Music Lessons in Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Instruments: Piano Music Keyboard

I took classical piano lessons from the age of four to fourteen. After a brief break, I started playing keyboards in rock bands around Tokyo. In college, I became interested in jazz and composition. After graduating from Waseda University with a degree in social science, I started performing jazz around Tokyo. T-toc Records released my first album in 2011 and this was followed by a tour around Japan promoting the recording. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard

Not all students are created the same! I do my best to adjust my teaching style and lesson for each student. Especially for novice students, I adjust the pace in order for the student to ease into the instrument. Especially with piano, I advocate warming up and practicing effectively. In my opinion, it is best to work smarter and be efficient with practice time. It is important to me to not only have good technique and a fundamental knowledge of music theory, but to understand the who, what, where, when, how, and why in the music. Read More

Instruments: Voice

Nothing means more to me than a student with an appetite and love for music! It warms my heart when a child grasps a concept in a lesson and really understands what we are aspiring to. This is the most rewarding for me as a teacher. It is very important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Every lesson begins with vocal warm ups and breathing exercises, the importance of which can't be understated. Just as athletes wouldn't take the field without stretching, singers should never sing without giving their voice time to warm up. Warming up also serves as an excellent way for Jon to gauge student progress and make sure they are vocally healthy. After warm-ups, we move on to song study. Students and I work together to pick out the best songs for their particular voice. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For beginning piano students, I typically start with the Hal Leonard "My First Piano Adventure for the Young Beginner," series. As students progress in their piano studies, I begin introducing solo repertoire that will support the concepts being learned in the book series. I will also assign small writing projects from time to time, to sharpen students' compositional and music reading skills. For voice students, my approach will vary, depending on individual experience and skills. Read More

Instruments: Voice Music

I am a professional performer with many years of stage experience. I have taught privately for 14 years. I have also taught classes full of students in ten different grades. I create a fun and comfortable environment for my students and always encourage them to believe in themselves and enjoy their performances. I teach my students how to read music and how to tap beats as well. I also work privately with many students who would like to enter competitions and/ or auditions. Read More

Instruments: Flute

I personalize each student's repertoire to showcase their strengths and continue to develop their fundamental basis to help them to rapidly improve in both their technique and overall musicality. I also have an extensive background of research in performing arts health and musculoskeletal performance-based injuries in music students, which has led me to become extremely attentive to my students' needs and to make sure that all of my students are playing with proper hand position and posture in an effort to prevent performance-based injuries. Read More