Guitar lessons in New York, New York

I came to Oleg as a complete beginner — I had never played guitar before, didn’t know how to hold it properly, and honestly felt a bit intimidated. From the very first lesson he made everything feel easy and relaxed. He showed me how to sit with the guitar, how to place my hands, how to press the strings without hurting my fingers, and how to get a clean sound out of the instrument. He explains everything slowly and clearly, and he never makes you feel rushed or overwhelmed. Every small step feels like progress.

I came to Oleg already feeling pretty confident on the guitar, but I knew there were gaps in my understanding — especially when it came to harmony, chord-scale relationships, and improvising over complex changes. After just a couple of lessons, Oleg managed to explain things that I had been confused about for years. He breaks down advanced concepts in a way that’s actually usable when you play. Instead of throwing abstract theory at you, he shows you how it functions on the fretboard and in real music.

Oleg is incredibly encouraging and celebrates every small win with you. You can tell he really cares about teaching and about helping you enjoy the process. For anyone who’s starting from zero and wants a teacher who’s kind, patient, and really knows how to guide beginners — I couldn’t recommend him more.

I’ve been taking guitar lessons with Oleg for a few months now, and it’s honestly the best progress I’ve made since I first picked up the instrument. What sets Oleg apart is that he’s not just a teacher — he’s a real working musician with years of touring experience, and you feel that in every lesson.

Oleg’s lessons are super organised but also relaxed. Every tune we study (Autumn Leaves, All the Things You Are, Blue Bossa, Stella, etc.) turns into a deeper lesson about jazz language, rhythm, phrasing and harmony.