Music Lessons in Upton, NY

Instruments: Piano Synthesizer

My preferred method of teaching for beginner students is my own adaptation of the Thompson method with strong emphasis on theory and technique. A study of intervalic relationships, chords and progressions combined with terminology, sight reading, ear training and form will provide the student with skills which will allow them to play any style and genre of music they desire. Although the Suzuki method seems to be popular today, I have discovered many short comings of this pedagogical approach and often renders a good pianist limited in their capabilities as a well rounded musician. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

I have a very successful and progressive teaching method. I base my curriculum on 'rhythmic vocabulary'; a method that instills reading skills, rhythmic recognition, immediate application in Rock and Pop music, improvisational ability, soon advancing to Jazz and World Music applications.   In a nutshell, we begin at a students current reading level, or from scratch, and play all rhythms in a logical, progressive order; whole notes and rests, half-notes and rests, quarters and rests, eighths and rests, 16ths and rests. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I am a composer whose formative training and experience was in Italy and in the past seven years I have been working and studying in the United States. I received my DMA in composition in May 16, 2014. Between my work in Italy and the US I have 20 years of teaching experience and ten years as professional pianist.  I was born in Rome and received a Master's degree in composition as well as diplomas in piano performance and chamber music from the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome. Read More

Instruments: Drums

My name is ERIK! But you already knew that from the top of the page. I've been playing drums for about 13 years (taking my own lessons for 10 of them) and have been lucky enough to learn under some great musicians who influenced greatly what I know and can do today. I've done Jazz bands, funk bands, rock bands, pit bands, marching bands, and even pep bands! In addition I learned some Japanese Taiko drumming while I lived in Japan for a few months. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

I have been playing percussion for at least 40 years and share my love for music through teaching and performance. I presently am a show group member of Samba New York where I am section leader for the third surdo section. I play many Brazilian percussion instruments as well. I am also the section leader of the North Shore Symphony Orchestra and the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra where I play timpani. And though I presently play timpani, I have extensive experience playing mallet instruments, drumset, latin percussion and world percussion. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I've been teaching public school for 19 years, all but the first two spent in 9th grade. I've also had many years of experience as an adult church choir director. The huge majority of my singers along the way would probably tell you that I made them very comfortable. Tension is the singer's worst enemy. Tension is caused by fear, by uncertainty in one's ability, or by faulty technique. A great singer makes singing seem easy. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums

After graduating from college I joined the Peace Corps. I spent 2 years in Tehran, Iran playing in the Tehran Symphony Orchestra. I returned to the U.S. and went back to school to get my Masters degree. I worked as a music teacher in the Bronx, N.Y. for several years. After that I worked at an electronic music studio in Hawthorne, N.Y. The studio eventually shut down and I began teaching Band at the Stamford Public Schools where I taught music at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Read More