Home Vinnie DeMasi
Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners but teaches everything including Heavy Metal Shred, Classic Rock, Acoustic Fingerstyle, Fundamental Jazz, Bass and Ukulele! He’s performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, was a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys, School of Rock and with Grammy-winning producer Glen Ballard onthe chamber-reworking of Ghost. He’s been onstage backing Jimmy Buffet, Herb Reed’s Platters, Marylin Michales, Nadia G, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with ‘80s tribute show White Wedding, ‘90s tribute band The Reservoir Dawgs, or with various wedding bands.
Vinnie has penned hundreds of six-string-related articles and is a regular contributor of instructional lessons and transcriptions to Guitar Player and Frets magazines. He’s written the Guitar Performance textbooks/curriculum for the prestigious Musicians Institute and was featured in Guitar World Magazine’s Guitar Secrets: The Edge instructional DVD. Five of Vin’s lesson columns were chosen for inclusion in Hal Leonard’s 2008 publication The Guitar Player Book. At NYC Guitar School, Vinnie is a Mentor Teacher and his experience in performing, writing and transcribing, have helped him design and teach the Classic Rock, U2, Heavy Metal, Surf Rock, Led Zeppelin, and Intermediate Acoustic Rock courses. He was the initial teacher of our Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes, has starred in our Rock Band Instructional video series, recently completed writing our Rock Band 101 textbook, and is of the most-requested Rock Band teachers. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers.
Vinnie in the Guitar Player/Guitar World Magazine Studios explaining the guitar styles of U2’s The Edge for an accompanying article he wrote:
Vinnie and Brooklyn vocalist Tara Lawton celebrate The White Album’s 50th Anniversary with their version of The Beatles classic “Dear Prudence”:
Vinnie rocks NYC’s Gramercy Theatre with 80s tribute band “White Wedding”.
Vince is an awesome teacher! He’s patient and makes you feel comfortable playing.
Vince has contagious enthusiasm.
I love that Vince sings and plays the songs. I could tell my teacher was committed to my success because Vince provided constructive criticism during classes.
Vince is great about doing a combination of review and new material.
Vince is a great teacher–it shows in how he breaks the material down to make even hard-heads like myself able to comprehend.
Vince listens to what I want to learn and develops the appropriate lessons.
Vince is willing to teach and break down the actual songs I listen to.
Vince knows EVERYTHING about guitars and music but can break it down for a total newbie.
Vince is very patient and notices whatever weird mistakes I am making without actually calling me a weirdo.
Vince always takes the time to make sure we completely understand everything we are learning.
Vince gives you lots of background information and really breaks down the lessons so you have an understanding of why and what you are playing. Things make more sense in context.
Vince is always willing to share his experiences as a guitar player. Super encouraging!
Vince is very warm and patient and I appreciate that!
Vince always takes an interest in our progress and in making sure we are progressing.
Vince is always helpful and willing to answer any questions. Very patient and encouraging.
Vince is kind when you don’t understand something and explains things very well. He helped me to decide on majoring in music!
Vince made beginning to play guitar extremely enjoyable and manageable.
Vince was engaged and interested which made for a pleasant experience.
Vinnie is a great teacher. I’ve been going here for over a year now, and it’s been a great addition to my life.
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