Jarvis Piano Studio - Play by Ear & Improvise
Jarvis Piano Studio - Play by Ear & Improvise

Jarvis Piano Studio - Play by Ear & Improvise

$65
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Instrument student plays

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Introduction
I don’t teach standard piano lessons. Why? They’re the wrong way to learn music. Most people get stuck robotically reading sheet music—never grasping how or why the music works. I suspect that’s why so many beginners quit within a handful of months. And even those who stick with it often end up unable to play a single song from memory years later. How are my lessons different? I focus on the language of music—how it’s built from the ground up. You’ll learn the chord progressions, melodies, and musical forms that shape the music you’ve loved your whole life. This methodology is the most effective (I haven’t had a single student quit lessons out of boredom or lack of motivation with this approach), the most fun, and it gives you a strong foundation to: • Listen to songs and play them back by ear instantly • Read and interpret sheet music more beautifully • Sight-read sheet music much faster • Improvise and jam with your friends • Memorize pieces not for a few weeks, but for a lifetime • After mastering the building blocks, learn any genre you want with ease—jazz, classical, pop, soul, you name it And by the way, I’m not reinventing the wheel here. The way I teach is how great musicians of Western music history have learned for centuries. It was standard practice in the European classical tradition (not to mention many pianists in jazz and popular music) to be able to improvise, play by ear, and beautifully interpret a piece of written music. The reason this somehow stopped being the standard methodology for learning the piano is a longer conversation for another time. Here’s my bio with some information on my career: Pianist Harrison Batten Jarvis experienced his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of sixteen and was subsequently named to CBC Music’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30.” He has soloed with orchestras at Lincoln Center in New York City, at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and with the Etobicoke Philharmonic in Toronto. He holds degrees from the Royal Conservatory of Music (A.R.C.T.) and Bard College Conservatory (B.Mus in piano performance and B.A. in written arts). Outside of classical piano, Harrison is a writer, songwriter, composer, and multi-disciplinary artist. He has collaborated on numerous headline art exhibitions at major galleries, including the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, UK, and Kunsthalle Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland. His former teachers have been named to the Order of Canada (André Laplante), been a finalist for the National Book Award (Jenny Xie), won a Pulitzer Prize (Elizabeth Frank), and had a composition played in honour of the 2020 Presidential inauguration (Joan Tower). Their pedagogical lineages trace back to many great artists and musicians, such as Franz Liszt and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Overview

Serves New York, NY

Background checked

1 employee

5 years in business

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This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Credit card, Google Pay, PayPal, Samsung Pay, Stripe, and Zelle.

Projects and media

2 photos

Projects and media

2 photos

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, value, and responsiveness.

Exceptional 5.0

5 reviews

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pro avatar
Taylor M.
Feb 27, 2025
I’ve been taking piano lessons with Harrison for some time now, and I can honestly say he’s been an incredible teacher. He makes learning so much fun and always keeps the atmosphere light and enjoyable. His passion for music shines through in every lesson, which keeps me motivated and excited to continue improving. One of the best things about working with Harrison is the group lessons. They’ve been such a game-changer for my progress. Learning alongside others has given me a sense of community and allowed me to see different perspectives, which has really accelerated my development. I’ve learned so much from not just him but from my peers as well. What stands out the most is how Harrison has helped me truly understand the language of music, especially harmony. His explanations are clear and insightful, and he’s helped me connect theory with real music in a way that makes sense. Thanks to him, I feel much more confident in my musical abilities and can approach new pieces with a deeper understanding of what I’m playing. Overall, I couldn’t recommend Harrison enough to anyone looking for a fun, engaging, and insightful piano teacher!
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Whashin J.
Feb 24, 2025
For a long time, I hesitated to take piano lessons, always coming up with excuses. Now, after more than a year of lessons with Harrison, I honestly wish I had started earlier. Though I had some experience from my childhood, where I learned to read music and play simple songs, I often hit a wall when trying to tackle more challenging pieces. I’d get frustrated and revert to playing only the songs I was comfortable with. Working with Harrison has been a game-changer. He not only helped me revisit important music theory but also encouraged me to focus on the finer details that make a piece truly shine. His patience and expert guidance have made a noticeable difference in my playing. Even during our Zoom lessons, Harrison's attention to detail is impressive—he can tell if I’m holding the pedal too long or not using it enough, and his feedback ensures I don’t miss out on the quality of an in-person lesson. Over the past year, I’ve found myself enjoying the piano more than ever, and I feel more confident in challenging myself with new pieces. I highly recommend Harrison to anyone looking to deepen their musical knowledge and experience the joy of playing piano.
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Charlie F.
1 month ago
Harrison is very chill and easy to get along with, and his lessons are flexible and supportive. I also appreciate how much he always tries to better himself as an educator. I can say confidently that my playing ability has increased dramatically thanks to Harrison (and lots of practicing)!
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Curtis F.
Feb 26, 2025
I have been taking lessons with Harrison for a few months. He has taught me a lot about how to read music and some tricks for understanding what notes to play based on what key the song is in. Harrison is a great teacher as he explains things in a very understandable way. I am looking forward to continuing lessons with him!
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Paulina N.
Feb 21, 2025
Harrison is such an excellent teacher! Very patient and knowledgeable. I’ve learned so much from him.
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Harrison Jarvis