Join a Band

Tribute to: The NYC born-and-bred artists who cut their teeth at myriad esteemed venues

Vibe: The sound of a city that never sleeps, and the bands that began their journeys here. From Greenwich Village folk to Midtown discotheques to the Bowery’s underground clubs, New York has sparked more musical revolutions than anywhere else. This workshop celebrates the artists who shaped the sound of generations--openers and innovators alike.

Artists: Simon & Garfunkel, The Velvet Underground, The Rascals, Chic, Ashford & Simpson, Talking Heads, Billy Joel, Blondie, Patti Smith, New York Dolls, Gloria Gaynor, Lou Reed, Pat Benatar, Kiss, and more!

Setlist Potential: A melting pot of genres—soulful folk ballads, psychedelic grooves, disco-funk bangers, and new wave energy—all reflecting the raw ambition, streetwise charm, and fearless experimentation that define NYC music.

Level: Early-Intermediate

Musical Director: David Mayers
Available Instruments: Guitar, Keys, Bass, Other

1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00

Tribute to: CBGB, Max’s Kansas City, The Mudd Club

Vibe: Raw, rebellious, and DIY—channeling the sound and attitude that reshaped rock in the ‘70s and ‘80s. These critical Manhattan venues were the proving ground for punk and new wave, giving birth to bands that mixed garage rock, avant-garde art, and countercultural poetry into something primal and electric.

Artists: The Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, Patti Smith, Television, Dead Boys, The Dictators, The Cramps, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, The Misfits, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The B-52s, The Feelies, Sonic Youth (early years)

Setlist Potential: High-energy, no-frills rock with fast tempos, jagged guitars, and streetwise vocals.

Musical Director: EVAN MACALUSO
Available Instruments: Keys, Other

1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00

Tribute to: Studio 54, Paradise Garage, The Loft

Vibe: Groove-driven anthems, infectious hooks, and deep-pocket rhythms that lit up NYC’s legendary dance floors. The disco and funk explosion of the ‘70s and ‘80s wasn’t just about dancing—it was a cultural revolution that blended R&B, pop, and electronic music.

Artists: Donna Summer, Chic, Grace Jones, The Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sylvester, Diana Ross, Prince, The Trammps, Thelma Houston, Barry White, Sister Sledge, Kool & The Gang, Rick James, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Heatwave, Labelle, Change, Giorgio Moroder, Luther Vandross

Setlist Potential: Funk-infused basslines, soaring vocals, extended dance breaks, and lush production.


Musical Director: SHARON HELLER
Available Instruments: Guitar, Other

1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00

Tribute to: The Bitter End, Café Wha?, The Gaslight Cafe

Vibe: Acoustic storytelling, social consciousness, and timeless melodies from the ‘60s and ‘70s folk revival. The clubs and coffeehouses of Greenwich Village were the birthplace of an era where lyrics carried weight, harmonies were pure, and songs became anthems of change.

Artists: Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, Phil Ochs, Peter, Paul & Mary, Richie Havens, Leonard Cohen, Odetta, Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine, Tom Paxton, Harry Chapin, Tim Hardin, Arlo Guthrie, Don McLean, Judy Collins

Setlist Potential: Stripped-down arrangements, intricate fingerpicking, poetic lyrics, and tight vocal harmonies.

Musical Director: KATE VICTOR
Available Instruments: Other

1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00

Tribute to: Fillmore East, Academy of Music (later The Palladium)

Vibe: A deep dive into the mind-expanding sounds that shaped the late ‘60s and early ‘70s—where virtuosic musicianship met trippy soundscapes. Bands played extended improvisations, experimented with new recording techniques, and fused rock with jazz, blues, and classical influences.

Artists: The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, King Crimson, Yes, The Allman Brothers Band, Pink Floyd, Traffic, Procol Harum, Genesis (early years), Mahavishnu Orchestra, Gentle Giant, Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Setlist Potential: Long-form jams, intricate time signatures, soaring guitar solos, Moog synthesizers, Mellotrons, jazz-fusion rhythms, and cosmic improvisation.

Musical Director: TERRY FOLEY
Available Instruments: Guitar, Other

1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00

Tribute to: The Village Vanguard, The Blue Note, Birdland, Smalls

Vibe: The electrifying energy of NYC’s legendary jazz clubs, where bebop, fusion, and cool jazz thrived. Musicians pushed the boundaries of improvisation, rhythm, and harmonic complexity in intimate, dimly lit venues where every note mattered.

Artists: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Chet Baker, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae, Betty Carter, Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln, Jon Hendricks, Mel Tormé, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Bill Evans

Setlist Potential: Swinging rhythms, modal explorations, intricate solos, and dynamic group interplay.

Musical Director: Deidre Struck
Available Instruments: Guitar, Guitar, Drums, Horns

1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00

Learn more about this band here!

Whether you're starting your musical journey or exploring a second instrument, this course is the perfect chance to grow your skills and experience the thrill of playing in a band for the first time! Over the course of 8 weeks, you'll sharpen your skills, master the essentials of playing in a band, build confidence, and prepare for an exciting, low pressure, live-streamed performance for the Music Makers community. Along with weekly rehearsals, for a small additional fee you can add a 30-minute private lesson each week to further hone your skills ensuring you're fully prepared and confident for every rehearsal!

Additional Options:

Optional Weekly Private Lessons – In addition to weekly rehearsals, you can choose to add a 30-minute private lesson each week to refine your skills. These lessons will help you feel prepared and confident for every rehearsal, giving you the extra support you need to play at your best!

(Add $210 for seven 30-minute private lessons to further refine your skills and boost your confidence in rehearsals —- $400 value!)

Musical Director: TERRY FOLEY
Available Instruments: Keys, Other

1 PAYMENT OF $750 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $250.00