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But in Iraq, where radicalism is a powerful force and music is considered by some extremists to be un-Islamic, the choice of an instrument carries a risk.
At the height of the sectarian violence, Mr Wasfi was careful not to advertise the school. Both teachers and students here have been threatened in the past.
“There is a risk,” says Youssef, who is learning how to play Spanish guitar. He has had his instrument smashed by a militia in the past, yet he keeps coming back. “I’ll be taking this risk because I love music, and all of us love this school,” he says.
The war in Iraq has led hundreds of musicians and artists to flee the country.
Ali, who is 17, says he too sees his future elsewhere. “I want to stay in Iraq, but if things don’t improve, I will leave as well,” he says.
And yet Mr Wasfi hopes that enough of his pupils will stay and that the school will help him to raise a new generation of Iraqi musicians.