Piano Lessons in Cliffwood, NJ

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

For young beginners on wind instruments, I really focus on getting a good sound out of the instrument first. Then, I have them learn simple songs by ear to strengthen their relationship with the instrument. At the same time, I will teach them how to read music if necessary. I like to use the Rubank or the Sound Innovations band method books to start with. For my piano students, I go over posture and hand position first, in addition to the basics of the keyboard and fingerings for scales. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet

Sharing the joy of making music has been a passion of mine since my undergraduate days. I've been lucky enough to have had some of the most fulfilling students along my journey since then. I enjoy beginning students and their progression and growth and have seen some of my younger students granted music scholarships and even music degrees along the way. I've also had the pleasure of working with some of the finest adult beginners since living here in New York. Read More

Instruments: Piano

One of the biggest things I've learned from teaching students and being a student myself is that ultimately, the student's mindset and practice habits are the biggest determinant in their improvement. That is why I believe strongly in getting to know each individual student before designing a week-by-week curriculum that I feel is best for them. Books I tend to use often include the Faber "Piano Adventures" series, Hanon, and Bartok's "Mikrokosmos" (for sightreading practice). Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

We all have a tendency to be against nature. it is very important to find the right voice teachers for ourselves like finding the right physicians for ourselves who are able to help our problems and to learn about our body by nature. For the selections of song and operatic arias, I let the students select for themselves at first and I will advise them to try out the appropriate selections of song and arias for them to develop their ability to feel comfortable to sing with joy and accomplishments eventually. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice

I use written materials including songs that have already been written by other composers, as well as my own etudes so that the lesson can be properly practiced. Depending on the individual student's technical ability and style of music they wish to learn, I write practice exercises specifically catered to them. These exercises will be focused on whichever technique we cover in the lesson, and after completion of this homework assignment, the technique should become second nature. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Music Djembe

For beginner students, I typically start with the book Syncopation by Ted Reed. From this book, students learn basic rhythmic concepts and how to read them, and they develop the coordination to play them on snare drum and drum set. Then, I teach my students the 26 basic rudiments that all drummers must know. After that, I teach my students different types of ethnic musical traditions from all over the world. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute

I use a few different method books, and while they are very useful for attaining the building blocks of technique and knowledge young and beginning musicians need but I like to go beyond what reading books has to offer. My goal is to show my students everything there is - reading, theory, and technique are all important but so is creation, improvisation, learning through sound and finding what inspires them. Read More