this week-long class for absolute beginners! Students will learn the fundamentals of popular guitar playing, including open position chords, strumming patterns, pick technique, basic note reading and ...
(Adults)
For adults with some experience with the blues, this class takes your playing to the next level. Topics covered include altering and ‘dressing up’ the 12-bar form; using major and minor blues scales across the neck; soloing over chord ...
(Adults)
This three-day workshop is designed to give amateur jazz musicians an opportunity to come and expand their jazz experience under the direction of Levine's expert jazz faculty. The workshop includes small and large group jam sessions, level-specific jazz instructional sessions, ...
(Ages 14 to Adult)
This course guides students through fundamental material about pitches, intervals, triads, seventh chords, voicing, harmonic progressions, chord substitutions and scales, including seven diatonic modes, blues scales and symmetrical scales. Students analyze recorded performances and also write their ...
(Ages 12 to Adult)
Using elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, structure and expression, students of all instruments develop the ability to improvise in many styles, including jazz. Students also learn how to listen to and interact with each other while improvising ...
(Adults)
Learn to play the blues in this semester long course. Follow in the footsteps of Robert Johnson, B.B. King, and John Lee Hooker as you learn how to play both rhythm guitar and improvisational solos over the 12-bar blues form. ...
(Adults)
New to guitar? Absolute beginners can get a head start by attending the Blues Guitar Introduction Session, where they will be introduced to the concepts covered in the Blues Guitar for Adults class as well as general guitar skills, ...
(Teens and Adults)
This semester long course is a general introduction to the guitar. Students learn to play melodies and chords, read standard musical notation and learn right-hand fingerstyle technique. Repertoire includes solo and ensemble pieces from around the world. Students ...
(Ages 10 - 16)
This fully underwritten class is a continuation of the Beginning Guitar Zanar Class for six select Levine Guitar students who have successfully demonstrated a high level of dedication and ability for at least one year in the ...
(Ages 8 - 14)
This fully underwritten class is for six select Levine guitar students who have demonstrated a high level of dedication and ability for at least one year in Beginning Guitar Class or private lessons. Students are expected to ...
(Ages 8 - 12)
Start your guitar study by learning to play great songs from around the world with confidence and competence. Learn the fundamental habits of great guitar players while mastering note reading, basic melodies, right-hand fingerpicking technique, arpeggio patterns, ...
(Teens and Adults)
Like to play, but hate to practice? Learn some valuable tips on how to create effective and efficient practice strategies to maximize your progress. Applicable to all instruments and voice.
Ensemble Classes
(Ages 11 - 18)
This fun-filled camp is a great opportunity for talented young musicians in middle and high school who are interested in performing rock, jazz or blues. Participants are grouped into bands based upon skill level, the wishes of ...
(Ages 8 - 11)
Have fun with other motivated students while learning basic ensemble techniques as well as sightreading and chamber music skills. Please note that it may be appropriate to remain in this ensemble for more than one year before ...
(Ages 10 - 15)
Have fun with other motivated students while developing intermediate ensemble techniques as well as sightreading and ensemble skills. This course is a continuation of Beginning Guitar Orchestra and prepares students for the Advanced Guitar Orchestra. Please ...
(Ages 12 - 18)
This award-winning performance group focuses on developing sophisticated ensemble technique, sightreading and chamber music skills. Group members are expected to show a very high level of commitment and must be taking weekly private lessons. Performances often include ...
