Music Lessons for Children in Piano, Guitar, & Voice 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!

The Goal of Beginning Music Lessons

Curriculum

I teach using a combination of materials including exercises and games I have created, and books such as

Teaching Little Fingers to Play: A Book for the Earliest Beginner (John Thompsons Modern Course for The Piano)

Sibelius Groovy Shapes - this is an excellent computer game that teaches basic concepts in music to young children.  It’s probably most effective for 3 to 6 year olds.  I’ve used it with many of my younger students including my son, and it reinforces all the teaching that I’m doing in the lessons.  Highly recommended.

Suzuki Piano School, Volume 1 (Revised Edition) Written by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. Instructional book for piano. Text language English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish. 31 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (AP.0473S) See more info…

Suzuki Piano School, Volumes 1 & 2 – Compact Disc By Valery Lloyd-Watts, arranged by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. Performance CD. Published by Alfred Publishing. (AP.0896) See more info…

Singing Made Easy

flash cards and more.

After the initial lesson, I will recommend certain books and materials for your child.

Location

I’m located at 114 Garfield Place, between 5th and 6th Avenues – apartment 3R.

Lesson Fee

• 1/2 hour Music Lesson $45 – Cash or Check

• Prepaid Discount 10 Lessons $410 – $41/lesson

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• Prepaid Discount 5 Lessons $215 – $43/lesson
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Schedule Your Lessons.

I prefer if you contact me via this form.

Phone: 1-347-788-0101

Music Lesson Policies

• Cancellations must be made with 24 hour advance notice.
• Makeups will only be scheduled if proper 24 hour notice has been made.
• No refunds on missed lessons.
• A discounted rate is available for prepaid lesson plans in blocks of 10. See above.
• Books and materials purchase by me for you must be reimbursed in a timely manner.
• Please don’t be late. If you are early, please be considerate of other students who may still be in a lesson.
• Please be considerate of my neighbors when you enter the building.

Here’s a list of recommended instruments.

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