Vinnie DeMasi (Vince)

Teaches at New York City Guitar School East

Vinnie has been a full-time musician and teacher since 1995, and is especially patient with adult beginners. He’s performed on Broadway as an understudy lead guitarist in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaborative Moving Out, is currently a regular sub in the pit orchestra of Mamma Mia and has also worked on Jersey Boys. He’s been onstage backing Herb Reed’s Platters, Marylin Michales, and others, but most weekends, Vin rocks a crowded dance floor with party-rockers the Mulligans and/or ’80s tribute act The Ronald Reagans. You might also find him replicating the mesmerizing guitar tones of The Edge with leading tri-state area U2 tribute band U2 Nation. (Yes-3 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. 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’s 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 also offers guidance to the Adult Rock Band performance ensemble classes. He holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial music from Hofstra and a BA in Musicology from L.I.U. 

In 2007 Vinnie released his solo acoustic instrumental CD Sketches for Sofia and is currently writing and performing original material with NYCGS’s own Genifer Owen. He has also played on recordings by Lloyd United, The Mist, actor Chris Burke and others. Vinnie is a proud user and endorsee of Hughes & Kettner amplifiers.