Grove's Piano School

With a new student, gaining a sense of rapport is the most important thing at first. With children, we usually "doodle" on the keys and make up stories or play with percussion instruments to first connect with our bodies and feelings and to play! I like to get to know them and what their hobbies are and favorite colors, classes in school, funny stories, etc. Then usually in the first or second lesson we get into the method book. After a bit of time in the method book, we will continue, but also branch out into either pop songs, jazz, classical, and/or theory. It's relative to each student. With adults, quite similarly, rapport is important to make sure we are a good fit and get a sense of what specifically you want to learn. If you have a specific goal, I can curtail the lessons to teach you what you need for that goal. If you aren't sure, then we can try out different styles and see what feels true for you. Or we can do it all! haha. Theory will be important to learn because it is the grammar and vocabulary of music. The more you learn and immediately put to use, the more you can express musically. 

I have been playing and studying music since I was 8. I have a B.S. in Music with a Jazz Emphasis from The College of Staten Island where I studied under New York jazz cat Michael Morreale and Dalcroze President Dr. William Bauer. I've been teaching for about 8 years and hope I never stop! I also am a performer, a singer/songwriter, and have played all over the tri-state area for many years. 

My standard pricing is $30 / half hour and $50 / hour. 

I have always wanted to teach since I was young. It's just something I love to do. I get so much joy from it. I started in my early 20s at a local music school on Staten Island where I was taught some basic methods of teaching and just kept growing from there until I developed my own system and methods. 

I have largely worked with young kids from age 5-13, but I have had numerous adult students throughout the years as well. 

I had a young student who was struggling with a classical piece. He plays every style. He eats it all up, but he has the tendency to be hard on himself when he struggles with a measure of notated music. He was playing one note wrong and couldn't seem to understand why. We walked through it and he figured it out, but he said he liked the way he was doing it before. So I told him, "Okay, in this piece, let's play it the way it's written, but why don't you take that measure the way you like it, and write a song with it?" And he did! He took that measure of music, and worked with it, varied it, repeated it, and wrote a minute long song based on variations of that first theme. I had tears in my eyes! I love it when students take their challenges and just let their heart shine through it. He was able to take his frustration and manifest it into something healing and exuberant! That's what I live for. 

It depends on your goals! Talk to your teacher to make sure they are the right teacher for your goals. The teacher finds the students they need, and the student finds the teacher they need. That's a motto I live by. If I find I'm not the best fit for you, I know other teachers who might be! I just want anyone who desires to learn music, to find that connection to the language. 

What do you want to play? If you don't know that's fine. Maybe start with the music you like to listen to. Personality is important as well. Some people need strict, high expectations and others want a more casual approach. Think about what you know would work best for you.