About
With over 30 years of teaching experience from a young age, Hannah Reimann combines her creative career of performing, writing, composing, and filmmaking with producing concerts for her students ages 3-18 and nurturing vocal and piano students of all ages in their unique gifts and goals. Trained as a Classical Pianist from age 5, first singing when she was a toddler before becoming a multi-genre artist of both instruments, she understands the needs of today's music students experientially while instilling a sense of discipline her teachers taught her.
As an official Steinway & Sons Educational Partner and member of the Leschetizky Association, her pedagogical lineage as a pianist traces, via multiple generations, back to Beethoven (who taught her teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher) and she has worked with several outstanding operatic, pop, Broadway and R&B vocal coaches in New York City for over 15 years.
Her teaching studio in New York City for aspiring singers and pianists spans, like her own repertoire, from Classical to Jazz, Pop, R&B, Broadway, Singer-songwriter, and Rock. Her young students have landed Principal roles in "Matilda," Disney's "Mary Poppins,” Broadway "The Boy from Oz," "School of Rock" and Off-Broadway “South Pacific,” among many other productions.
She is currently at work writing her first instructional books for student pianists and singers.
The rewards of teaching are manifold including the creation of community, mentorship, and understanding the particular needs of each student and their backgrounds.
Studies have shown that learning to read and play music increases math and reading scores, increases concentration and focus, plus it builds confidence.
"I see my students getting smarter when they apply themselves. I believe music creates more happiness in life. When taught and learned with understanding, compassion, and fun, both teacher and student benefit and grow. I have taken great joy in watching and hearing my students grow over the years and discovering their special talents and abilities. Some students will demonstrate the ability to become professionals. All are treated with the same care and compassion...we need just as many audience members as professional and amateur performers, no one gets left behind. It has given me a lot of joy to be part of a musical community that grew out of my love of learning and performing music."
Specialties
Musical styles
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Photos and videos
Reviews
Michael
Marie S.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I treat every student as an individual and first ask about his or her background, understand the type of music they are already familiar with, their goals and interests. We start with a trial lesson to be sure that both teacher and student are comfortable working with each other. Depending on the age of a student, I will describe a basic or detailed program for voice, piano or both. If teacher and student are happy with the arrangement, time and day of lesson, I ask parents of students ages 3-18 to commit to a 10-lesson semester or 30-week academic year of study. We taught 30 lessons per year when I worked in music schools and this structure works very well in seeing students accomplish their goals. Less than that usually falls short. Adults may work on a slightly looser structure if they are not professionals, but at least 10 lessons are recommended at least every two weeks for noticeable results.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Three and half years of Pedagogical Piano Study at both Mannes College of Music and Diller-Quaille School of Music, the latter which I received a scholarship for.
Classical Piano Study from ages 5 - 25 with professional teachers.
International concert performance experience since teenage years. Solo and Chamber Music concerts in New York and abroad.
Over 15 years of private study with Operatic, Pop, Broadway, R&B, Jazz and other vocal coaches and professors. Five years of theater acting study at HB Studio in NYC.
I have been a member of various bands and collaborations including as solo artist and recording artist with radio airplay.
I'm currently working on a recording project with a co-writer for the Latin and Pop markets.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
For piano $100 per hour, $75 per 45 minutes and $50 per 30 minutes.
For vocal lessons, $120 per hour, $90 per 45 minutes and $60 per 30 minutes.
Length of lesson is determined by age, level and the ability of each student who is individually interviewed.
How did you get started teaching?
I was first asked to teach gymnastics for hire when I was 13 years old. I was a competitive gymnast from ages 7-15. This really taught me to protect and care physically for students and to take responsibility for their bodies! Earning money at that age made me take my job very seriously.
When I was a student at Sarah Lawrence College, my Piano professor asked me to take on a job at the Yonkers YWCA as an assistant teacher. I taught every Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM without a lunch break for $7 per hour. I shall never forget the lessons I learned about teaching then; they stay with me to this day.
After graduating from college I began to accept private students and made house calls for the first year. I was hired at the Diller-Quaille School of Music as the youngest person on the faculty where I taught for ten years. During that time I also started my private teaching studio, East Side Piano Studios and later established Hannah Reimann Innovations, Inc. an umbrella organization for all my creative endeavors.
What types of students have you worked with?
When I started teaching I told people I taught ages 4-84 because I had two rank beginners who were a gifted toddler and an 84-year-old retired woman! I have worked with professionals and amateurs, people who live in the dead of the country, suburbs, high profile urban movie stars and their kids (whose names I have promised to keep confidential). All are treated as equals, however, I do appreciate and show my appreciation for students that love to practice and who show up 30 times a year! Those are the ones that I see make the most progress.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
In the past few years I attended some great musical events - my friend from the Roots and his many colleagues at Carnegie Hall doing a tribute to Prince a year before Prince died, an outdoor event in Bryant Park which featured Nile Rodgers and Alicia Keyes among many other greats, plus two contemporary music concerts, Music of Steve Reich and John Adams (the opera,"The Death of Klinghoffer") both of which I will always remember.
I created a show - retrospective of the music of Joni Mitchell - from 2012-2016 and most of that time had little time outside of my work to attend a lot of live music events. Performing with my collaborators, singing and playing the work of Joni Mitchell has been a wonderful adventure for me with many rewards and great memories.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I recommend that, if you want to take lessons, you think earnestly about the amount of time you'll be willing to put in OUTSIDE of the lesson. Spending 30, 45, 60 or 90 minutes per week with me is part of what will make you a musician, but the time you put in every day on your own outside of the lesson is what will really make you your own musician and which will bring you the greatest joy.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
How much time are you willing to put into your schedule to study and work on your pieces once you begin taking lessons?
Are you interested more in performing, playing for yourself or both?
If you're a student in school or college now, would you be willing to make your musical studies as important as an academic subject?
What kind of music do you want to play or sing the most?
Are you willing to spend a certain amount of time listening to other artists, attending concerts and purchasing recordings to expand your musical horizons?