Sonya is an extremely talented musician and teacher. Both my 9 year-old daughter and I have been taking pianolessons with Sonya for over a year now, during which time we’ve made great strides. Whether you’re an adult learner (like me) or a child studying music for the first time, Sonya can fluidly adjust lessons for age, musical interest, or skill level. Her suggestions are easy to follow and help not only play songs but also understand music on a deeper level. The lessons are also a lot of fun, and both my daughter and I look forward to them each week. I’ve had several piano teachers and I can confidently say Sonya is the best!
Sonya Belaya's Music Studio
Jacqueline B.
Kris is just all around awesome, he is down to earth, articulate, and relates the material in a way that's easy to understand. I would recommend him to anyone in need of pianolessons any day. He's really about finding what works and is supportive of your learning. So happy to have found him!
Kris' Keys Online Piano and Music Academy
Molmol K.
We started piano sessions with David in September 2021. Both me and my 13 year old are taking pianolessons from David Chang, with a few years and no prior expereince respectively.
David has a special teaching style -- sets, adding in reverse, the specific notational system, spaced repetition, musical details, mental practice, and musicality.... that have helped me progress rapidly and helped my pre-teen stay engaged and curious.
David is super responsive and easy to reach when we have questions.
David Chang Music - Online and Brooklyn, NY
Harry W.
I highly recommend David as a piano teacher, especially for adult beginners. He helped me rapidly improve my technical proficiency by having me work on a goal piece immediately while introducing the necessary theoretical knowledge as needed. This approach is great for adult beginners as it allows you have fun playing what you want immediately instead of wasting months on slowly working through beginner pieces. As someone brand new to piano, he was able to coach me into being able to play 1min30s of my goal piece for his studio class within 4-5 lessons.
I can also attest to the effectiveness of his methodologies. David teaches you how to break down difficult sections and efficient ways of practicing in order to learn new pieces quickly. In addition, his experience/skill as a teacher was readily apparent in my lessons with him. During one of my one hour sessions with David, I was able to progress past a section I was stuck on in my personal practice for a week. Also, he is also easy to reach for questions outside of lesson hours and will help you develop a plan to achieve your piano goals.
If you are in the market for a piano teacher, consider taking a trial lesson (1 hour at a discounted rate) with David to experience his methods firsthand. I was not disappointed and I don't think you will be either.
David Chang Music - Online and Brooklyn, NY
Stephanie J.
Sherry is an exceptional piano teacher. In addition to teaching my kids for two years, she recently gave me my first adult pianolesson since I stopped playing at 12. I learned more in one hour than I did from my childhood teacher in nearly a decade!!
She has been warm, flexible and reliable and also is playful but challenges our kids to learn. She has been working with them since they were 5 and they have learned both theory and to play beautifully. She adapts her teaching style to meet their needs and is always available and positive. She works well with parents and gives parents and students a voice in the learning process.
She is down to earth very relatable and will meet you where you and your child is at. She is capable of being highly rigorous for those parents and students who are interested in developing to competitive levels. At the same time she can be laid back and easy going if the goal is primarily growth at an easy pace. Always fun and bright Sherry is delightful and well versed in all kinds of music.
Sherry Kim Piano Studio
Jonathan F.
David is fantastic. He is an amazing teacher and resource, and I unequivocally recommend him.
I played piano for several years growing up but when I started working with David, I hadn't touched a piano in 20 years. Although I had a decent amount of experience, I set modest goals for myself to learn a few intermediate pieces for my own enjoyment. With David's encouragement and instruction I've been able to wildly surpass my own expectations for what I thought I was capable of playing. I've learned my dream piece, Chopin's Ballade No.1, as well as other pieces that were daunting before David helped me learn them (Rachmaninoff's Etude Op. 33 No.4, Chopin Etude Opus 10 No. 9, Bach's Partita #1).
David has a unique approach to helping you learn, memorize, and correct your mistakes. It involves learning sections of pieces in small sets and then stringing them together like a patchwork quilt, rather than trying to practice the whole piece all at once.
David also emphasizes learning these smaller sets in reverse, so you practice the ends of measures, which ordinarily get less attention as people usually play from the beginning and then stop when they make a mistake. He also teaches "spaced repetition," which involves practicing areas and then coming back to them later on, which is more effective than repeating the same few measures over and over again. David's approach has helped me learn pieces much more quickly and effectively than I can remember learning them as a kid.
I've also learned so much about the musicality in my playing, more than I ever did growing up. One thing David emphasizes are huge contrasts between loud and soft sections (he says they should be as different as night and day), as well as constant shaping of measures even within loud and soft areas, so that you always hear a rise or fall in volume. These huge contrasts and continuous shaping are what makes music interesting to hear. I can feel how much better my playing sounds when I pay close attention to these dynamics and shaping.
I've also received great advice on technical solutions for difficult pieces. David has suggested several techniques to help me relax my hands and arm, and to avoid holding notes longer than necessary. These technical suggestions were invaluable for helping me with Chopin's etude Op. 10 No. 9, which involves large reaches between notes with the left hand. I often find David can hear things in my playing that I would not be able to pick myself. I find his advice invaluable in spotting mistakes and errors, as well as musical suggestions, that have helped me learn pieces better and faster.
In addition to his lessons, I feel part of a welcoming community of students who form David's studio. He holds studio classes at no cost four times a year where students play for each other and offer advice and suggestions on improving. I look forward to these sessions both to improve my own playing and to encourage other students in the studio. Students of all levels play in studio classes and I have seen David help advanced students and complete beginners.
The studio has recitals twice a year. I never performed my pieces when I played growing up so it was challenging and exciting to perform for an audience. David had lots of great advice for handling the emotional rigors of playing in front of other people under the spotlight. I had the opportunity to play my piece at Steinway Hall in Manhattan for about 60 people which was one of the greatest thrills I've had playing piano. I've now amassed about 40 minutes of repertoire and am working toward putting together a one hour solo program, something I didn't think possible when I started.
David has been a patient and eager teacher. He is easy to reach and responds very quickly when I send him a message. I feel he is invested in my success and wants to see me reach my potential as a pianist.
I feel fortunate to have found David when I was searching for an instructor and I am sure you will too.
David Chang Music - Online and Brooklyn, NY
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