Music Lessons in Van Nest, NY

Instruments: Piano Voice Flute

I make sure my students have a strong foundation, which means I start with classical training. I work on the basics such as posture, articulation, breath-support, vowel shapes, and rhythm. Once they have a strong basis, I move to modern and musical theatre if they desire it. For a student who is going the strictly classical route, I will teach them IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) to help them with pronunciations in foreign languages when singing. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

It is a very special experience to be able to see a student progress. Depending on the frequency of the lessons, I will set goals for the student to reach by the time the next lesson occurs. I always make the goals realistic for the student and I try my best to make the goal something that the student will enjoy. This will also help them to practice more frequently and work harder towards reaching this goal. Read More

Instruments: Voice

My approach to teaching is solely based on vocal placement and having a great time. I encourage my students to mimic their favorite artists and or artist that they are not familiar with. This enables the students to loosen the tension in the voice and to get out of their comfort zones. By doing this they embody a level of confidence outside of themselves, which is such a rewarding feeling as a teacher. Read More

Instruments: Drums

For beginner students, I will introduce the basics of drumming techniques as this is the most important step in becoming a proficient drummer. Once the student has progressed and shown me that they can play simple beats with the proper technique, I will begin introducing them to repertoire appropriate to their skill level to get them to be able to play drums in a more musical manner. If the student is older and/or more experienced, I will likely start with exercises and ideas to build their level of skill within areas of their interest or what I think would benefit them the most. Read More

Instruments: Piano Synthesizer Keyboard

My name is Nathan and I am a composer and pianist. I graduated with a B.A recently from the Juilliard School and am excited to be a part of Musika. I am deeply passionate about many styles of music and have been performing and making music for almost my entire life. I have experience in Jazz, pop, classical, folk, and electronic music and love to blend styles and explore new realms of music. 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: Trumpet

I'm a professional musician and educator from New York City, which is where I've spent roughly 2/3 of my life, and where I currently reside. My 30,000+ hours of experience within music is expressed through my 9 years of conservatory training, which includes Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Music degrees, and my work as a trumpeter, composer, arranger, producer, and studio musician over the course of 20 years. I've recorded on 30 albums, including 2 under my own name for multiple record labels, and have written over 300 pages of scholarly work encompassing a wide variety of theoretical, musicological and pedagogical topics. Read More