With access to world-class performing arts
institutions and renowned music and concert halls, it would be hard not to be inspired by music in NYC.
Many venues offer lessons in everything from violin to voice. We spoke to some
accomplished city kids about how they got their start in music and what it
means to them.
Esteban
Castro, 9
Piano, New
York Jazz Academy
How did you get started
playing the piano?
I had a little keyboard at home, and I liked playing
it. My parents started me on piano lessons when I was four and a half years
old.
What do you love about the
piano?
The piano is a keyboard instrument, a string
instrument and a percussion instrument all in one! You can make music and rhythm
with it all at the same time. Lots of great composers played it like Mozart,
Beethoven and Chopin.
Do you ever
perform in front of audiences?
I’ve performed in Carnegie Hall, once as a soloist and
once as part of an ensemble with the New York Jazz Academy, and at the Dicapo
Opera Theatre. I have also performed in competitions and auditions in front of
judges and in jam sessions with live audiences at various jazz clubs in New
York (The Kitano, Smalls, Cleopatra’s Needle, Tutuma Social Club, Miles Café,
Trumpets).
What do you enjoy about
music and being able to play an instrument?
I like making people feel good when they hear my
music. Music makes me feel good when I’m playing, too.
What impact does music have
on your life?
It makes me more focused; it allows me to express
myself and be creative. I enjoy composing. I composed my first classical piece
when I was five and a symphony when I was six. I’ve also composed several jazz
pieces, one of which I named “The Opposite Way,” which has been performed at
recitals and jazz clubs.
Ana Brichta,
10
Violin, 92Y
School of Music
How did you get started playing the violin?
When I was in Brazil, I began
to learn how to play the recorder and then I saw all the other kids playing the
violin. So I decided to play the violin, too.
What do you love about the violin?
I have always been interested
in music since I was little, and my dad always sang songs to me. I just think
[the violin is] really cool. I really like performing because there is so much
you’ve learned, and everyone can hear your progress.
Do you ever perform in front of audiences?
Yeah, but not big audiences.
This spring, I performed in Carnegie Hall. Sometimes I get stage fright.
Do you have any advice for other kids who want to play
an instrument?
You can’t be afraid of trying
something new. If you’re afraid to start something new, you will never know
what you like.
What is your favorite song to listen to, and what is
your favorite song to play?
On the violin, I think it’s
any song that’s jumpy. If I had to choose from the
ones I know, it would be “Theme” from Witches Dance by Niccolo Paganini. Besides the violin, I like to listen to pop and Lady
Gaga.
Charlotte Mosler, 11
Cello, The Kaufman
Center’s Lucy Moses School
How did you get started
playing the cello?
When
I was three, I went to a concert and I knew that I wanted to play the cello
after that. My older brother David played the violin. I knew that I wanted to
play a musical instrument [too]. 
What do you love about the
cello?
I
think it has a really nice, deep and beautiful sound.
Do you ever perform in front
of audiences?
I
perform a couple times a year at the Lucy Moses School/Kaufman Center as part
of the music program there. I have also performed at Symphony Space and Lincoln
Center with ISO (Inter School Orchestra).
What do you find most
challenging about playing an instrument?
You
have to work very hard to make beautiful music. Performing solo is still pretty
difficult for me. I am not so comfortable by myself in front of an audience,
but I am working on that. I am working on playing stronger and faster, with
more vibrato and emotion, and that is really challenging for me to do and to
play all the right notes with the right tone with the correct bowings all at
the same time.
What impact does music have
on your life?
I
feel great when I have worked hard and mastered a hard piece. I hear music on
TV commercials sometimes that I recognize as pieces I have learned. My mom and
I went to the opera last year to see Hansel
and Gretel, and I recognized one of the pieces that I had played in the
orchestra, and that was fun!
Maggie Goldmark Pernambuco, 12
Drums, Church Street School for Music and Art
What do you love about the drums?
The drums are a crashing,
bashing, get-all-your-feelings out now
kind of instrument. It’s loud, it’s fun, and you can do whatever you want, if
you’re wearing earplugs. I play drums four times a week, and two of those times
it’s almost a free-for-all.
What do you enjoy about music and being able to play
it?
Once you feel as though you
really know how to play an instrument, every time you hear music, your experience
changes, and you start listening for parts of even your favorite songs that
you’ve listened to a million times differently. You notice things that you
never really noticed before, and it’s very shocking at first, but after a while
you can enjoy it.
How long does it take you to learn a piece of music?
It usually takes about two to
three hours of crazy, scary and rather experimental playing if it’s a song
played by more than one kid. If it’s individual, 10 minutes at the least.
Do you have any advice for other kids who want to play
an instrument?
It’s a skill that comes in
handy a lot, but the most important thing is that this is something you really
want to pour your heart and soul into.
Alice Rogers, 11
Piano & Voice,
The Diller-Quaile School of Music
How did you get
started playing the piano and singing?
I have been playing piano longer than I can remember, so I
can’t remember how I started. But I do remember that my mom liked the idea of
voice lessons, so she signed me up for them.
What do you love
about the piano and voice?
Piano is fun because it is very different from most of the
instruments; there are a couple that are like it, but not many. Voice is
awesome because you don’t have to lug around an instrument.
Do you ever perform
in front of audiences?
Yes, it’s very stressful. One mistake and BAM! You ruin your
piece. But if you do it correctly, everyone loves it. It’s one thing for a cute
four-year-old violinist to mess up…it’s a totally different thing for an eleven-year-old
pianist to mess up.
What do you enjoy
about music and being able to play it?
Playing in recitals, and, of course, eating cupcakes after
recitals.
What impact does
music have on your life?
A big one. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t doing music!
Kinara
Phillips, 9
Acoustic & Electric Guitar, New York Jazz Academy
How did you get started playing the
guitar?
I started by playing the ukulele when I was five years
old and switched
to guitar when I was six.
What do you love about the guitar? And
what do you find most challenging?
That you can play all kinds of music with it. The most
challenging part was learning my first chords and notes.
Do you have any advice for other kids
who want to play an instrument?
A lot of kids start with the piano—you should start
with the piano because
it helps you learn music.
What impact does music have on your
life?
It gives me a lot of special time with my dad and my
family, and it
helps me express myself. I can play sad songs when I am sad and happy songs when I am happy.
What is your favorite song to listen to,
and what is your favorite song to play?
My favorite song to listen to is “Take the A
Train.” My favorite song to play is “Hotel California.”
Music Classes For The Very Young
92Y School Of Music.
1395 Lexington Avenue, 212-415-5500, 92Y.org. (Ages newborn to 18 years)
apple seeds. 10
West 25th Street, 212-792-7590, appleseedsnyc.com. (Ages newborn to 5 years)
The Diller-Quaile
School Of Music. 24 East 95th Street, 212-369-1484, diller-quaile.org.
(Ages 4 months and up)
Eastside Westside
Music Together. Various locations on the UES and UWS, 212-496-1242, eswsmusictogether.com.
(Ages newborn to 7 years)
Gymboree Music.
Various locations in Manhattan, 877-449-6932, gymboreeclasses.com. (Ages 6
months to 5 years)
Gymtime Rhythm &
Glues. 1520 York Avenue, 212-861-7732, gymtime.net. (Ages 2 to 3 years)
Hands On! Various locations,
212-339-9915, handson4music.com. (Ages 4 months to 3 years)
Little Maestros. 344
East 69th Street, 212-772-2177 or 212-396-3977, littlemaestros.com.
(Ages 3 months to 5 years)
Moey’s Music Party.
The New York Junior League, 130 East 80th Street, 917-680-6739, moeysmusicparty.com.
(Ages newborn to 5 years)
Music For Aardvarks.
Various locations, 718-858-1741, musicforaardvarks.com. (Ages 6 months to 5
years)
Music Together In The
City. Various locations, 212-358-3801 or 800-728-2692, musictogethernyc.com.
(Ages newborn to 4 years)
Musical Kids
International. 1296 Lexington Avenue, 212-996-5898, musicalkids.net. (Ages
6 months to 7 years)
School For Strings.
419 West 54th Street, 212-315-0915, schoolforstrings.org. (Ages 12 months to 18
years)
The Early Ear. 48
West 68th Street, 110 West 96th Street, 353 East 78th Street, 212-877-7125, theearlyear.com.
(Ages 4 months to 5 years)
Three Little Birds
Music. 266 East 78th Street, 212-744-0404, tlbmusic.com. (Ages 4 months to
5 years)
WeBop At Jazz At Lincoln Center. Frederick P. Rose Hall,
Broadway at 60th Street, 212-258-9800 or 212-258-9922, jalc.org. (Ages 8 months
to 5 years)
When They’re Ready For Music Lessons
92Y School Of Music.
1395 Lexington Avenue, 212-415-5500, 92y.org. (All ages)
Church Street School For Music And Art. 74 Warren Street, 212-571-7290, churchstreetschool.org.
(Ages 16 months and up)
The Diller-Quaile
School Of Music. 24 East 95th Street, 212-369-1484, diller-quaile.org.
(Ages 4 months and up)
Greenwich House Music
School. 46 Barrow Street, 212-242-4770, greenwichhouse.org. (All ages)
Lucy Moses School Of
Music. 129 West 67th Street, 212-501-3308, kaufman-center.org/lucy-moses-school.
(Ages 18 months and up)
Manhattan School Of
Music. 601 West 122nd Street, 212-749-2802, msmnyc.edu. (Ages 5 and up)
Music House. 504
East 88th Street, 212-744-8840, nycmusichouse.org. (Ages 5 and up)
New York Jazz Academy.
Various locations, 718-426-0633, nyjazzacademy.com. (All ages)
The Piano School Of
NYC. Various locations, 212-386-2274, pianoschoolofnyc.com. (Ages 3 and up)
Piano Teacher USA.
In your home, 888-222-3098, pianoteacherusa.com. (All ages)
Turtle Bay Music
School. 244 East 52nd Street, 212-753-8811, tbms.org. (Ages 18 months and
up)
