How is The Italian Music School of New York different from other schools?

We don’t believe in a cookie-cutter approach and tailor the learning experience to each individual student. It takes more work, but it also works much better.

Can I join an ensemble right away?

No. We also don’t believe in taking your money at all costs. First, you should learn some basics that will help you navigate and enjoy a group context more. Obviously, if you already have some experience playing an instrument or playing in an ensemble, it will go much faster.

How much homework? How much should a student practice?

More than the quantity of assignments, what really matters is the frequency and quality of practice. Ten minutes a day, if well focused, already make a tremendous difference - and of course, we know that it takes time and patience to establish daily practice and help beginner students develop it.

I don’t like theory. Can you just teach me a few Taylor Swift songs?

We could, but it would not be a good use of your time. Some musical theory is the cornerstone to understand what’s going on in a piece, and to learn just about everything. Don’t worry, we know how to make musical theory fun and engaging.

Who is a good fit for your school?

If you expect to micro-manage the learning process, you may want to consider a different provider. But in general, we teach all sorts of students, with very different backgrounds and expectations.

How much do the lessons cost?

Reach out and we can talk about pricing offline. It’s probably a bit more than a group afterschool activity, but if you look at it on the longer run, it’s much better value.

What payments do you accept?

Check, cash, wire, Venmo, Paypal, card - you name it. No crypto please ;)

What is your cancellation policy?

48 hours in advance. And then again, scheduling a make up class is possible.

Is it always the same teacher or do you rotate?

Most of the time, it’s one teacher that guides the student. In exceptional cases (e.g. international tours or recording sessions) we may need to substitute - but always, in this case, with the explicit consent of the student.

What if I want to rotate teachers?

If it’s a matter of changing instrument, or studying more than one, that’s easy. We don’t recommend switching teachers often on the same student, because continuity has a lot of value in learning. But of course, let’s talk.

Should I stay around during my child’s lesson?

In general, no. It’s the teacher’s job to keep the student engaged and create a bond that will nurture the learning process. It may be useful, however, in the very beginning, especially with younger children, or if the child is going through a rough phase. If needed, we can always talk and find a solution.

What is the minimum age to become your student?

We have piano students from 4yo onward. Other instruments may have physical limitations (have you noticed how big even a small bass is?). A music class for younger students, even if it’s nominally a piano class, also involves rhythm, percussions, vocals and musical literacy in general. Some of our students have learned to read music before they learned the alphabet.

Are you all good-looking and good cooks?

Mostly, yes. But that’s not guaranteed ;) the point here is that we learned in the rigorous Italian music systems and apply the same methods to our teaching in New York.

What does that mean? How’s an Italian teacher different?

Some of the best teachers we have met in our life were the ones that made us discover the right answer, instead of simply providing it, and that helped us develop the tools and curiosity to hunt for answers on our own. And that’s what we teach to our students now.

Right. But the classes are in English, correct?

Of course. Though we do have students that prefer to have their lessons in Italian, or even in Spanish. Most of our students end up learning both the C D E… scale and the Do Re Mi one.

I want to be part of your team, but I’m not Italian. Can I apply?

As long as you have a true passion for music and teaching and you are willing to balance rigor and fun, we are happy to meet you. We provide training on method and philosophy.