Join-A-Band

at Music Makers!

Music Makers’ Join-A-Band Workshops are NYC’s top-tier adult band ensemble experience.

Our groups are designed to sharpen your skills, deepen your musical understanding, and help you sound better together.

Come explore multiple approaches to a song, build confidence as a player, and stretch your musical vocabulary under the guidance of a seasoned, pro-level instructor.

We’ll break down songs from the inside out—working on beginnings, endings, solos, grooves, and transitions. You’ll refine your technique, gain control over tone and feel, and learn how to lock in with others to create a tighter, more dynamic band sound.

At the end of your cycle, you’ll take the stage with your band at one of NYC’s most famous live music venues, and perform for friends, family, and beyond!

Plus, you'll get full access to our student portal, where you'll find all class materials, recordings, and resources to help you stay inspired and on track between sessions.

Your Moment Onstage

Watch our Workshops in-action!

Our bands get the chance to play at premier venues throughout New York City as part of our Performance Showcases!

Check out our available workshops below!

Perform on Friday, 5/1 @ The Bitter End!

HEARTLAND HIGHWAY with Sharon Heller

SPRINGSTEEN, PETTY, & FRIENDS

From the blue-collar poetry of Bruce Springsteen to the jangling, roots-driven anthems of Tom Petty, this workshop celebrates the storytellers who turned everyday American life into rock-and-roll legend. Anchored by the galvanizing energy of the E Street Band and the timeless drive of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, we’ll explore how heartland rock fused folk clarity, garage-band grit, and arena-sized ambition.
We’ll unpack the craft of narrative songwriting—how Springsteen builds cinematic worlds from small-town dreams and restless highways, and how Petty distills defiance, vulnerability, and melodic punch into three-minute masterpieces. Dig into the propulsion of straight-ahead rock grooves, the shimmer of Rickenbacker guitars, and the communal power of shout-along choruses that blur the line between performer and audience.
Along the way, we’ll connect their influence to kindred spirits like John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, and more, tracing a lineage of songwriters who balanced grit with grace and personal truth with universal resonance.
Artists may include: Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, Bryan Adams, John Fogerty, and more!
Workshop Level: Beginner+ to Intermediate
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
TUESDAYS
3/17, 3/24, 3/31 (6:30pm-8:30pm)
4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28 (6:30pm-9pm)
Performance: 5/1 @ The Bitter End
Keys, Bass, Other

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ARENA ALCHEMY with Sharon Heller

LED ZEPPELIN & JOURNEY

From the mystical blues-rock of Led Zeppelin to the high-gloss, hook-driven power of Journey, this workshop explores how two very different bands helped define the sound—and spectacle—of arena rock. We’ll trace the path from Zeppelin’s riff-heavy, folk-infused explorations to Journey’s soaring choruses and radio-ready anthems, uncovering the shared DNA of drama, dynamics, and emotional scale that filled stadiums around the world.
Dive into the architecture of the epic rock song: the slow build, the explosive chorus, the instrumental showcase. Examine the thunderous rhythmic foundation of John Bonham alongside the precision groove of Steve Smith; the blues-rooted wail of Robert Plant contrasted with Steve Perry’s sky-scraping tenor. We’ll break down how guitar heroes like Jimmy Page and Neal Schon crafted signature riffs and melodic solos that balanced virtuosity with unforgettable hooks.
From the mythic sweep of “Kashmir” to the cathartic lift of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” discover how texture, tension, and triumph turned hard rock into communal experience—where mysticism met melody, and bombast met heart.
Artists may include: Led Zeppelin, Journey, and more!
Workshop Level: Intermediate
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
WEDNESDAYS
3/18, 3/25, 4/1* (6:30pm-8:30pm)
4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29 (6:30pm-9pm)
*May be rescheduled
Performance: 5/1 @ The Bitter End
Guitar, Guitar, Keys, Other

Register Now!

THE BRITISH INVASION(S) with Evan Macaluso

FROM BEATLEMANIA TO MTV

This workshop explores both seismic UK takeovers of American music. First, the ’60s explosion—sharp songwriting, infectious hooks, bluesy grit, and guitar-driven bands that reshaped rock radio. Then we jump to the early ’80s, when a new wave of British artists stormed MTV with synths, style, cinematic production, and bold visual identities.
We’ll break down how the sound evolved from jangly Rickenbackers and raw R&B influences to drum machines, shimmering chorus effects, and sleek studio craft—while uncovering the throughline that made both invasions feel revolutionary. Expect to explore how arrangement, image, rhythm, and texture defined each era—and how to channel both classic drive and new wave atmosphere in your own playing.
Artists may include:
First Wave — The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, and more.
Second Wave — Duran Duran, The Police, The Cure, Eurythmics, Tears for Fears, and more.
Workshop Level: Intermediate
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
WEDNESDAYS
3/18, 3/25, 4/1* (6:30pm-8:30pm)
4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29 (6:30pm-9pm)
*May be rescheduled
Performance: 5/1 @ The Bitter End
Vocals, Keys, Bass, Other

Register Now!

BEAUTIFUL NOISE with Anna Solomon

DISSONANCE & MELODY IN ‘90s ALT

From flannel-clad basement shows to festival mainstages, this workshop explores how “beautiful noise” became the defining language of a generation. We’ll dive into the loud-quiet-loud dynamics that turned whispers into explosions, the bloom of fuzz pedals and overdriven tube amps, and the way dissonance and melody learned to coexist in uneasy harmony.
Anchored by the cultural tremors sparked by Nevermind and the shadowed introspection of Ten, we’ll unpack how artists transformed raw emotion into radio-shaking anthems. What makes a distorted guitar feel cathartic rather than chaotic? How do simple chord progressions carry such emotional weight when wrapped in sheets of feedback? We’ll explore drop-D riffing, elastic bass lines, unpolished vocal textures, and the power of restraint—where space and silence can hit just as hard as a wall of sound.
Along the way, we’ll trace how this aesthetic moved from underground clubs to cultural ubiquity, reshaping fashion, production styles, and the very idea of authenticity in rock music. “Beautiful noise” isn’t just about volume—it’s about vulnerability amplified, tension unresolved, and melody fighting its way through the static.
Artists may include: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, and more!
Workshop Level: Beginner+ to Intermediate
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
THURSDAYS
3/19, 3/26, 4/2 (6:30pm-8:30pm)
4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30 (6:30pm-9pm)
Performance: 5/1 @ The Bitter End
Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Drums, Other

Register Now!

Perform on Wednesday, 4/15 @ The Iridium!

THE ROYAL DAN with Evan Macaluso

SARDONIC SOFT ROCK

Step into the slick, cerebral grooves of one of the most sophisticated bands in rock history.
Get ready to dive headfirst into the razor-sharp songwriting, lush harmonies, and jazz-inflected swagger that put Steely Dan in a league of their own.
This workshop will explore the art of playing cool: deep pocket rhythm sections, deceptively tricky chord progressions, and melodies that glide effortlessly over biting, sardonic lyrics. From the precision of the grooves to the meticulous ensemble balance, you’ll dig into what it really takes to make this music feel effortless while staying locked in and alive onstage.
We’ll unpack Steely Dan’s signature blend of rock, jazz, funk, and pop—focusing on tight arrangements, musical restraint, and the subtle details that separate good from great. Perfect for players who love nuance, sophistication, and a little smirk baked into their sound.
Artists include: Steely Dan (across the catalog), with stylistic touchstones from Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, and the wider West Coast soft-rock/jazz-rock universe that shaped their sound.
Level: Intermediate+
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
MONDAYS
3/9, 3/16 (6:30pm-8:30pm)
3/23, 3/30, 4/6*, 4/13 (6:30pm-9pm)
*May be rescheduled
Performance: 4/15 @ The Iridium
Guitar, Keys, Other

Register Now!

SOUL POWER 2.0 with Dan McCusker

MOTOWN TO MAINSTREAM

From Motown Records’ Detroit hit factory to the broader soul explosion that reshaped American music, this workshop explores how groove, storytelling, and emotional truth powered a generation of chart-topping classics. We’ll trace the evolution from tightly crafted pop-soul singles to deeper, socially conscious songwriting and gospel-rooted vocal power that expanded soul’s reach far beyond R&B radio.
Dig into the rhythmic precision of the house band, the art of call-and-response, and the lush yet focused arrangements that defined the Motown sound—then examine how artists pushed those foundations further. From the smooth urgency of Marvin Gaye to the virtuosic brilliance of Stevie Wonder, and the powerhouse phrasing and gospel fire of Aretha Franklin, you’ll explore how feel, phrasing, and fearless expression turned great songs into cultural milestones.
Artists may include: The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, and more!
Level: Intermediate+
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
MONDAYS
3/9, 3/16 (6:30pm-8:30pm)
3/23, 3/30, 4/6*, 4/13 (6:30pm-9pm)
*May be rescheduled
Performance: 4/15 @ The Iridium
Guitar, Keys, Other