Andrew Wheeler is an awesome instructor! I had looked for a while to find someone to give lessons for my son and I and I am very happy we found 518 Guitar! Andrew does a great job moving at our speed and has a genuine interest in knowing the music we are in to, and want to learn how to play. He seeks out ways for my son and I to learn and play together which makes all the difference. With Andrews depth of technical experience and obvious passion of various genres I dont believe it matters what your starting point is, he is going to make you better!

What an amazing experience my 12 year old is having! Andrew is an amazing musician and instructor. He is teaching with purpose and keeps my son engaged. The lessons are student tailored and always have a lesson video to review what was taught. I’m so impressed with the artistic growth my child has achieved. I would recommend 518Guitar to anyone!

Andrew is one of the nicest guys I’ve meet in my life. I am 43 so that says a lot. I’ve only had one lesson with him so far and he restored my acoustic guitar to a much more enjoyable playing level. He has taken a lot of time talking with me about what I want and my expectations of taking lessons. He has went above and beyond answering what seemed like a million questions I had about playing. I told him I was interested into buying an electric guitar but had zero clue of what I should buy. Not only did he help me and answer all of my questions, he directed me on the specific guitar that would be great for me. He also gave me online sites and local stores. I could tell he really wanted me to enjoy this whole experience and make it the best possible. I didn’t think I could be happier with his personality and service. But I was wrong. He told me he would go to a local store and send me pictures of the guitars that would be great for me. Not only did he drive out and shop for me on his own time, he got me an awesome deal on my new fender guitar that I absolutely love! To top it all off…he delivered it to my house!!! I can not recommend Andrew enough for all your guitar needs. I couldn’t be happier.

We can’t say enough about Andrew Wheeler as an outstanding guitar teacher and friend. He as been teaching our daughter Leyla for almost 2 years and we couldn’t be happier with how she has progressed and her ability to read and play music. I should mention her first lesson was at age 5 and Andrew has an amazing ability to work with kids and keep them engaged and interested while making an impact. In addition the convenience of his studio to anyone living in the Melrose and Upper Washington Ave neighborhoods is clutch. so weather you live around those parts, or any where else in the world, he does Zoom lessons too, and have always been curious about giving the guitar a shot, then give Andrew a call and try it out no matter what your age. The Bevilacquas

In only a few short months with Andrew my playing has greatly improved. He is very flexible with my work schedule that constantly changes. Very professional and patient. He’s passionate about playing and pushes me constantly to become a better player. Hands down the best teacher in the capital region. Can’t speak highly enough of him.

Andrew is great at what he does, and is very patient. In addition he is great at communicating and breaking things down into easy to understand steps. I would definitely recommend him.

Andrew does a very good job of helping me with ideas and tips on sharpening my skills

Andrew has been an amazing resource. Within minutes of inquiring about purchasing an electric guitar, he sent the whole inventory of a local store. He is personable, available for questions, and a talented musician. Perhaps most importantly, he also is an excellent teacher. Cant recommend him enough!

Andrew started teaching my children to play guitar, and they both loved his approach. Very patient and very understanding about their abilities, and he really tailored the lessons around their strengths. He was doing such a good job that I decided to start taking lessons myself. 2 years later, my kids have lost interest but Im still going strong! We had to transition to online lessons when the pandemic hit, but its still been quite valuable. Andrew takes the time to understand what I want to get out of the lessons, and what I want to focus on each time. At my age, Im just happy being able to play songs I love, and Andrew does a great job of catering to that. Highly recommend for any age!

Andrew has been a great mentor and knows how to work with young kids. We would very highly recommend his teaching methods to adults and kids.

Andrew is a great teacher who makes sure that you actually take away as much as possible from each session with him. He’s very patient as well. I’ve been having virtual lessons with him and it’s been 5 stars for me.

Andrew is an excellent instructor patient, playing and knowledge depth, a great value for your time and money and goes beyond with many extra tips! And yes I’ve learned many chords and play a couple of tunes!

I have really enjoyed my lessons with Andrew. Not only is he very talented, but he is patient and makes the leaning process a lot of fun. I have already improved so much since I started taking lessons just a few months ago.

Andrew has been a great guitar teacher so far. We have had three lessons and he has provided direction to improve my (very) beginner skills. Following each session, he has sent detailed followed up emails outlining what I should continue to work on for the following week. Andrew has also been flexible with providing lessons through Zoom and has made it easy to access on a weekly basis.Lastly, Andrew has gone above and beyond in regards to the time spent during the lessons answering questions and giving very detailed feedback to ensure that I am playing correctly.

Andrew is top notch when it comes to guitar lessons. He takes the time to answer any questions I have and matches the pace of the lessons based on how well I pick up on the information. Initially I was worried that starting lessons solely online during the pandemic would hinder my ability to learn, but Andrew uses some great tools to facilitate productive sessions via Zoom. After your lesson he shares with you recordings and documents created specifically for whatever you are learning so you have something to refer back to while practicing during the week. If youre ever stuck or have a question in between lessons, Andrew will help you out in any way he can. I really look forward to continuing lessons with 518 Guitar and highly recommend the company for anyone looking to become a better guitar player!

Andrew is an extremely talented guitar player with a broad grasp on theory, technic, and feel. As a teacher Andrew can accommodate the beginner, intermediate, and advanced students equally. Every student of Andrews will attest to his patience and his ability to advance their abilities and understanding of the guitar.

518 Guitar met our family’s needs with flexible, online learning personalized to our music interests and ability. Andrew is a fabulous guitar instructor who tailors each lesson to the student’s level and style of playing. We might just try in-person lessons next! Thank you, Andrew!!

I have a 12 yr old daughter , who out of the blue expressed shed like to learn accoustic guitar. With this info, I was happy because as a single mom, wanting your children to find an outlet, especially through the pre teen and teen years, is excruciatingly important, because without something to express themselves, life can be a tumultuous ride through these years. I began searching, and by no mistake ce across Andrews me. There were 3 instructors that I reached out to, but,trusting God had a plan, I waited for responses. There was no hesitation for one of them. Andrew began communicating with me, and after 2 messages, I knew he was the one. Hes beena wonderful communicator, encouraging mydaughter to bring out her gift......amazing support.....and I cannot wait to see the end result. Would absolutely recommend.

Andrew Wheeler is an incredible guitar player and an excellent teacher. His lessons get right to the point and Ive already learned SO much from him. He is patient with whatever level you are at as a guitar player, and he brings a lot of precision to his teaching. Highly recommended!

Andrew is a great instructor. Very knowledgeable about guitar and adjusts lessons to your playing style and interests. He also is patient and does not watch the clock when teaching. He definitely really cares and thinks of you as an apprentice /student more than as a client.

Andrew has been an incredible teacher! I hadn’t played guitar in over 10 years and he made me feel very comfortable & went at a great pace. We met via zoom and he was punctual every time. I would recommend Andrew to everyone, whether you’re a beginner or have plenty of experience.

Andrew is a talented musician and teacher. He is patient and enjoyable to work with. I have learned a great deal from him and look forward continuing to do so.

Andrew is an amazing teacher for the novice who is just a beginner or for the experienced guitarist who wants to enhance their skills. Andrew ispatient, experienced and well-versed in rock, blues folk and all types ofmusic. You wont do any better than Andrew Wheeler !!!

I was a pupil of Andrews for 4 years, the only 4 years that I was in the area. Unfortunately, I had to move out of state. My schedule was very busy and somewhat unpredictable, plus I really could only practice 15 minutes a day during my years with him which was an additional challenge. But with all that being said, Andrew found a way.I grew leaps and bounds as a player during my time with this man. Hes a great teacher, a great guy, and now, a great friend. He proved to be adaptable to me and my specific restrictions but he also pushed me in ways that made me a better guitarist. As with learning any musical instrument, patience is everything. Whether you click with Andrew right out of the gate, or not, I encourage any player to stick it out with 518 Guitar. They know the instruments, they know music, and they know how to make you better! I count myself lucky to have been their student.

Andrew provided me with a great learning environment for an adequate price. He helped me improve my music reading skills, learn over ten different keys, and learn a countless amount songs in the time we worked together. Andrew is a great teacher for anyone, whether you’re a beginner or you have experience, but you really want to understand the guitar. Would definitely recommend!

Lessons with Andrew went very well. I had been trying to teach myself and hit a wall and he has definitely helped me get past that. Andrew clearly knows a lot about playing the guitar and there is endless knowledge to gain from his lessons!

If I could give more stars I would. Ive been playing guitar for 20 years however Im self taught and a very basic player. I was amazed by Andys ability to quickly identify my shortcomings and explain ways I could improve my sound easily. He is a great instructor. He gave me tasks to improve my timing and sound. The advice he recently gave me after a live gig left me very introspective on ways I can improve.From beginners to experts Andy can teach any style guitar to anyone.I have met a number of his students and I have seen all skill levels and ages. - He makes me a better guitar player.If you want to learn how to play, Call 518Guitar today!

Online guitar lessons with Andrew has been such an excellent experience. He is a wonderful teacher. He takes the time to explain things, has absolute command of the subject, and is an artist at heart who loves music. I look forward to our lessons every week. After going though two previous teachers, I feel lucky to have found Andrew. Id highly recommend him to every student.

As a total beginner, its been so so helpful to have some one on one lessons. Andrew is a great teacher and mentor. I had no idea where to start with even guitar buying and he helped with that, found a good guitar for me, and weve had a handful of online lessons. Ive got my first chords down and strumming away during this time of isolation, really helps to pass the time and learn something new! I recommend Andrew.

My Grandson has had Andrew as his guitar instructor for two years. We moved to the area from Jersey and were so pleased to find such a great teacher for Colin. Andrew is a master at his trade and Colins progression has been remarkable. I tell everyone to go to 518 guitar if they want to become a guitar player. Colin is learning from the best and we are so grateful.

I’m 59 years old and a true beginner who had never played a musical instrument of any kind. I decided to take guitar lessons and found Andrew at 518 Guitar. I didn’t own a guitar, and as a lefty, had more of a challenge finding one. Andrew took extra time to both speak and email with me to advise on possible choices, and he suggested several places I could shop.I’ve had all but one of my lessons on Zoom because of the pandemic. I initially had my doubts about online lessons, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised with my progress. Andrew has been very patient with me and adapts his lessons according to my ability, the pace at which I learn, and even my own musical tastes, rather than following a rigid, cookie-cutter lesson plan. He does not treat my left-handedness as a teaching obstacle and in fact has been very accommodating, writing chord diagrams “backwards” for me, etc.Andrew has lots of musical knowledge, an obvious passion for his craft, and a pleasant personality. He seems to genuinely enjoy helping others learn. I’d highly recommend him, regardless of your age or ability level.

Excellent guitar teacher. We met in person and online lessons. Clear, to-the-point style of lessons, feedback is great. I needed someone to see me play and assess me; he did just that and was able to quickly identify issues which we solved. I am moving forward in my playing and learning new styles, solos and chords. I suggest very highly - thank you, Andrew!!

Andrew is amazing. He has been working with my son for nearly a year and has shown incredible passion for teaching and patience with a young student. My son looks forward to every lesson because of Andrew’s ability to make learning fun and accessible. His encouragement and willingness to reach students at their level helps make lessons exciting and something my son loves to go to. As a father, I can’t help but love how proud my son is of himself and the improvements he makes under Andrew’s guidance. I highly and without hesitation recommend Andrew.

A great learning experience. Peter is a great teacher and is passionate about his and his students playing experience. Fun but at the same time taken seriously. Great at following up on prior lessons and notes. My guitar playing has improved. Looking forward to some more lessons starting up with Andrew soon.

I am a more advanced guitarist, so, I had some reservations about going to a teacher who assists so many beginners and older adults, but, it was well worth the investment! Im so pleased with how its been. I have been playing 15+ years, seriously, and pursued musically formally in college for a little while. I am fairly aware of where my issues are, and Andrew was able to address them in the first lesson! Since then we worked on a game plan/practice plan; song goals, and performance goals. Its been an excellent 5 weeks and I have already grown so much as a guitarist technically! Lessons are fun, engaging and Im so glad I gave Andrew Wheeler guitar lessons a try.

I highly recommend Andrew for lessons!! I only played a bit when we met just using random YouTube videos and stuff, not really getting too far,...I needed someone to help me connect the frets, it worked awesome. Lessons have been great and Im growing on the guitar. We went from meeting 1 on 1 to meeting online, and online guitar lessons with Andrew have worked great.

I am so happy I tried lessons with Andrew!! I am a singer/songwriter/guitarist. I havent been playing all that long, so in many ways Im still a beginner. But, I like to write my own music and have been featured on numerous stages (Laura Stross Music). I really wanted to expand my knowledge on the guitar to play what was in my head - learn fretboard theory - have some fun - lessons with Andrew have been awesome. Highly Recommend!!!

As a 59 year old picking up the guitar for the first time, I wasnt sure what to expect from any teacher. Andrew has turned out to be so much better than I expected. He is not intimidating, he is friendly, he is super talented, and has the knack for giving me a lot to work on without overwhelming me. I thought I would be a project for any teacher, but thanks to Andrew I feel I am making steady progress. I would highly recommend Andrew as a teacher.

Andrew is wonderful! Im in my 40s and have always wanted to learn guitar. Its hard learning something new but he has been so patient and works with you at your own pace. Highly recommend!

Started studying with Andrew about 6 weeks ago after being an open chord first position strummer for the last 20 years. My real goal is unlocking the fret board and really understanding how to play the guitar, why do things work the way that they do ? In a few quick weeks Andrew already has me playing up and down the neck. So far the experience has been GREAT.

I highly recommend guitar lessons with Andrew! We did one in-person session before the COVID shut down and the rest via zoom calls and they’ve been great. Lessons via webcam have not hindered our experience whatsoever. We enjoy our time with Andrew as he is extremely knowledgeable, easy to work with and very kind (especially with us beginners)! :)

Hi I just wanted to share a review for my dad, Brian Toribio. He was gonna leave a 2nd review but google wont let him - after a few months, he is so happy, during this down time during COVID he is able to strum, play, and sing some of his favorite songs. He started out a total beginner and now hes having fun playing and jamming his favorite music on his breedlove acoustic guitar, really fun. Its nice to see him have fun and he said to say thanks! Online lessons have been so easy for him

Andrew is an extraordinary teacher. He combines a comprehensive knowledge of music theory and technique with an experienced and thoughtful teaching method. I have been looking for a teacher like him for years. He listened and heard where I want to go as a musician and has tailored my lessons to my ability and interests. He is a teacher who can not simply teach songs but how and why songs work. Its a huge difference and hard to find. I highly recommend him if you are serious about learning guitar.

I loved guitar lessons with Andrew! Andrew is a kind, patient, flexible, passionate and extremely talented guitar teacher. He really worked to understand my goals and learning style. I look forward to every single lesson. You cant go wrong with Andrew!

I’ve had many guitar instructors in the past, but Andrew is by far the most dedicated and efficient teacher I’ve met. He knows what his students need to achieve their goals, and has the insight to direct them accordingly. I highly recommend Andrew to anyone, whether your goal is to learn to play for fun like myself or want to become a guitar maestro.

I have been casually playing guitar for the past fifteen years. During this time, I had some basic introductory lessons and more intermediate lessons in college. Ive worked with 4 or 5 different guitar instructors at various points. Yet, none of these other teachers have come even close to being as helpful and educational as Andrew.After reading reviews of Andrew online, I began working with Andrew about 3 or so months ago. Since then, I have experienced remarkable improvement (even in this short time!) and I cant help but be inspired by our lessons each and every week. Hes extremely professional and provides a lot of great resources each and every week.Im closer to being the musician I want to ultimately be - and a lot of this is because of Andrew. I cant wait to see where this will keep going.I honestly cannot recommend him highly enough.

Since my first lesson with Andrew, hes done nothing but help me improve every aspect of my playing. He has helped me improve my theory, musical vocabulary, technique, and expanded my taste in various genres of music. He has turned me from a mindless shredder to a guitarist who knows when to take a backseat and play less bombastic. I have nothing but praise for what I learned with Andrew and Im thankful to have a teacher who helped me grow so much as not only a musician, but a person as well.

I am a baseball player for the Tri City Valley Cats in the Astros organization and I have been getting guitar lessons from Andrew for a month and a half now and it has been awesome! He is very flexible and accommodates to your schedule needs. I started from not knowing a single thing about guitar playing to already learning hammers, slides, and various chords to play different songs. He does a phenomenal job at teaching guitar, and certainly will help you achieve the goals you wish to reach at playing guitar. I recommend everyone to get lessons from Andrew! I look forward to having more lessons from him.

If you want to learn how to play guitar and understand musical theory then look no further. Andrew is a great educator. Follow his lead and you will see tremendous improvements.

What a great experience! I took lessons years ago from some teachers but they never unlocked what I needed to know to see the FULL guitar and become a better player. Andrew Wheeler worked with me to assess where my stumbling blocks were and its been nothing but good stuff ever since I started. Thank you, Andrew!!!

He is one of the best musician and instructor in Albany. Why I could say he is the best because his student who is my son can read all music notations in a short time with him.

I decided to pick up guitar lessons again after my Mom passed away, she always wanted me to learn at least one WHOLE song on the darn thing. I did not know what to expect but Andrew guided me through the whole process, only wanted to take a few lessons, im still taking them,,,,i dont plan on stopping any time soon! my Ma would be proud I can finally sit in the kitchen and play some nice tunes she always wanted to hear. Many thanks to Andrew especially for his patience with learners of more advanced age might we say!~

Im an older student, and Ive learned more from Andrew in a few short months than I have in the past. Hes a fantastic guy and great teacher. Extremely patient and a great demeanor.

When I began searching for a guitar teacher for my 9 year old son, I knew I was going to have an uphill battle - my son has the attention span of a typical 4th grader, and we have been having difficulty identifying activities/hobbies that he likes and that will engage him enough to stick with. After speaking with several guitar teachers all around the Albany/Saratoga areas, I found Andrew, and I must say it was a breath of fresh air. I spoke with Andrew over the phone and described my son, and what I wanted to get out of introducing him to the guitar - and he got it. He explained the methods he uses to engage such a young student, and how his teaching will grow to encompass music theory and more formal instruction as my son becomes comfortable and competent with basic skills - all while making sure it stays fun for him (understanding that if it looks/feels like homework or a chore, my son likely will shy away from it).Our first lesson with Andrew was at his home in Albany, and suffice it to say it was a huge success with my son. Having never picked up a guitar before (except mine from when I took lessons as a kid), within minutes my son was learning how to play simple notes and bridge them together. As he began to play the notes on his own, I could see an immediate shift in my son, from someone that was trying guitar lessons for Dad to someone that actually liked it for himself - and this can be attributed directly to Andrews ability to tap into him and read him. Andrew has a great way to balance easing students into the lessons with jokes and funny ways to remember hand positions, notes, etc with making sure they understand the concepts and actually LEARN the lesson before they move on. By the end of the 30 minute intro lesson, my son was playing Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit, which to a Dad who grew up on that music, was a big moment. When we finished the lesson and left, my son asked to hear Nirvanas version on the way home, and was talking me through how he thinks his and Andrews version were more simple, but way better (he was using 2 strings Ill add...). So clearly he caught the guitar bug - so much so we stopped at Guitar Center on the way home and he plugged right in and played in front of everyone. This practice continued all weekend - much to our happiness.Weve been back to Andrew since, and each time they reviewed the weeks previous lessons, and added new practice lessons for my son to work on at home.I know this is a long-winded post, but I wanted to give an honest review on our experience with Andrew so far. I can honestly say that we have seen a different side to our son, who has struggled with finding things to hold his interest/be passionate about (and not video games)- and for us, these lessons have been just what we were looking for.I would recommend Andrew as a guitar instructor to anyone looking for a easy going, non-judgmental and highly skilled professional - for any age group and with any learning obstacle. My son and I have enjoyed going so much, Im considering picking up lessons again for myself so we can one day play together...and start a band...(still on my bucket list...).