Looking for a music teacher?
• Are you an Inwood or Upper Manhattan parent who wants a great musical education for your child? Are you under the impression that you have to go downtown to get it?
You're in the right place!
I believe in learning music with compassion and love, and by building a musical relationship with parents. My passion is finding all kinds of music that inspires and challenges each student, rather than using the same progression for everyone. I am constantly expanding my teaching repertoire. One student only wanted to play Christmas music, so we spent an entire year learning different keys and bowstrokes on Christmas songs! Another student learned similar skills playing Viennese waltzes. I am also fascinated by long-lost pedagogical gems of the past–here’s a concert I recently recorded on violin and piano, featuring music written in the 19th century for children. My students play these pieces too.
I am a graduate of The Juilliard School and Rice University, a faculty member at the Lucy Moses School, and an active performer. I am also a 12-year Inwood resident, and have developed a deep affection for our neighborhood and, especially, its kids!
My teaching, on violin and piano, combines a traditional emphasis on technique, music-reading, and a thorough understanding of how great music is created, with a contemporary, empathetic approach to child development and psychology.
Interested?
I would love to have a chat and get to know you, or you and your child. We’ll discuss approach, goals, and how to get the most out of a musical education. Click here to schedule a call with me:
A few more details...
It depends on the child. Most children can begin learning an instrument at age 5, some as young as 3 or 4, others a bit later. I highly recommend checking out toddler music classes for younger children–they are great for developing an inner sense of pitch and rhythm.
I teach in my home in Inwood. Under certain circumstances I also teach in students’ homes. And these days I of course teach virtually when conditions dictate.
Most lessons are weekdays after school and on Sundays. During school vacations some students request lessons earlier in the day, and I am happy to accommodate whenever possible.
Yes! I have taught both adult beginners, and adults who took lessons as kids and want to get back into it.
For many reasons, I highly recommend renting an instrument when beginning lessons. The best place to do so is Johnson String in Newton, Massachusetts. (Though located in Massachusetts, they provide instruments for many music programs here in New York and across the country, because the quality is so high.) More details can be found HERE, including how to size a child’s instrument. I am happy to discuss this further when we meet.
I am aware that a piano is a significant investment, and can take up a large footprint in a Manhattan apartment! I firmly believe they are a wonderful addition to any home. But if an acoustic piano is out of reach for you, there are fortunately many great electronic pianos available, and these have advantages too–they don’t need to be tuned, you can use headphones to practice without disturbing anyone, etc. Just be sure to get one with weighted keys and “touch response.” Feel free to check with me before purchasing an instrument–if I’m not familiar with it myself I will ask someone who is.
Sonatina by Antonín Dvořák. Written in 1894 for his own children, this is still a great choice for young players! (Performed on an original 1875 Streicher piano.)