*Update* I was able to engage with the admin office and my child was paired with a new instructor, it's only been a few lessons, but I do see a difference in his playing, most notably being challenged to play with both hands. read more

I'm not your typical dad of a typical guitar student as I am by profession a guitar player and instructor with over 10,000 hours teaching experience with adults and kids of all ages. I thought I'd be a good instructor for my 9 year old son who has been holding a pick correctly since 18 months of age but let's just say . . . I was wrong. He doesn't listen to me, shocker, right? I ran into Trevor from Guitar Ninjas at a school event and after first disregarding the idea it dawned on me that perhaps all of our lives would be easier if I wasn't his primary instructor. Although my son has a very high degree of musical talent he also has a very low degree of work ethic. Over the years he has had lessons with a different place which is a great place with wonderful people but it alway felt like I was inconveniencing them by asking questions or trying to be involved. He didn't really learn much other than one chord over 4 months so I took him out of it. Granted, he was younger and that was 3 years ago and he didn't touch a guitar for those 3 years. He started showing interest again last year so I started teaching him some stuff but A) It's nearly impossible to teach your own kid and B) my frustrations with it were creating a bad vibe. I called Guitar Ninjas and spoke to Jason the owner for about 30 minutes. He was extremely open and flexible and said I could sit in the lesson if I wanted (I do not do that but the offer was nice). He sent me their syllabus and I was pretty impressed with the approach as it is geared towards kids. It is very structured with concrete milestones to "graduate" to different levels which are structured similar to karate belts which is great incentive for kids especially. Most instructors/schools are almost exclusively focused on the left hand with chord fingerings, etc. and they start with chords that are very difficult for beginners of any age to learn without either quitting, feeling hopeless or frustrated. The GN approach puts a particular emphasis on strumming and right hand techniques from the ground up using achievable chord voicings. They also have standard songs in each level with backing tracks in their online portal which can be adjusted for tempo. btw - they don't suggest kids "practice" but "play" guitar on a regular basis which is actually quite brilliant as "practice" sounds like a drag. Jason thought Lucas would be a good instructor so we set up a trial lesson. When I ran the idea by my son his reaction was "sure, I guess" so not overwhelming enthusiasm but that's my son but he was kind of interested in what level he would place in initially. I told him probably the bottom despite the fact that he was playing barre chords with maybe 30 hours total play time. We had the first lesson and I waited in the waiting area as I want my son to establish his own relationship with Lucas. The lesson went great and I could overhear most of it. They placed him as a green pick (4 levels up) to start which is high for his age but he was pretty stoked to hear that and he was pretty stoked to continue as a Ninja. We have been taking lessons consistently for maybe 5 weeks and his playing has grown SO much. Lucas is a great guy with a great background and seems really good with kids. Now, I can assume the role of the dad that teaches him stuff outside the Ninja curriculum and just making sure he is doing their assignments correctly. So, I guess I could give the Ninjas a stellar review! read more

Guitar Ninjas is an excellent place to learn guitar and / or drums. I have had two kids go through the program. They had different needs and learning styles that were met with instructors that cared about their progress. Young or old, beginner or advanced - Guitar Ninjas is a great place to be! read more

I absolutely love Guitar Ninjas. My Son has worked with them for many years. I took lessons as well. The staff is great and they have a program that has been very successful teaching beginner students to master an instrument. I was so excited to hear they were opening a location in Glendale! I highly recommend Guitar ninja to anyone who wants to get into music. read more

Guitar Ninjas - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Glendale, California

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This place is amazing if you're looking to start guitar or hone your skills. They offer a friendly environment that's great for all levels and the instructors are all top notch; very friendly and knowledgeable! Highly recommend! read more

My son has been having a blast learning to play guitar with these guys! We came around spring break, and the motivation my son has to keep learning has been encouraging. He's nine years old and his teacher has been doing really well communicating and communicating with me as well with his progress. read more

I have always wanted to learn to play the guitar. I chose Guitar Ninjas as my school of choice and couldn't be happier. My instructor is super patient and an excellent teacher. His knowledge of music is apparent in his teachings. I highly recommend choosing this place. read more

Really helpful, kind, and patient. Great people! Competitive pricing. A wonderfully positive environment to learn.

I was looking for something to do other than work/dinner/TV/bedtime. A friend had recently gifted me an old, battered electric guitar but I hadn't a clue which end was up. It was then I had discovered a flyer for Guitar Ninjas in Glendale So I called them up, talked to them and they made it sound like playing guitar was something that wasn't just playing music; it was going to be very interesting. Turns out, it has been more than simply "interesting". In a few short weeks I have found myself playing the guitar. Full Disclosure: I will never be a world famous guitar player and nobody's going to offer me a record contract but I'm able to make a nice noise that I enjoy. I am developing a new skill and I have met some wonderful people at Guitar Ninja. Man, I love Tuesday nights! read more

I've been going to Guitar Ninjas for two years and my guitar playing has grown exponentially. Every song you learn brings you a new fundamental, and the online members portal has a ton of individual lessons you can work on at home to brush up your skills practicing at home. Great staff, and a ton of fun, I highly recommend Guitar Ninjas. read more

Best music school around!!! Jason, the owner knows his stuff, but really, every instructor we have met has been so knowledgeable, patient, and kind. If you are looking for a place to help you or your children succeed with an instrument, this is definitely where you want to be! read more

Hands down, Guitar Ninja has the best instructor! They make you a better player while teaching you music you like. They rock!

While visiting family in California over the summer I was determined to keep my keeps busy . I was referred to Guitar Ninjas by my sister & had the best experience. I reached out and the owner Jason was so very accommodating. The school is centrally located in the heart of glendale with ample parking . The facility was clean, well lit with a charming waiting area for parents -very inviting . All around good vibes . My kids had 30 min lessons each ( drums and piano ) back to back and loved it . Instructor Lucas was great ! We returned a few days later for a second lesson with a different instructor and it was equally great. They are very much so looking forward to returning for drop in lessons every time we visit family in California. Five stars ! but I wish I could give them more ! read more

Guitar Ninjas Glendale is just awesome. Owner Jason is an amazing talent and teacher in one--tough to find even in/around LA. Highly recommend for you and/or your kids!! read more

I really like coming here so far. I've only been taking lessons for a short time but, I can confidently say they definitely know what they're doing. Looking forward to making more progress and playing in front of friends soon! read more

I've been learning guitar from Adrian for a few years and it's been such a treat. Went from being musically talentless to being able to strum some tunes for friends! The process so far has been easy and enjoyable. Looking forward to getting even better read more