Many students continue building guitars long after their course ends.

Some go on to set up home workshops and build instruments for themselves, friends, and family. Others pursue repair work, custom commissions, or eventually launch small guitar-building businesses of their own.

Not every student is looking for a career change. For many, the goal is simply to gain the skills and confidence to build independently and deepen their understanding of the craft.

Whatever path you choose, the course is designed to give you the knowledge, hands-on experience, and practical foundation needed to continue building long after you leave the shop.

Most courses are scheduled in advance, but custom start dates may be available depending on the season and shop workload.

Because Whitney School operates as a working custom guitar shop, course availability varies throughout the year. A portion of the calendar is reserved for commissioned instrument builds, while the remaining dates are allocated to student courses.

Available course dates are listed on our booking page and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend registering early, particularly for intensive programs and popular course periods.

If you are unable to attend one of the published course dates, you're welcome to contact us to discuss alternative scheduling options. While custom dates cannot be guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate reasonable requests whenever possible.

No, we do not currently provide accommodations.

Most students stay in local Airbnbs, vacation rentals, hotels, or motels in Summerland and the surrounding area.

We are happy to provide recommendations and help students find accommodations that are convenient to the school.

Yes. We maintain a waitlist for students interested in future courses and upcoming openings.

If your preferred dates are unavailable, contact us and we'll be happy to add you to the list and keep you informed of future course opportunities.

No special tools are required.

All essential tools, equipment, and materials needed to complete your course are provided by the school.

Because you'll be working in a professional guitar shop, students should bring appropriate safety equipment, including hearing protection, safety glasses, a dust mask, and suitable footwear.

A notebook and pen are also recommended for taking notes throughout the build process.

Some students choose to bring a small selection of their own lutherie tools. This is entirely optional.

If you have questions about what to bring, please contact us before your course begins and we'll be happy to help.

Absolutely. We're happy to help.

If you have questions about courses, scheduling, accommodations, guitar building, or whether a program is the right fit for you, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Contact us through our contact form and we'll be happy to answer your questions.