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, 7/24 @ The Bitter End!
THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE with Sharon Heller
GROOVE & PRECISION
-
Step into something timeless—this workshop traces a path from the groove-driven feel of the ’70s into the sleek, refined precision of the ’80s and beyond. We’ll explore music that endures not because it’s flashy, but because it’s intentional, expressive, and impeccably crafted.
As a band-focused experience, we’ll zero in on clarity over complexity—dialing in dynamics, tightening rhythmic interplay, and delivering parts with taste, control, and purpose. Expect a deep dive into feel, pocket, and the subtle musical decisions that elevate great songs into classics.
We’ll spotlight the signature sounds of artists like Toto, Steely Dan, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Hall & Oates, unpacking what makes their music so polished, powerful, and unforgettable. If you’re ready to refine your musicianship and lock into something truly elevated, this workshop is all about playing smart, playing tight, and playing timeless.
Additional artists may include: Toto, Steely Dan, Earth, Wind & Fire, Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, The Doobie Brothers, and more!
Workshop Level: Intermediate to Intermediate+
-
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
-
WEDNESDAYS
6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22 (6:30pm-8:30pm)
PERFORMANCE: 7/24 @ The Bitter End
-
Guitar, Keys, Other
HARMONIC HARVEST with Anna Solomon
FOLK ROCK ROOTS
-
Step into a sound where storytelling meets timeless groove. In this workshop, we’ll trace the rich lineage of folk rock—spotlighting artists like Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young.
Together, we’ll explore how acoustic traditions fused with electric instrumentation to create a genre defined by poetic lyricism, warm harmonies, and organic arrangements. From fingerpicked textures to expressive 12-string guitars, you’ll gain insight into the musical and cultural elements that made folk rock both intimate and expansive. If you’re drawn to evocative songwriting, rich vocal blends, and roots-driven soundscapes, this workshop will feel like home.
Additional artists may include: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Simon & Garfunkel, The Band, Carole King, James Taylor, America, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and more!
**This workshop can include multiple vocalists, for maximum harmonies!
Workshop Level: Beginner+ to Intermediate
-
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
-
THURSDAYS
6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25, 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23 (6:30pm-8:30pm)
PERFORMANCE: 7/24 @ The Bitter End
-
Vocals, Keys, Other
STRANGE MAGIC with Evan Macaluso
POP ROCK SPECTACLE
-
Step into a world where bold songwriting meets larger-than-life sound—this workshop explores the imaginative, genre-blurring side of classic pop rock, where studio craft and stage energy collide. We’ll spotlight artists like Electric Light Orchestra, Queen, Elton John, Billy Joel, and Supertramp, alongside boundary-pushers who helped shape the era’s expansive sound.
As a band-focused experience, we’ll dig into layered arrangements, dynamic shifts, and the interplay between rhythm, harmony, and texture that gives this music its cinematic feel. From tight, groove-driven verses to explosive, harmony-stacked choruses, you’ll work on building performances that feel immersive, detailed, and powerful without losing clarity.
If you’re into ambitious songwriting, unexpected twists, and music that feels as big as it sounds, this workshop is all about capturing that “strange magic” where creativity, precision, and pure pop instinct meet.
Additional artists may include: Electric Light Orchestra, Queen, Elton John, Billy Joel, Supertramp, David Bowie, 10cc, Genesis, The Cars, Roxy Music, Alan Parsons Project, and Peter Gabriel.
Workshop Level: Intermediate
-
1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
-
MONDAYS
6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20 (6:30pm-8:30pm)
PERFORMANCE: 7/24 @ The Bitter End
-
Keys, Other
Perform on Wednesday, 7/22 @ The Cutting Room!
MOTOWN TO SUNSET STRIP with Sharon Heller
SPECIAL WORKSHOP!
-
Motown to Sunset Strip is a live performance workshop designed as a full evening show experience, bringing singers and musicians together on stage with a single, dedicated house band.
Unlike our typical multi-band workshops, this event is built around one consistent house band that performs the entire night, supporting a rotating lineup of vocalists. This creates a real concert environment where every performance connects into one continuous show.
Throughout the evening, singers will step on and off stage to perform songs drawn from Motown classics and the iconic Los Angeles “Wrecking Crew” era of studio pop, soul, and rock. This legendary music is known for its groove, arrangement, and timeless live energy.
Each singer brings their own interpretation to the material, while also learning how to work within a larger ensemble, enhancing skills in blending voices, locking into rhythm, and performing with a live band in real time.
For the musicians in the house band, this is a rare opportunity to sustain an entire show from start to finish, working as a tight unit while adapting to multiple vocalists and arrangements across a full set. It’s a deep dive into live performance flow, groove, and musical responsiveness in a concert setting.
Singers will…
Select songs from the soulful groovy riffs that dominated in Detroit to the melodic classic studio pop that permeated the west coast
Perform multiple times across a live show environment
Learn vocal blending and harmony in real time with other singers
Develop stage presence in a professional band setting
Explore rhythm, phrasing, and optional percussion elements within the performance
House band musicians will…
Perform an entire evening as the core backing ensemble
Support multiple vocalists across different songs and styles
Build endurance, consistency, and groove across a full live set
Respond dynamically to singers in a real performance environment
Experience the flow of a continuous live show from the bandstand
This is a special evening designed to feel like a real live show and one connected night of music shaped by collaboration between singers and a house band. The result is an evening rooted in the energy of Motown, classic LA studio pop, and live band storytelling, brought to life on stage at The Cutting Room.
***Band members should be at an intermediate level or higher; vocalists of all experience levels are welcome.
-
BAND: 1 PAYMENT OF $900 OR 3 PAYMENTS OF $300.00
VOCALISTS: With performance time shared among singers, we ask you to contact us for full pricing information
-
TUESDAYS
6/23, 6/30, 7/7, 7/14, 7/21
PERFORMANCE: 7/22 @ The Cutting Room
-
Vocals, Synth, Horns, Other
Don't see the class you want?
Not sure which class is right for you?
Have a scheduling conflict?
Contact us and we’ll make it happen!
Join A Band!
Join A Band!
Fill out the form below to claim a spot in one of our Workshops!
Once your slot has been confirmed with a Music Makers representative, you will have 48 hours to cancel before being liable for the full rate of the session.
Please only complete your registration if you’re confident you can attend most of the sessions, and the final performance!