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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Smithtown . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Violin Viola
I'm well trained in the Suzuki repertoire and philosophies, however I teach a combination of traditional methods and also have the ability to exclude one or the other. For beginners and young children, I teach note reading simultaneously but separately from the applied side of playing. Holding the violin and bow, for example, are very challenging and require time to focus on them individually. Note reading is done on the side and later these aspects merge so that kids are eventually learning new pieces by reading the music directly. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet
My teaching style is seasoned but spontaneous. By that I mean that at this point I have a good idea of what works and what doesn't. I have a proven repertoire of exercises and advice that have helped students and will continue to do so. But every student has a unique set of needs, so I am excited to throw away the 'play book' at the first sign that it's not working. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Synthesizer Ukulele Orchestral Percussion Conga Djembe
It's all about the student's interests. I first gauge what styles they are interested in performing, and then implement the proper methods of teaching those styles. Depending on their ability level, I will simultaneously implement necessary techniques while generating the repertoire so that when it comes time for a recital, they will be ready. Lessons will generally begin with warmups, followed by choosing pieces to perform or developing pieces that have already been chosen. Read More
Instruments: Piano
Nothing kills enthusiasm in the long run like rote teaching. With a complete beginner, especially a young child, an abstraction like music can be overwhelming if not presented in a structured manner. For that reason, I generally speak at length with the parents and explain that the preparation work takes several lessons. I begin by introducing young students to the keyboard and familiarize them with both black and white keys quickly. Read More
Instruments: Piano Synthesizer Keyboard
Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. By trying to find out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs.“The fact that music education creates well-rounded, confident children, helps them become whole human beings who are sensitive to the world around them and teaches them the ability to think critically is why finding your music and giving your kids music lessons is such and important worthwhile undertaking. “ Read More
Instruments: Piano Keyboard
I'm committed to helping students access their musicality within. I've been turning students' passions into performance abilities for several years. I have a Bachelor's of Music for Jazz Piano Performance from University of North Texas '10, and a Master's of Music for Jazz Piano Performance at the Manhattan School of Music '13. I have had the opportunity to perform with some of my musical heroes in various contexts, sharing musical moments with artists such as Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, John Abercrombie, Ambrose Akinmusire, Taylor Eigsti, Dayna Stephens, and many others. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
For younger students, especially children, I will begin their first vocal lesson by standing next to them and showing them how to stand with correct posture. Then I will move on to breathing by having the child place their hand on their diaphragm. I will show them that it is the muscle right above their stomach. In the best way possible, I will explain to them that in order to breathe correctly, they must be able to feel their stomach move in and out instead of their chest. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Opera is close to my heart because I love the sheer power and grace of the voices. They truly are magnificent and some of the most impressive athleticism I have ever heard. Musical theater, however, is my first love. There is something about the storytelling through music that makes it so magical, and the fact that it is more contemporary in style and in our vernacular that makes it much more accessible to the masses. Opera has this ability too, absolutely, but because most of the well known operas are so antiquated and many are in other languages than english, it provides a bit more decoding to establish that connection to it. That being said though, if you're willing to do the work of bridging the language gap - opera can be a truly rewarding experience for the performer as well as the listener. Some of the best music ever written!
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I have had several students participate in middle school and high school solo and ensemble and done extremely well. Many have auditioned well and been accepted into colleges with scholarships for music! Most have been self starters and have sought out these opportunities to compete and perform, and they usually do very well because they work hard and are driven to succeed. On the other hand I have also had experience with students who perhaps needed a bit more coaxing to participate, who had trouble with nerves, or perhaps didn't do as well as they maybe hoped for whatever reason. Success has an infinite number of ways to be measured, and for these students who struggled, if they overcame fears it was a great success! It's always a wonderful learning experience to venture out of one's comfort zone, and experiencing what might seem like a failure provides us with valuable information for our craft, but also for life.
If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
The first degree I received was a Musical Theater degree. I started off college pursuing classical music, but for a variety of reasons I decided to switch to Musical theater because I felt like it was a skill I could master and have in my tool belt, and classical music would always be there. Musical theater also felt more accessible to me at the time as a young person, and something I could seek jobs in immediately upon graduation, whereas opera singing was a more sophisticated art form that not only took time to master, but also took age and vocal maturity. I knew I always wanted to eventually go back to studying opera, which is why I pursued it in my graduate studies. I have found it extremely valuable to my opera ventures to have my experience in musical theater, and vice versa. They help each other immensely. Plus, now I have even more opportunities I am able to explore with my vocal crossover abilities.
When will I start to see results?
This can be difficult to answer. It depends on what your idea of results are. Often times, as the teacher, we notice a student's progress in as little as the first lesson! With the experience teaching, the more zero-ed in on the small improvements we become, and we detect more easily what is working and not working for any particular student. Everyone has a different learning style and pace, so it can be nearly impossible to say. I think a student's success is based on their desire to succeed and their commitment to putting the work in outside of lessons. Practicing on one's own is key, and directly linked to how quickly and effectively a student is progressing.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Set aside time, and stick to it! Setting small goals for your practice session can be helpful to some people, but always remember to enjoy the process! Perfectionism is something we all struggle with at some point but it's not always our friend. Seek small attainable goals and be glad in your achievements! Beginning is the hardest part - we don't always feel like we are in the mood to practice, but I bet if you just sit down and start, you will find yourself falling into it and maybe even enjoying! Just commit to starting and let the rest unfold.
23 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Piano lessons in Smithtown to students of all ages and abilities.
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