Specialty & Technique Guitar Classes

Approach music theory from a guitarist’s perspective and unlock the fretboard as a creative tool for improvisation and musical communication. Explore chord and scale construction, triads, inversions, progressions, and fretboard relationships through the lens of jazz, folk, rock, blues, and contemporary styles. Develop the fundamentals and practical vocabulary needed to craft solos and jam confidently with others. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of music theory and become a more expressive and versatile guitarist, this is the class for you!

Approach music theory from a guitarist’s perspective and unlock the fretboard as a creative tool for improvisation and musical communication. Explore chord and scale construction, triads, inversions, progressions, and fretboard relationships through the lens of jazz, folk, rock, blues, and contemporary styles. Develop the fundamentals and practical vocabulary needed to craft solos and jam confidently with others. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of music theory and become a more expressive and versatile guitarist, this is the class for you!

Approach music theory from a guitarist’s perspective and unlock the fretboard as a creative tool for improvisation and musical communication. Explore chord and scale construction, triads, inversions, progressions, and fretboard relationships through the lens of jazz, folk, rock, blues, and contemporary styles. Develop the fundamentals and practical vocabulary needed to craft solos and jam confidently with others. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of music theory and become a more expressive and versatile guitarist, this is the class for you!

Approach music theory from a guitarist’s perspective and unlock the fretboard as a creative tool for improvisation and musical communication. Explore chord and scale construction, triads, inversions, progressions, and fretboard relationships through the lens of jazz, folk, rock, blues, and contemporary styles. Develop the fundamentals and practical vocabulary needed to craft solos and jam confidently with others. If you are looking to deepen your understanding of music theory and become a more expressive and versatile guitarist, this is the class for you!

Ever dreamed of playing classical guitar but seemed daunted by the word "classical". Fear not, this class will introduce you to the basics of classical guitar through simple exercises and short pieces. Nylon string guitars and ability to read music ARE NOT REQUIRED. All songs will be presented in tab. This class is a hybrid offering - students may attend either in person or by Zoom.

This class will be offered in a hybrid format. Students can choose to participate online or in person. Use your fingers to bring out melody and harmony in your approach to playing guitar. This class will broaden your understanding and application of melody and chord theory as well as help you develop a rich repertoire in this style. Learn to bring your ring finger into the mix. Styles and alternate tunings will be examined including, blues, traditional folk, Celtic, singer-songwriters, and classical music.

This class is a continuation of Introduction to Jazz Guitar. At this level, we will work on a bebop blues, bebop rhythm changes, and select standards from the American song book. We will use bebop melodies to develop our rhythmic vocabulary. Come explore the basic frameworks of improvisation and accompaniment over classic jazz progressions. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED INTRO to JAZZ GUITAR. Contact Tony Do Rosario with any questions at tdorosario@oldtownschool.org

A class designed to bring your jazz guitar skills to a higher level. We welcome those who have taken Jazz Guitar 1 and are ready to increase their musical vocabulary in terms of harmony and melody. We’ll concentrate on great American Standards as well as variations of Blues. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED INTRO, JAZZ GUITAR 1. Contact Tony Do Rosario at tdorosario@oldtownschool.org It’s a lifelong journey and we invite you to repeat level as much as necessary before moving on to Jazz Guitar 2.

Jazz is an American folk music. Play it yourself on the guitar. In this repertoire driven class, hone your skills by learning both traditional standards and modern compositions. We are learning a musical language that is spoken throughout the world. Students are invited to repeat this class as much as they desire. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED INTRO, JAZZ GUITAR 1 & JAZZ GUITAR 1.5. Contact Tony Do Rosario at tdorosario@oldtownschool.org

Jazz is an American folk music. Play it yourself on the guitar. In this repertoire driven class, hone your skills by learning both traditional standards and modern compositions. We are learning a musical language that is spoken throughout the world. Students are invited to repeat this class as much as they desire. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED INTRO, JAZZ GUITAR 1 & JAZZ GUITAR 1.5. Contact Tony Do Rosario at tdorosario@oldtownschool.org

Jazz is an American folk music. Play it yourself on the guitar. In this repertoire driven class, hone your skills by learning both traditional standards and modern compositions. We are learning a musical language that is spoken throughout the world. Students are invited to repeat this class as much as they desire. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED INTRO, JAZZ GUITAR 1 & JAZZ GUITAR 1.5. Contact Tony Do Rosario at tdorosario@oldtownschool.org

An ongoing class in the advanced study of Jazz for the guitarist. We will build repertoire, further develop improvisation skills and advance rhythmic variations. Participants should have gone thru Jazz Guitar 2 several times or should audition with the instructor tdorosario@oldtownschool.org

This intermediate level class introduces the music of some of traditional blues’ great artists. From the ragtime/blues style of Big Bill Broonzy and Blind Blake to the Delta/Chicago grind of Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. Learn such techniques as: fingerpicking (ragtime, shuffle rhythm), open tuning, bottleneck slide, basic improvising, and more. This is some of the most satisfying music steel string pickers can get their fingers on!

Born in 1910 and credited as being the father of electric guitar,  T. Bone Walker's influence is still reverberating coast to coast. Blues and jazz guitarist feel his legacy as a player and showman.   How could T. Bone be so revolutionary for his day and yet still sound modern to our ears? The answer to that question lies in his signature style and formidable technique. The class examines T. Bone's greatest solos that capture his musical essence.

In this advanced class, continue working on the music of traditional blues greats such as the ragtime/blues style of Big Bill Broonzy and Blind Blake to the Delta/Chicago grind of Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. Learn techniques such as fingerpicking (ragtime, shuffle rhythm), open tuning, bottleneck slide, improvising, and more. This is some of the most satisfying music steel string pickers can get their fingers on! This class was previously Acoustic Blues Guitar Repertoire.

Learn the acoustic and electric guitar styles of The Beatles, including chords, riffs and melodies from the Fab Four's greatest songs (including some solo tunes)!

Admit it! Sometimes it's hard to walk and chew gum... playing guitar in a rhythmic fashion can feel very awkward! FEAR NOT it's a natural thing don't let it stop your musical journey! Let Dan help set you straight! Straight fours, straight eights! YOU NAME IT. Concentrate on your strumming and improve your performance in many ways.

Aprende los estilos, ritmos y música de todo Latino América, México, Centroamérica, Sudamérica y también de España. Esta clase requiere traer una guitarra clásica de cuerdas de nylon. Deben tener conocimiento de acordes básicos: D - A - A7 - G - C - E - E7 - Em - Am - F - B7 - Bm y aprender más acordes y rasgueos en este nivel.

Do you feel comfortable strumming chords, but feel less than confident with melodies, bass runs and riffs on the guitar? This workshop will enhance your tone production, speed, accuracy and overall technique with playing individual notes. You’ll also learn how to go back and forth between chords and melodies, bass runs and riffs seamlessly. Open to any level of guitarist or ukulele player, from beginning to advanced.

Neil Young’s career includes a treasure trove of amazing, yet accessible guitar techniques, from syncopated folky strumming, open tunings, and howling leads. We’ll look at various classic songs including “Cinnamon Girl,” “Harvest Moon, “Old Man,” “Cowgirl In The Sand” among others.

Want to take your rhythm guitar skills to the next level? In this 8-week class, we’ll focus on songs with distinctive rhythmic qualities and break them down using standard notation—think quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, ties, and rests. You’ll explore rhythmic motifs from popular songs across a variety of genres, giving you the tools to improve your rhythm playing while deepening your overall musical understanding. In this class, you’ll: Break down complex rhythms using standard notation Learn how to play songs with catchy and unique rhythmic patterns Build a solid foundation in timing and groove Gain confidence in applying rhythms to your guitar playing and overall musicianship Develop a deeper understanding of rhythm in music beyond the guitar

Want to take your rhythm guitar skills to the next level? In this 8-week class, we’ll focus on songs with distinctive rhythmic qualities and break them down using standard notation—think quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, ties, and rests. You’ll explore rhythmic motifs from popular songs across a variety of genres, giving you the tools to improve your rhythm playing while deepening your overall musical understanding. In this class, you’ll: Break down complex rhythms using standard notation Learn how to play songs with catchy and unique rhythmic patterns Build a solid foundation in timing and groove Gain confidence in applying rhythms to your guitar playing and overall musicianship Develop a deeper understanding of rhythm in music beyond the guitar

Join one of the school's most popular teacher as he demonstrates his unique method of learning scales and soloing. Dan will provide crayons and paper as part of the process. Come as you are, leave a better musician! ALL LEVELS ARE WELCOME.

In this class, we’ll focus on simple and effective guitar fills that are easy to execute but make a big impact. Our approach will teach you how to connect phrases smoothly, enhancing both your sound and your singing. Whether it’s a walk, a fingerpick, or a catchy strum, you’ll learn how to add the perfect touch to your playing without feeling overwhelmed. From ballads to swing tunes to country hits, you'll discover how to bring your songs to life with these essential guitar fills!

What's the point? Why is this scale so much more useful than other major scales? Dan has the attitude and the secrets to help you understand how to decipher a major scale into pentatonic scales. Songs by the Allman brothers and Pink Floyd and other bands will be used as examples to further your understanding of the scale and absorb all the amazing benefits to knowing the different scale patterns. All five major pentatonic positions will be covered in this class. You'll walk out of this workshop with a better understanding of the guitar neck. Examples of famous riffs, using the major pentatonic, will be presented in the workshop.

This is THE pinnacle of all scales in most songs in blues, hard rock, and heavy metal. What key do you say an AC/DC song is in? Or in most songs that use power chords? The pentatonic scale has been used in some of the most famous guitar riffs from some of the most famous bands. Dan will cover all five patterns of the minor pentatonic scale and disect famous riffs to help inspire your respect for memorizing this scale.