Piano, Guitar & Voice Lessons for Kids in Park Slope, Brooklyn

The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. – Plutarch

Dear parent,

Thanks for dropping by. My name is Andrew and I specialize in teaching music to children here in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Teaching Mission

To inspire, instill and unleash creativity, artistic appreciation, expression and wonder in children/young people through learning music. Music has the power to bring joy, focus, self-confidence, discipline, and has been proven to grow neural connections in the brain. Music is also just plain fun to play, listen or dance to!

“Highly Recommended” – As reviewed by Park Slope Parents

Our Winter Music Recital 2010 at Pacific Library, Brooklyn, NY

Our recital in June 2009 at the Park Slope branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.

Teaching Children

Children have a natural curiousity, wonderment and openness that allows for experimenting, discovery and play. Through music, and the strategies, processes and methods learned and discovered, children are naturally stimulated to carry over these gains to other fields of endeavor outside and inside of music.

Teaching children usually doesn’t require fixing bad habits or out-moded thinking. Yet, it does requires patience, bite-sized lessons and plenty of encouragement and positive feedback. Lessons are like games with stars earned and high fives for effort.

The Link Between Music and Academic Achievement

A recent study finds a true correlation between music lessons (in or out of school) and academics.  See my recent article on this.

At What Age To Start Lessons?

Children naturally respond to the sound of music in voice or instruments or recordings from in the womb. From 0 to 3 years old, it consists mainly of play, discovery and exploration with instruments like a xylophone. From ages 3 and up, more formal piano studies can take place as their fingers are large enough and strong enough to push down the keys.  I take children usually from around the age of 4 ( though I have one 3 1/2 year old who is doing fantastically well.) through teenagers and adults.  If the child can sing the ABC song, and order the letters properly, then we can do some great things.  I’ve written a more detailed blog post about the proper age to start music lessons.

Before this age, I would highly recommend Music Together of Park Slope where we had our son for several years.  I’ve also heard good things about Music for Aardvaarks, and John Carlin’s Kids Music Underground in Brooklyn Heights.  If you want a Spanish class that incorporates music and art, you must go to Juguemos A Cantar – maravillosa!

Curriculum

I teach using a combination of materials including exercises and games I have created, and books.  See Curriculum/Music Books for more details.  After the initial lesson, I will recommend certain books and materials for your child.

Location

I’m located at 114 Garfield Place, 3r between 5th and 6th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Here’s a list of recommended instruments.

A portion of all proceeds donated annually to the PTA of PS 321.