Music Lessons in Upton, NY

Instruments: Piano

My teaching style is versatile but with distinct steps. The first step is exposition, the second is reason and the third is connection. There is something so rewarding for me but more importantly for the student when their face opens, they say (and realize): "Oh! I get it...." The catharsis of experiencing music, understanding music and connecting with the music. This is the ideal sequence that I hope to achieve with any and all students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums

I love to have fun in my lessons. No single student understands the same thing the same way so I take the time to listen/understand them as a person and as a musician. While it would be wonderful if all of my students became virtuosi musicians, I understand that sometimes math class may be at the forefront of their attention. That said, practice is still required. Like a doctor, I prescribe solutions to students to help them achieve their goals and will do everything I can to help them to succeed but if they dont take the remedy, success is can be quite slow. Read More

Instruments: Piano

As I taught private piano students, I constructed my lesson plans very carefully with clear objectives and goals. I try to provide every student with rich experience, while applying different teaching methods to each individual according to their learning styles, abilities, personality and cultural background. As for group piano classes, many students were not piano players; compared to my private students who were very high level, I taught fundamental piano skills for these non-piano major music students classes, which were in fact difficult. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I use the score to pose questions about the way musical material is organized, how it reflects the composer’s ideas, and what makes the score coherent to the player and the  listener. In this way, a score is one point of focus for developing interest and a questioning attitude—practices that will serve students for a lifetime. I believe that our ability to talk about music emerges from the experience of “thinking music” as performers and that we truly learn music by using its grammar. Read More

Instruments: Flute

For beginning students, I typically use one method book and one book of simple melodies.  My preferred method book is the Rubank series. The method book teaches the basics, while the melodies and songs keep things fresh and interesting for the student so they want to continue.  For advanced students, I find significant, staple pieces that any advanced musician should have in their repertoire.  This keeps the student engaged, and prepares them for anything down the road in their musical careers. Read More

Instruments: Flute Piccolo

I like to being on creating a wonderful sound, and a very good concept of rhythm which relates not only to fingers, but also and internal pulse. I like to also focus a lot on the exhale of air into the instrument, and the relationship to blowing air through technical passages. Once this is grasped, working on scales, various etude books, and applying these concepts to the repertoire works well for both beginner and advanced students. Read More