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BA, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College/CUNY Music Major Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music and Art, NYC (The "Fame School") -piano major and bassoon minor Mannes Conservatory of Music, NYC -Summer Program-Theory/Composition Graduate study, Lehman College, NY -Special Ed/Music Therapy
1994-Author of Making Music With Your Child, funded in part by a grant from National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences,(Music Grammy's) and published by MMB Music.
1994-Produced a compilation CD of original music composed by my students. Conceptually, this CD realizes the natural musical abilities in young children through improvisation and spontaneity. Directed and produced a video documentary which portrays my teaching methods.
1990-Directed a music concert at Lincoln Center, New York City. My students also performed with actress Kathleen Turner for a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall, New York.
1980's-Center for Movement& Dance with Eleanor Goff (student of Martha Graham)
1980's-Improvisation student of David Darling, renown cellist and composer
1974-1977-Piano Guild at Carnegie Hall for the Paul Winter Group and director of Music For People.
Accomplished bassoonist, performed in New Jersey Bergen Philharmonic, New York City Youth Symphony, Carnegie Hall and Westchester Philharmonic orchestras.
1977- Performed bassoon with Youth Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
I am a musician, composer, teacher and author. I graduated from the NYC "Fame School"- Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music and Art. I studied music theory and composition at Mannes Conservatory, NYC and received a BA as a Music Major from Aaron Copland School of Music/Queens College/CUNY. I took Graduate courses studying Special Ed/Music Therapy at Lehman College, NY. After in depth research with creating highly motivational music programs for all ages as well as for children that had ADD, Autism, or Aspergers, I was awarded a grant from the Grammy's to write a book. I have traveled to Europe and the far east teaching creative music workshops. I have been teaching beginner, intermediate and beginner-advanced piano and vocal coaching for 25 years. Teaching music is a way of life. I believe we are all creative individuals. The key is to express ourselves fully through music and enjoy the journey as we learn and grow in our musical expression.
I studied dance at the age of 6. My mom bought a piano for herself to learn to play. I would go to the piano and try to make up songs that I could dance to, which then lead me to take piano lessons for 15 years. Committment, joy, and passion are the keys to learning and growing as a music student. I enjoy teaching all styles, as well having students learn to arrange and express their own style within the piece they are learning. I teach students to compose their own songs and eventually record their songs to share with family and friends. Students are encouraged to perform in concerts and events that I produce and direct. Music is a way of life! For me, the joy of teaching music is a form of expression to celebrate and share with students, their families, and their friends!
My goal for the initial meeting with a student is to know what their joy and passion is with music. What is their creative spark? Why do they want to learn to play piano? I then evaluate their listening skills, rhythm skills, hand and eye coordination, motor abilities, and improvisational skills. I ask them to share what style of music they enjoy listening to and if they are open to creating their own song. The basic learning books I use are the Pageants series, John Thompson, and Bastien methods. Music theory is also taught in the lesson. Students are asked to submit a list of their favorite 10 songs they enjoy listening to. By the second lesson they will begin to play a favorite solo piece from their list no matter what their music level is. All pieces are arranged according to their level.
I teach music as a way of life. To be able to inspire, motivate and enrich a student's life through music has limitless possibilites. Strengthening one's self-esteem and dynamic expression through music can tranform one's life. Everyone has the potential to create. It takes willingness and courage to go beyond the musical note. My commitment as a teacher is to give students the opportunity to express themselves through music in their own unique way. Learning to play a musical instrument can be fun! Integrating music and creativity in a student's life initiates the steps of exploring and expanding their creative curriculum in life.