Octopus Music School
21 employees
12 years in business
About this pro
Octopus Music School specializes in guitar, piano, voice, strings, percussion and brass & woodwind lessons. Our highly credentialed instructors at our facilities in New Brunswick and Hillsborough, NJ serve students of all ages and skill levels.
We don't merely teach our students how to play music, we teach them how to understand it. Learning to play in a vacuum will ultimately create a wall between you and your goals. Whether you want to master the drums, learn a new style on the piano, audition for first chair on the violin, or just play a few songs on the guitar, having at least a basic understanding of music theory will dramatically improve your results. Think for a moment of trying to learn a language and only learning a few phrases; your conversational skills would be limited and your interaction with native speakers would be less than adequate. Simply learning chords, scales, and songs in a haphazard fashion will yield similar results.
Now imagine that you have a basic command of some fundamental grammar and syntax; conversation will come easier and understanding others will no longer seem so difficult. Regardless of what you are trying to achieve musically, it will be enhanced by understanding the nuts and bolts of what you are playing.
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Credentials
North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902
Phone verified
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I started taking lessons from Joe as an adult with no guitar experience. I can easily say that I am glad I chose him to start learning. He made the lessons fit my needs exactly and made it fun!! I think I could have easily quit if I had picked a different teacher that I didn't get along with. He has expanded quite a bit since I first started going almost 10 years ago and I think his growth is a testament to how good he is and how carefully he is in choosing the teachers that work for him. If you are looking to learn and have it be fun, as it should be, look no further, you won't regret it!
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When we decided to send our daughter for violin classes, we started to look and find for a good music school. We are glad that we found octopus music school in New Brunswick. This is a very good school. The teachers are very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, always advising on our child's progress. Our daughter is enjoying the classes very much. We have noticed a big change in our daughter's music and it's helping her in singing and playing other instruments too. Would like to recommend the octopus music school to all others.
FAQs
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The first and most important step is ensuring that our instructors and students or parents are on the same page with regards to the purpose of lessons and what the expectations are. Open communication from the onset is absolutely imperative to long-term success.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
All of our instructors hold at least a bachelor's of performance in the instrument that they teach and/or a teaching degree. We have a very high standard that we adhere to when hiring new teachers and in addition to education requirements, they must have at least five years of instructional experience and impeccable references.
What types of students have you worked with?
We teach students of all ages and skill levels, including those with special needs. From the casual learner to the serious player, we have a staff instructor who will be a great match!
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Our student showcases are always an absolute pleasure! Watching our students progress and grow from season to season and seeing all of the new students discover the joy of learning and performing music is one of the best parts of this job!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
While some students prefer to receive lessons in their homes, the outcome is almost always better at a school (especially for young children). There are less distractions, there is more consistency, and if for some reason, the instructor you've chosen is unavailable after a time, there are always others who have been vetted and proven to take over. When you have someone coming to your house, or you are studying with an individual teacher, if they are no longer available, you have to start from square one in searching for a replacement.
There is also the social aspect of learning at a school; the opportunities to play with other students, the recitals, and feeling that you are a part of a larger community.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Why do you want to take music lessons? What do you expect to gain from them? What kind of time do you have each day to devote to practice?
Lessons offered
Acoustic Guitar Lessons Music Theory Lessons Classical Guitar Lessons Blues Guitar Lessons Bass Guitar Lessons Country Guitar Lessons Piano Lessons Music Performance Lessons Singing Lessons Voice Lessons Drum Lessons Classical Piano Lessons Vocal Training Lessons Violin Lessons Composition Lessons Classical Voice Lessons Mandolin Lessons Saxophone Lessons Viola Lessons Percussion Lessons
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