Piano Lessons in North Castle, NY

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Conga Latin Percussion

I'm a caring and compassionate teacher that tailors my lessons to accommodate each student's level of interest and ability. I set realistic goals for my students so they may achieve regular success in their studies. Learning to play a musical instrument is hard work and yet, it should also be fun. Finding the perfect balance between the two seeming opposites is how I keep my students motivated and working towards getting better. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Flute Recorder Piccolo Music

For Beginner students I have them start with the recorder. The instrument allows for a smooth segue to the flute being that the student can see their fingers and the recorder does not require the same air speed and lung capacity that the flute does so the student can pace themselves. For intermediate or advanced students I will go through orchestral excerpts, etudes, or technical studies with them. I follow the same model with my adult students, if they are just starting out I will recommend beginning on recorder to solidify fingerings however the mental and physical capacity of an adult versus a young child are very different. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I began learning classical piano when I was around 9 years old. By the time I was 15, in addition to learning guitar and drums, I was the musical co-director, along with my sister, at the church my family attends. At 17 I switched focus to Jazz which I continued to study through university, Jazz piano being the concentration of my music major. In addition to this I've written and recorded several guitar compositions, as well written and music directed for musical theater productions both at school and professionally. Read More

Instruments: Piano

For beginning and young students, I like the simplicity and clarity of the Alfred Piano Methods, which include a lesson, a "solo" piece highlighting the lesson and a fun, written theory exercise. I have a treasure trove of familiar classical pieces which I can transcribe to fit different levels. I also like the Hal Leonard Essential Elements series for their witty little tunes. I always come with crayons and paper, flashcards, games and other motivators to keep the lesson fun. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola Music

My job is of upmost importance; to teach, but also to learn. As an educator I am responsible for encouraging growth and delivering material as efficiently as possible while maintaining a realistic sense of what is achievable. However, it is also my job to learn from the student and be able to adapt and grow to new situations. Not every student progresses at the same rate, but I keep my expectations and spirits high to push students to want to keep learning and working hard to accomplish their goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Recorder Keyboard

My teaching style is simple: let the student decide what they want to pursue, and then push them in that direction! After all, that's how I was trained. My only goal is that the student is excited about what they are learning and playing. I will tailor every lesson plan to the student's personal interests, and make sure that goals are realistic such that the student feels that they are making progress. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet

Depending on how experienced the student is, I make sure to gauge where they are at regarding music theory and music history. Although the main goal of learning an instrument is to learn how to express yourself through music, it is important to understand how we can do that by having a solid understanding of theory and history. I've found that teaching students on a week-by-week basis through exercises that I create for them has been very successful, especially since a lot of method books are very limiting, and they expect every student to be starting out with the same baseline. Read More