Private Music Lessons

2017–2018

Calendar 2

Policies and procedures 3

Instructor bios 5

Instrument rental and purchase information 8

LESSONS

MUSICPRIVATE

1

Private Music Lesson Calendar

Our 2017-18 Private Music Lesson (PML) program will run from Monday, September 18 to Friday, June 8. There will be no

lessons held on holidays or early dismissal days. On conference days, when ‘mini camps’ are in session, programming will not

include regularly scheduled specialty classes or music lessons.

Thursday, September 7 PlayLab, StudyLab Jr. and StudyLab begin for grades K–12

Monday, September 11 Specialty classes and private music lessons begin for grades 1–12

Thursday, September 14 PlayLab begins for pre-K

Monday, September 18 Specialty classes begin for pre-K–K

Private music lessons begin for K

Thursday, September 21– Rosh Hashanah—no classes

Friday, September 22

Wednesday, September 27 PlayLab begins for nursery

Friday, October 6 Conference Day—no classes. Conference care and mini camp available

Monday, October 9 Columbus Day—no classes

Tuesday, October 10 Faculty professional development—no classes

Wednesday, November 1 Conference Day—no classes. Conference care and mini camp available

Monday, November 6– Visitation week for all after-school and private music lessons

Friday, November 10

Tuesday, November 14 Spring 2017 after-school registration opens for ELC classes at 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 15 Spring 2017 after-school registration opens for Lower Division classes at 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 22– Thanksgiving recess—no classes

Friday, November 24

Monday, December 4– Private music lesson workshop week

Friday, December 8

Thursday, December 14– After-school showcase week and private music lesson recitals

Wednesday, December 20

Friday, December 22– Winter recess—no classes

Friday, January 5

2

Friday, December 22– Winter recess—no classes

Friday, January 5

Monday, January 8 Spring specialty classes begin

Private music lessons resume

Monday, January 15 Martin Luther King Jr. day–no classes

Wednesday, January 24 Conference Day—no classes. Conference care and mini camp available

Friday, February 16 Lunar New Year–no classes

Monday, February 19 Presidents’ Day–no classes

Tuesday, February 20 Faculty professional development—no classes

Monday, March 12– Visitation week for all after-school and private music lessons

Friday, March 16

Monday, March 19– Spring break

Friday, March 30

Monday, April 23 Faculty professional development—no classes

Wednesday, April 25 Conference Day—no classes. Conference care and mini camp available

Monday, May 21– Spring music recital workshop week

Friday, May 25

Monday, June 4– After-school showcase week and private music lesson recitals

Friday, June 8

Private Music Lesson Calendar continued

1

Private Music Lessons

WELCOME TO

PRIVATE MUSIC

LESSONS

REGISTRATION:

NEW STUDENTS

REGISTRATION:

RETURNING

STUDENTS

Private music lessons are offered to students in kindergarden through grade 12, allowing students

to mature into seasoned musicians. Students and their families commit to a full academic year to

ensure the highest quality of musical education. The study of piano will begin in kindergarden, in our

brand-new Early Learning Center campus. Study of drum, cello, violin, guitar and ukulele will begin

in grade one. Flute, voice, electric bass and electric guitar will begin in grade three. Clarinet, oboe,

saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba and French horn will begin in grade four. All lessons are 40

minutes in length.

All applicants are required to interview with the coordinator of the private music lessons in order to

determine readiness and the most appropriate program and teacher.

• Request an interview by emailing musiclessons@avenues.org.

• Students with previous experience should play or sing one of their current pieces. Please bring

your own instrument for the interview. Avenues will provide a piano.

• Beginner students will have an opportunity to try an instrument during the interview.

• Registration for new 2017-2018 students will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

After the interview, lesson times will be offered based on teacher availability.

If you have any questions, please email us at musiclessons@avenues.org.

Returning students are given first priority in keeping their current lesson day and time. Please notify

us via email if you intend to continue in your current lesson slot or if you would like to change your

lesson time NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JUNE 23. Please note that we have limited availability. Once

you release your lesson slot, it will become available to other prospective students.

Your lesson slot will not be reserved until you have registered and paid 50% of the total annual

tuition. Please select your current day and instrument. We will then send you an email confirming

your 40-minute lesson slot.

ScheduleAll instruments and grades have the same rate structure

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

30 Sessions 33 Sessions 31 Sessions 32 Sessions 30 Sessions

$2,400 $2,640 $2,480 $2,560 $2,400

2

CHECK-IN

PROCEDURES —

EARLY LEARNING

CENTER

CHECK-IN

PROCEDURES —

LOWER DIVISION

CHECK-IN

PROCEDURES —

UPPER DIVISION

DISMISSAL

PROCEDURES

ABSENCES

Kindergarden students will be brought from their classroom to a transition classroom on the second

floor of our new building by a classroom teacher. Once there, they will sit at a table with other private

music lesson students and enjoy a healthy snack. The music teacher will then pick up the student and

walk him or her to the lesson location. Parents may pick their child up directly from the classroom

where their lesson is held. If students are going to Last Call after their lesson, the music teacher will

walk that child back to the second floor.

In addition to completing online registration, all Lower Division parents must use the online School

Dismissal Manager to inform the school about their child’s dismissal plans. Parents must update School

Dismissal Manager by 1:00 p.m. if there are any changes to the normal dismissal routine. Please indicate

on School Dismissal Manager if your child is going to PlayLab, a specialty class or music lesson.

Lower Division students will be brought from their classroom to the fifth floor by a Lower Division

teacher. Once there, they will sit at a table with other private music lesson students and enjoy a healthy

snack. The music teacher will then pick up the student and walk them to the lesson location. If students

are going to Last Call after their lesson, the music teacher will walk that child back to the fifth floor.

Upper Division students enrolled in private music lessons can independently go to their lesson location

at the appropriate time. If a student chooses to join StudyLab before their time slot, they can have a

snack and work on school projects, free of charge.

ELC and Lower Division students can be picked up at their lesson location, which can be found on the

screens in the lobby, security desk and the after-school hubs. If you are more than five minutes late to

pick up your kindergarden child from their lesson, he or she will be brought to the second floor hub of

the new building commons. If you are more than five minutes late to pick up your Lower Division child

from their lesson, he or she will be brought to the fifth floor commons of the main building.

Parents are expected to have their child picked up at dismissal time. If you are late to pick up your

child, the instructor will bring him or her to Last Call and you will be charged $25/hour with a one-hour

minimum. All after-school programs end promptly at 6:00 p.m. Late fees of $25 for every 15 minutes

will be applied for all late pick-ups after 6:00 p.m. with no exceptions (including advance phone calls).

Unless notified otherwise, Upper Division students may self-dismiss from after-school programs. If you

do not grant your child permission to self-dismiss, he or she must be signed out in his or her classroom

by a parent or caregiver. The specific room will be listed at the security desk and available at the after-

school hubs.

Please note you must have a proper Avenues ID badge to come pick up your child. No one will be

allowed out of the lobby without the proper ID badge. If there is any change in your normal pick-up

routine, please call security at 646-664-0992, who will pass the message to the after-school staff via

radio.

Parents are responsible for directly informing BOTH the music instructor and the private music lesson

coordinator (musiclessons@avenues.org) by email or phone in the early morning (before 8:30 a.m.) of

the lesson day if their child must miss their lesson. Music instructors’ contact information (phone and

email) will be provided to parents.

Policies and Procedures

3

MAKE-UP LESSONS

WITHDRAWALS

AND REFUNDS

PRICING AND

BILLING

LESSON

ASSIGNMENTS

AND MATERIALS

PERFORMANCE

WORKSHOPS AND

RECITALS

Student attendance and commitment are important cornerstones of the private music lesson program.

Avenues will provide TWO make-up lessons due to student absences per school year at the discretion

and availability of your child’s teacher. Any other missed lessons will be forfeited regardless of reasons.

Individual lessons missed as a result of teacher absences, school field trips or unscheduled school

closings will be rescheduled. To avoid any disruptions in your child’s schedule, Avenues may provide a

highly-qualified substitute instructor if your child’s regular instructor is sick.

Please note that students commit to their lessons for a full school year. There is a one-week

add/drop period during the first week of lessons. If a student decides to cancel their enrollment in

private music lessons before the first lesson, the lesson fee is refundable. If a student withdraws from

the program after the first lesson, 75% of the total paid (50% of the annual fee) will be refunded. THERE

ARE NO REFUNDS after the second lesson has been attended. There are no exceptions to this policy;

please be familiar with the policy before registering your child for private music lessons.

Each private music lesson is $80. Please note there is a $175 non-refundable recital fee applied at the

time of payment and a 2.3% processing fee to pay via credit card. 50% of the annual lesson fee plus the

registration fee will be due at the time of fall registration. The balance will be due at the time of winter/

spring registration, no later than November 21, 2017.

Consistent student practice throughout each week is crucial to the student’s technical and creative

learning process. Teachers will provide information for parents to purchase music scores and study

materials tailored to the students, as well as personal journals for recording lesson assignments.

Students must bring all music materials—music scores and personal journal—to each lesson.

Student participation in the end-of-year recital is at the discretion of the instructor and the coordinator

of private instrument and vocal study. All participants are required to attend a pre-recital performance

practice workshop. Dates for these workshops and recitals will be sent out before spring recess.

4

Instructor Bios

RUPERT BOYD

Guitar

MARGARET

CRAMER

Flute

JENNY HAYDEN

Voice

YINJIA LIN

Piano

JEFF LITMAN

Guitar

Australian guitarist Rupert Boyd is acclaimed as one of the most talented guitarists of his generation.

The Washington Post has described him as “truly evocative,” and Classical Guitar Magazine calls him

“a player who deserves to be heard.” He has performed across four continents, from New York’s

Carnegie Hall to festivals in Europe, China, the Philippines and Australia. His solo CD “Valses Poéticos”

received the following review in Soundboard, the quarterly publication of the Guitar Foundation

of America: “Boyd’s playing is beautifully refined, with gorgeous tone...musically and technically

flawless.”

Margaret was educated at Boston University School of Fine Arts and Manhattan School of Music and

holds a bachelor of music degree. She studied flute with James Pappoutsakis and Harold Bennett, as

well as with William Hebert, Maurice Sharp, Albert Tipton, Thomas Nyfenger and Barbara Peterson.

Margaret toured throughout the U.S. with the Bolshoi Ballet, the Canadian Opera Company, the

Norwegian Ballet and the Mitch Miller Chamber Orchestra, as well as playing principal flute with the

Blossom Festival School and the Aspen Chamber Symphony. She has performed (playing principal

flute) under James Levine, Pierre Boulez, Robert Shaw, Sergiu Comissiona and Jorge Mester, among

others. She has also performed chamber music extensively throughout the Northeast. She is a faculty

member at Greenwich House Music School.

Soprano Jenny Hayden is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and received her master’s in

performance from the Eastman School of Music. The Eastman School then gave her a grant to study

privately in Paris with the renowned French art song master, the late Pierre Bernac. She was later

an in-residence coloratura soprano at the Trier Opera House in Germany. She has also been on the

faculty of the Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale, N.Y. for the past decade. Ms. Hayden has

had many successful students accepted to colleges for both classical and musical theater repertoire.

Chinese pianist YinJia Lin has drawn international attention since her concerto debut at the age of

15 with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, conducted by Wing-Sie Yip. Recognized by critics, colleagues

and the public as a pianist with the highest sensitivity, imagination and precision, combining brilliant

musicality with great passion, Ms. Lin has performed solo recitals, concertos and chamber music

concerts in New York City venues such as the Alice Tully Hall, WMP Concert Hall, Ana Tzarev Gallery

and the Frederick Loewe Theater at New York University. She has also performed at international

venues including the Hong Kong City Hall and the Golden Horse Concert Hall in Canton, China. Ms.

Lin has been awarded many scholarships, awards and prizes in both China and the U.S., including

the second prize of the Buono & Bradshaw International Piano Competition in 2008; the first prize

of the New York University piano concerto competition in 2005; and the first prize of the Mozart

international piano/violin concerto competition in Hong Kong in 1998. As an adjunct artist for the

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Lin performed numerous solo recitals in New Jersey for the

2008–2009 subscription season, captivating and delighting her audiences.

Jeff Litman has been part of the New York City music scene since moving here in 2004 from

his hometown of Minneapolis, MN. He maintains an active career as a singer/songwriter, multi-

instrumentalist, composer and educator and has performed as a solo artist and side-musician at

venues throughout the city such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and Mercury Lounge. In addition

to an active performing career, Jeff’s compositions have been heard on television networks such as

MTV and CBS. Jeff has a bachelor’s degree in jazz guitar from Indiana University and a master’s in

classical guitar from Manhattan School of Music. With equal love for classical, jazz, pop and rock,

Jeff has an eclectic approach to music making that he works hard to impart to his students and

colleagues.

5

CRYSTAL MEDINA

Clarinet

MICHIYO

MORIKAWA

Piano

MICHAEL ROBERTS

Piano

GEORGE SARPOLA

Drum

Crystal Medina has taught on both coasts of the U.S. and has worked in numerous outreach

programs giving master classes, workshops and private lessons. She believes the role of the musician

is to be active in the community, not just on the concert stage, and is a strong proponent for bringing

music education to the classroom.

Ms. Medina was the only American selected to participate in the 2013 Beijing International Music

Competition and the 2014 Janacek International Clarinet Competition. Her artistry has won her

numerous awards. She is a two-time awardee of the 2007 and 2006 Lilian Fuchs Chamber Music

Competition and winner of the Euterpe Club Music. She has made solo appearances with the Costa

Contra Chamber Orchestra in celebration of Mozart’s 250th Anniversary, the UNC-Greensboro

Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble 212 of New York.

Ms. Medina currently serves as faculty at Nyack College, InterSchool Orchestra. She received her

master’s from Manhattan School of Music and diploma from the Mannes College of Music under the

tutelage of world renowned clarinetists Charles Neidich and Ayako Oshima.

Mrs. Morikawa holds a master of music degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a

professional studies diploma from the Mannes College of Music and has studied with Karl Ulrich

Schnabel, Jerome Rose, Hugo Goldenzweig and German Diez. She has performed as a soloist with,

among many others, the New York Symphonic Ensemble, Filarmonica de Jalisco and Sinfonica de

Coyoacan. A frequent recitalist and chamber player, Ms. Morikawa has performed across the globe,

including in Italy, Spain, Japan, Finland, Argentine, Costa Rica and Mexico.

She is currently a piano teacher at the Third Street Music School Settlement, Avenues: The World

School and Greenwich House Music School in New York City.

Michael Roberts holds a B.M. degree in piano performance from Oberlin College Conservatory of

Music and an M.M. degree in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Roberts is

founder and president (October 1987 to present) of M. R. Music, Inc., an entertainment company

specializing in the presentation of live music for NYC and the tri-state area for private events.

He has worked in many of the most elegant venues in New York City, such as the Lotos Club, the

Metropolitan Club and St. Regis Hotel. Mr. Roberts has extensive experience as a pianist/singer in

many of the most prestigious hotels in New York City and was for 12 years the musical personality

and voice in the Plaza Hotel’s Oak Room. Additionally, Mr. Roberts has performed at celebrity parties

for such notables as Barbara Walters, Charlotte Ford, Sumner Redstone (Viacom) and Mayor Rudolf

Giuliani at Gracie Mansion. Mr. Roberts has combined teaching and performing and has taught piano

to all ages and levels of students throughout his musical career.

George Sarpola is a freelance musician and educator in New York City. He graduated in 2008 from

LaGuardia High School with a music endorsement and from SUNY Purchase in 2012 with a B.A. in

jazz performance. He has studied with John Riley, Richie Morales, Charles Blenzig and Ray Marchica,

among others. He has performed throughout the NY area with rock bands, orchestras, concert bands

and jazz bands at venues including the Knitting Factory, Sullivan Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and Lincoln

Center. He has also performed on Broadway as part of the musical Thirteen. He is currently a member

of multiple bands that regularly play around New York City.

6

GUSTAVO

SCHARTZ

NAOMI HSING-TAI

WU

STEPHANIE YU

Gustavo Schartz joined Avenues in 2013–2014 as a part-time middle grades music teacher. He is now

teaching full time music and one Spanish class, as well as working in the after-school program. He is a

seasoned music teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching ensembles and individuals.

Born in Argentina, Gustavo began studying classical guitar and Argentinian folklore at the age of nine.

Later he attended the Buenos Aires Conservatory of Music. In 1984 he moved to Israel and studied at

the prestigious Rubin Academy of Music from 1986 to 1990, completing the four-year jazz performance

program. While in Israel, Gustavo taught at the Jerusalem Conservatory of Music (high school) for seven

years. He has also studied in Cuba with the legendary “Tres” player Gilberto “Papi” Oviedo and with

Chucho Valdes. While in Cuba he joined Chucho Valdes Jr.’s Latin jazz ensemble.

Since his arrival in New York in 1997, Gustavo has been an active member of the musical community,

both a musician and as a band leader with his own group, Son de Madre. He has recorded, toured or

performed with many well-known musicians and performed in all major venues in New York, including

Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Sounds of Brazil and Copacabana. He also taught for seven years at Boys

and Girls Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, directing ensembles as well as teaching private

guitar, bass and tres (Cuban guitar).

Gustavo has vast experience teaching many different styles—classical, jazz, blues, rock, Brazilian and

Cuban. He is fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese and Hebrew.

Naomi Wu is a Taiwan-born pianist and received her master’s degree in piano performance from the

Manhattan School of Music. She has been interviewed by the China Broadcasting Company and has

performed both as a soloist and chamber musician in Taiwan’s National Concert Hall and New York’s City

Hall. She now divides her time between teaching at Queens College Preparatory School and at Avenues.

Violinist Stephanie Yu is an avid performer, collaborator and pursuer of the arts through teaching and

community involvement in New York City. Originally from Los Angeles, she was an Elizabeth Mandell

Music Institute (EMMI) scholarship student at the Crossroads School, studying with concertmasters of

the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Bing Wang and Alexander Treger. A recipient of the Merv Griffin Memorial

Scholarship, she was a guest soloist with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra at their gala

event at the Beverly Hills Hilton; she was delighted and surprised to be find herself on a program hosted

by Ryan Seacrest and with iconic actor and director Clint Eastwood.

Stephanie has had the privilege of performing at venues such as the Metropolitan Opera House, Royal

Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center,

Disney Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. At Juilliard, she was

fortunate to work with students of various ages as an instrumental music program fellow at P.S. 11 and

P.S. 84 schools and was also a colloquium peer mentor, Gluck community service fellow and English

teaching fellow. Stephanie completed her undergraduate studies with Masao Kawasaki and graduate

studies under the tutelage of Catherine Cho and Joseph Lin. She is a recipient of the C.V. Starr and

Teplitsky Memorial scholarships and currently plays on a Carl Becker violin generously loaned to her

from the Colburn Foundation.

7

PIANO

STRINGS

GUITAR

Beethoven Pianos

800-241-0001

www.beethovenpianos.com

Faust Harrison Pianos

207 W. 58th Street, NYC 10019

212-489-3600

www.faustharrisonpianos.com

Allegro Pianos

205 W. 58th Street, NYC 10019

212-265-2455

www.allegropianos.com

Piano Rental New York

244 W. 54th St, 5th Floor,

NYC 10019

212-586-9057

www.pianorentalny.com

Joe Tanen Violin/Cello Studio

3111 Broadway, NYC

212-663-6219

http://tanenviolins.com/

Virtuoso Resources

261 W. 93rd Street, NYC 10025

917-365-7808

www.virtuosoresources.com

Flushing Violin Shop

175-15 37th Avenue, Flushing, NY

11354

718-353-6815

www.flushingviolin.com

Sam Ash Music Store

333 W. 34th Street, NYC 10001

212-719-2299

(other locations in Forest Hills and

Brooklyn)

www.samashmusic.com

Guitar Center

25 W. 14th Street, NYC

212-463-7600

(other locations in Brooklyn and

Queens)

www.guitarcenter.com

Available for rental

and purchase

(both used and rebuilt)

Available for purchase

(new, used and rebuilt)

Available for purchase

(new, used and rebuilt)

Available for purchase

(new, used and rebuilt)

Available for rental and

purchase

Available for rental and

purchase (new and used)

Available for rental and

purchase (new and used)

Corodba, Strunal or Yamaha

example: 1/2 size for younger

than seven; 3/4 size for

children older than seven

Foot stool

Instrument Purchase and Rental Information

8

UKULELE

FLUTE

BRASS AND

WOODWINDS

(Trumpet, tuba,

trombone, French

horn, clarinet,

oboe, saxophone)

Sam Ash Music Store

333 W. 34th Street, NYC 10001

212-719-2299

(other locations in Forest Hills and

Brooklyn)

http://www.samashmusic.com/

Guitar Center

25 W. 14th Street, NYC

212-463-7600

(other locations in Brooklyn and

Queens)

http://www.guitarcenter.com

Flute Center of New York

1841 Broadway, Suite 1106, NYC

212-307-9737

http://www.flute4sale.com

Sam Ash Music Store

333 W. 34th Street, NYC 10001

212-719-2299

(other locations in Forest Hills and

Brooklyn)

www.samashmusic.com

Rayburn Music

44 W. 62nd Street, NYC 10023

212-541-6236

www.rayburnmusic.com

Lanika LU-21 soprano ukulele;

Kala or Hilo