I have been taking guitar lessons with Nick Russo since February 2018. In my opinion, Nick Russo is a terrific musician and an outstanding teacher. He is an active gigging musician with an encyclopedic knowledge of music theory and music history and is well-versed in various types of music including,but not limited to classical, jazz, metal, folk, world music, etc., etc. Nick comes from a musical family and is very passionate about music, and this comes accross loud and clear in his lessons.He lives and breathes music. I came to Nick after taking lessons for several years with another teacher. I liked this teacher very much, and the lessons only ended because the teacher moved to another geographic location. Although I did like this teacher, the lessons were starting to get stale and repetitious. When I started working with Nick that feeling was turned around. Lessons with Nick are very stimulating and interesting. Although Nick knows sight reading and theory well, he places a great emphasis on aural (ear) training. I have worked with him learning intervals, scales and songs, using my ears instead of my head. It's a little hard to explain, but it's a very organic kind of way to learn music. You learn the instrument more intuitively and I have had a number of' "aha" moments when some pattern or connection or aspect of theory makes sense in a deep way. In the time that I've worked with Nick, my knowledge of the fretboard, and my ability to figure things out by ear has improved tremendously although I still have a long way to go. Nick is also an incredibly kind and compassionate person, and he has shown a great deal of patience when working with me. If I don't understand something he will try to break it down or present it in such a way that it finally makes sense to me. He has also worked a lot with me on my technique, and has tried to help me play more efficiently and ergonomically. Earlier in my guitar playing career, I developed tendonitis in my left hand from playing. In addition, I have chronic lower back problems. Nick has made numerous helpful suggestions so that I don't exacerbate these problems or injure myself again. One suggestion that was particularly helpful was to use a bass guitar strap for my electric guitar. Because the bass strap is much wider than a regular guitar strap, the weight is more evenly distributed across my back, resulting in less back strain. I began my lessons with Nick face-to-face, but this changed to video due to the coronavirus pandemic. We utilize Skype and it seems to work pretty well, although there's no substitute for meeting in person. Nick seems very adept at working in this modality. For example, he will have me position the camera so he can see how I am playing something. He will also provide close-ups of his own fingering to show me how he is playing something. In addition, Nick sends his students notes regarding the most salient points of each session. This is something he did even prior to the pandemic. Nick allows me to audio tape the sessions, and when I am able to go through the tape I gain an even deeper understanding of whatever was covered. In short I feel that Nick is great person and a terrific teacher and that I was very lucky to have found him. I would recommend him to anyone with no reservation. read more

I'm a parent (of 10 year old girl/boy twins), full-time professional musician and educator here in Forest Hills, Queens, NYC. The attached video shows me and my son demonstrating one fun ear-training game that I play with my online ukulele students. I absolutely love to teach and I'm very passionate about performing, teaching music and making learning fun yet informative and at a deep level. I have many years experience working with children, teens and adults. I teach an eclectic mix of music including classical music, jazz, blues, folk, country, bluegrass, pop music & world music. I play guitar/banjo on Peg+Cat, I'm the author of Metallica's Legendary Licks series (Hal Leonard), created and shot two JamPlay/TrueFire blues guitar video courses (Dec 2020/ and early 2021 release dates) and recorded for Princess Anne (aired in Oct 2020). My lessons and classes focus on students active listening & ear-training. I value my student's feedback so we select repertoire together that resonates most with each of my individual students. We also work on efficient technique, rhythm training, harmony, theory & reading. I'm located right here in Forest Hill, NYC, teaching on line. You can see me perform with artists such as Paul McCartney, John Lithgow, Rob Morrow, Jon Batiste (Colbert Show), Russell Hall & other musicians. I lead The Scooches (Banjo Nickaru), Hot Jazz Jumpers & Nick Russo+11. You can see me on ABC's Good Morning America, PBS Masterpiece: The Chaperone & Sam Mendes: Away We Go. Please feel free to read the many reviews from my students and parents of my younger students (Over 43 reviews, all 5 star). Ukulele Teaching demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOaPsyQsg9U Nick Russo Ukulele Class for Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3wU6zeLvT4 Originals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoE1McTOKkc; Classical guitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3_0uQkRuFg Please feel free to ask any questions My best, Nick Russo, B.S., M.A. NickRusso.org TheScooches.com BanjoNickaru.com HotJazzJumpers.com read more

TLDR; The guy is fantastic. He knows his stuff, he is a real performing musician, and he is a great and inspiring teacher. Long format: I've had a guitar sitting around my flat for about two years. The only thing I could do, other than looking at it, was playing three open chords very very very badly. And I just thought that playing music wasn't for me and that I didn't have the mind for it. Because I am stuck at home for the quarantine, I decided to check if maybe I could do something productive with my time and decided to give taking some guitar lessons a try. Doing research online for someone willing to teach me remotely, I found Nick, and I am thrilled I did. We have now had only about 6-7 lessons, but he has ignited in me a passion for learning the guitar and also made me believe I can. He has a style that will accommodate and inspire any sort of student. In my case, I want to learn the blues. But because I knew nothing about guitar playing, I need someone that can take me through the basics in a structured way where things build on each other. Nick did just that. The guy is a proper performing musician with a great personality and loads of experience under his belt. I have been inspired and made confident by his way of teaching, and I want to study with him for years to come. read more

Nick is an exceptional guitar teacher who has had a profound impact on my son's learning experience. Despite my son's initial reluctance and tendency to become easily distracted during lessons, Nick has succeeded in fostering a newfound love of guitar in him. What sets Nick apart as a teacher is his ability to strike a balance between technical correctness and making the learning process enjoyable for his students. He is not content to simply teach my son how to strum a few chords - instead, Nick ensures that my son is building a solid foundation of technical skills that will serve him well as he continues to progress as a musician. At the same time, Nick recognizes that learning an instrument should be fun and engaging, and he makes a concerted effort to make lessons enjoyable for my son. Through his creative and engaging teaching style, Nick has inspired my son to practice more and to take pride in his progress. Overall, I would highly recommend Nick as a guitar teacher. He is knowledgeable, patient, and skilled at making guitar lessons both enjoyable and educational. Thanks to Nick's guidance, my son has developed a newfound passion for guitar that will undoubtedly serve him well in the years to come. read more

I've been self-taught for roughly 3 years and sought lessons to help me get out of the rut that I felt I was in. Nick has exceeded my expectations. More than just a great banjoist, Nick is a fantastic all around musician. He's intimately familiar with genres of music I've never even heard of and is able to disseminate his vast knowledge of technique and theory into easy to understand lessons. One of my favorite things about Nick is he completely caters himself to you and your goals. On day 1, we laid down goals that I wanted to pursue, and every single lesson since has been centered around getting me there. Never once has Nick tried to trump what I thought was important to work on, he just works with me and helps me lay the ground work that I need to get moving closer to where I want to be. The other thing I really enjoy about Nick's lessons is that he's always respectful of me as an individual, and the environment that Nick sets up for his students often times make me feel like I'm just learning from an old friend rather than the expert, tenured, musician that he truly is. He has my highest recommendation to anyone looking to better their own musicianship. read more

I have taken a lot of lessons over the years. I grew up playing piano and cello, and I'm a professional singer. I knew first hand what a phenomenal musician Nick Russo was, and I had a hunch that he would be a marvelous teacher as well. Now that I've been taking ukulele lessons with Nick for the last three months, it's clear my hunch was correct. He's a phenomenal teacher. Patient, clear, willing to explain things in multiple ways. He's also extremely flexible. Always willing to go in a different direction if that's what's needed. And, most of all, he wants his students to have fun with their instrument and he's always looking for ways to ensure that happens. Nick is a musician with a huge musical range. In addition to playing many instruments Nick has a broad and deep knowledge of many different musical traditions. It brings a richness to his offering as a teacher which are hard to match. I can't recommend Nick highly enough. A wonderful teacher and an kind, compassionate person. If you're looking for a teacher, you can't go wrong by choosing to work with Nick! read more

My daughter began classes with Nick as part of her after school program with a group of elementary school kids who signed up for group Ukulele classes. When quarantine started due to COVID, we all had to switch to remote zoom classes with Nick. Teaching music remotely must be challenging but Nick never made it seem challenging. He was always so patient and age-appropriate with the kids and communicated often with the parents. After the group lessons ended, we decided to continue with 1:1 classes with Nick. He really allowed my daughter to go at her own pace but still challenge her. He does ear training as well and now my daughter can play along with many songs she likes, just by figuring out the notes on her own. Nick's follow up emails after each lesson made sure we are aware of what he worked on and any HW our daughter should work on. Our daughter has progressed so much in just a few months of starting a new instrument! Nick is really a kind and amazing teacher! If you are looking for a great music teacher...look no further! read more

Hands down, Nick is an incredible music teacher. My online guitar lessons with him are greatly helpful for both my guitar playing and for when I eventually return to playing piano (I played piano for several years when I was younger). In addition to his knowledge of music and pedagogy, his responsiveness is amazing. When I first started lessons with him, I had an electric guitar with goals of learning hard rock and metal. After a few lessons, my goals drastically changed, and I am now learning on a classical guitar. Despite this massive shift in focus, the quality of Nick's lessons has not diminished in any way. With his help, I picked out a more appropriate guitar and the lessons have only gotten better. If you want someone who is not only incredibly skilled but also knows how to teach his set of skills, Nick is the teacher for you, regardless of which genre of guitar music you want to learn. I will add that his online lessons are just as good as any in-person instruction. read more

I first heard Nick play about 4 years ago and a friend of mine took lessons from him. When I decided to start lessons, I naturally decided to go to him. As I went to his place, I thought, "Oh wow! I forget to ask my friend whether he's a good teacher!" I need not have worried. He's superb. He focuses on musicality: listening, hearing, enjoying; and then pulls out the technical things you could improve at and delves deep. I leave every lesson feeling great, and (proof of the pudding) people I jam with comment on how much my playing has improved. I'm an "advanced intermediate" player, but Nick also teaches kids, beginners, etc. In the age of coronavirus, our lessons are on Skype, and they are great, too. He comes out of jazz and plays trad as well as modern, but he also has an Americana band, and he knows classical, and the student before me is learning Hendrix-style rock. So no matter what direction you want to go, Nick is your man! read more

My son, who is 10 and has been playing guitar for two years, has been taking Nick's band class for the last 9 months and we are very happy with it. Nick is not only a great musician, but as a father himself knows well how to teach kids and make them engage in whatever they are playing. He has taught my son not only how to play with well with other musicians, but also how to find his "voice" within a band both in the rhythmic and solo sections of the songs. He was accommodating when we had to reschedule a class due to personal reasons, and is always willing to make the class a little bit longer if necessary to finish what they were practicing. When the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to have the lessons remotely, he started to use ZOOM and, while things remotely cannot be the same, he did a great job at making sure that they stayed as close to true form as possible. read more

Ana C. Guitar Lessons My teen daughter has been wanting to take guitar lessons for the last 3 years. Looking over Mr. Russo's extensive qualifications, gave me pose in hiring him, after all she was so new she did not even know how to old a guitar, I figured he would be over kill. That plus the fact that he seems to tour a lot made me concerned that, once the pandemic receded he would be back to touring extensively, leaving us to find another teacher. I am glad I decided not to let my fear guide my decision because, he really is an excellent teacher. He put my teen who is people shy at rest, now you cannot tell her she is not the next Joni Mitchelle in the making. One of her favorite things to do after each of her lessons, is to FaceTime me(she is in boarding school) and enthusiastically show me what she is learning. read more

I've taken classes with Nick in a group setting (at Jalopy) and privately, and while I studied guitar as a kid and trombone in school, and I've never had a better music teacher. And I do mean music teacher, not just guitar teacher - Nick's approach is to start with the MUSIC you want to play, not just the guitar as a collection of strings and frets or a series of fingerings to memorize. He's realistic about where people are starting and how much time and energy they have to devote to the instrument with all else happening in their lives (school, work, family, whatever), but he really wants all his students to get better, to learn and progress and love the music like he does, and leads by example of his own musicianship and dedication to the art form. Highly recommended for all levels, all styles. read more

Nick Russo sparked a love for music in me that I had once thought lost. I was hesitant to re-learn the guitar after years of playing aimlessly, but Nick has guided me and inspired me throughout the whole process. He is incredibly patient and understanding with me, even when I don't practice as much as I should. His knowledge of stringed instruments and music from Metallica to Carcassi is incredible. In our lessons, he blends everything that he has learned over his many years of education and performance to teach me a holistic view of music that has changed the way I look at the instrument. If you want to learn how to play an instrument or become a better musician, no matter your age, there is no better person to guide you than Nick Russo. Trust me, pick Nick! read more

Our daughter has taken classes with Nick as part of her after school program with a larger group of kids. After the COVID-19 situation she continued having classes via zoom, and she very much wanted to do so. We observed great progress in both her musical skills and her desire to continue engaging with the instrument, ukulele in this case. The transition between in person and online class went smoothly, and Nick's follow up emails made sure we are on track with topics covered as well as the homework. Nick has a lot of patience and he's ways of engaging with Students are at age appropriate. We continued ukulele classes online in a small group (2x1) and we are absolutely happy with our decision to continue taking ukulele lessons with Nick. read more

I would very highly recommend Nick as a guitar teacher. I've been taking lessons for five weeks and he has already helped me a lot with my technique. He has a great combination of the knowledge of a professional musician and also the patience and guidance of a very experienced teacher. I also like that he is helping me with ear training. I've had previous experience with reading music, but he is really expanding my horizons with listening to music and trying to figure it out by using basic principles. This is a way to learn that I hadn't experience before in guitar lessons in the past, and I think it's a great way to learn. I'm looking forward to many more lessons to come. This has really helped me to enjoy playing the guitar again! read more

My two sons (ages 8 and 6) have been taking ukulele lessons with Nick Russo via Zoom for about 5 months. I have been very impressed with the lessons in every way. He is teaching them ear training, reading music, and technique on the instrument. He is an extremely talented musician, and an amazing teacher (I am speaking here as a teacher with many years of studying music in my background). He is able to hold their focus for the entire lesson and redirect them if needed; he breaks the lessons into small chunks to keep them engaged throughout; he mixes music they know with pieces he's chosen so they are always excited about what they are playing; and he is always positive and patient with them. read more

Nick is an amazing ukelele teacher! He has been teaching my 9-year-old son for about 8 months now. He is cheerful and enthusiastic, and an undeniable talent. His teaching style is at once relaxed ("feeling" the music over strict adherence to technique), and rigorous (dropping in some heavy music theory early on). He's teaching my son to be a "musician", not just a "ukulele player". He encourages creativity and tailors the lessons to what our son enjoys. He sends a great summary email after each lesson with notes and reminders and things to work on for the next week. And his lessons even carry over nicely to how my son is learning piano. We would recommend him highly. read more

Nick is an energetic teacher that LOVES music of all types! In my first few lessons, we covered classical guitar, jazz, rock, and country. He constantly adapts to what you want to focus on - for me its been right hand technique, triads, and a few pieces. Nick has different ways of approaching the basics (scales and chords) that help resonate much better than just reading out of a book. He is a touring performer so you get cool insights from his on-stage performances. I've definitely become a better guitar player in a short time. Outside of lessons, Nick is on top of scheduling, easy to communicate with, and always down to chat interesting new music. Highly recommend! read more

Nick Russo will make a better guitar player. Using a compassionate and empathetic approach, he draws from years of experience and gets results. In my case, my soloing was principally me running scales up and down the fretboard. Nick helped me focus on playing solos comprised of well-established intervals used by all the great guitar players like Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. He is very patient and knows what you need to do to get where you want to go. And he is a super nice guy to boot!! Many great guitarist are quite frankly lousy teachers. Nick Russo is 1) A great guitarist 2) A super teacher 3) A patient and empathetic soul. read more