Rockaway Music Lessons

pel church, living in a building filled with musicians, accompanying vocal master classes, studying Sanskrit, Indian raga, world percussion, creative arts therapy and performance wellness.

I now compose and sing my songs - interweaving voice with keyboard or guitar. Besides teaching privately, I can be found performing my songs in clubs, outdoor festivals, coffee houses, and poetry/healing events. I currently attended a certificate program in sound & music healing and the focus of my music rests here. I incorporate many techniques to aid students in relaxation, breath awareness, and de-stressing.

Using traditional teaching methods, I create meaningful experiences for students by:
- being patient, flexible and creative in approach
- using visual, aural, and tactile teaching tools

*** Lesson Details ***
After 3 to 6 Months OF Lessons, you can use the important music fundamentals you've learned to create music you love.
After about a year, you are invited to share your music with others in an intimate family recital or a performance for charity in service to your community!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Upright piano, piano synthesizer, guitar, percussion instruments

*** Travel Equipment ***
Carolyn carries her own guitar, teaching aids, manuscript paper, pen/pencils, and handouts.

Recommended for students:
KEYBOARD - ideally, have your own keyboard/piano, piano books, staff paper
ACOUSTIC UKULELE/GUITAR - your own guitar, capo, tuner, staff & TAB paper (you can wait for teacher to help you choose)
VOICE - have sheet music, lyrics or charts of your songs
SONGWRITING - have manuscript paper, recording device and journal/tablets to record their ideas
ALL STUDENTS - small tablet for notes & keeping track of assignments and a recording device to hear your playing/singing/compositions (optional)

*** Specialties ***
Performing Singer-Songwriter specializing in improvisation and Sound & Music Healing.

each student individually, catering to specific goals and needs that we will decide upon and plan together. Some students want to seriously study a craft. Others want a hobby that will be fun and interesting. I have had success teaching to both, and will impart basic fundamentals and musicianship to all types of students.

I see my primary job as keeping the student inspired, intellectually fed and sprinting in the right direction. The student's job is to do the work. Daily practice is essential to move forward in any craft.

*** Studio Equipment ***
My Brooklyn studio is a dedicated music space with two drum sets, PA, amplifiers and recording capabilities.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will provide books, a drum pad, sticks or mallets, an iPod with two sets of headphones, and a metronome. Additionally, I can bring small hand drums, special instruments and percussion that might be needed for specialty lessons. I expect students to have some sort of pad or drum to practice on at home; a full drum set is not necessary.

*** Specialties ***
Drum set (rock, jazz, R&B, folk, pop, electro, Afro-Cuban)
Snare drum
Timpani
Two- and four-mallets (marimba, vibraphone, xylophone)
Accessory percussion
Frame drums
Traditional samba
Afro-Cuban hand drums
Japanese taiko

ughly enjoy what I am doing. It's a pleasure to pass on to my students everything that my great teachers taught me.

, tailoring lesson plans to suit their personal goals and interests. I have experience playing and teaching an extensive range of styles including pop, rock, jazz, country, metal, and classical. One of my main goals is to foster a sense of musical understanding with every student so that they may learn to combine technical, theoretical, and aural skills into a unified whole.

Most students want to learn to play songs they know and love. To that end, I get students playing the music they want to play right from the beginning, often through personally crafted arrangements of songs/pieces of the student's choosing, specifically tailored to their current skill level. This way, technical and theoretical skills are learned through direct experience with actual music, and only very rarely through rote exercise.
​
For more advanced players, I offer an array of strategies designed to take your playing to the next level. I find that the most common shortcomings of advanced players are conceptual. The technical skills are there but the level of conceptual and theoretical understanding has hit a wall. Many players find themselves playing the same chord shapes, melodic patterns, and harmonic progressions over and over again. I've had much success over the years in getting advanced students out of this rut and helping open up new pathways for exploration in both improvisation and composition.

Reggea, Ska, Rock, Pop etc.

As my student, you will develop critical skills that will help build a strong musical foundation which will define you as a musician. I will evaluate the level in which you currently are and provide a clear defined path in order to reach our goals.
One thing I strongly focus on is your love for music. My goal is not only to see you progress, but to love the music and have fun with what you are playing.

I can't wait to work with you and help you reach your ultimate goals!

hestra, chamber groups, choral works, and multimedia events.
He received commissioned works from many prestigious venues and institutions and his works were premiered at places like the 'Theater an der Wien', UN Headquarters NYC ( Year Of the Mountains Launch Event), Red Bull Hangar 7, European Forum Alpbach, Austrian Cultural Forum NYC & Washington, Lincoln Plaza etc.

As a bandleader he performed at the Jazz Standard, Dizzy's Coca-Cola Club Lincoln Center, Porgy & Bess, Brucknerhaus Linz and many Jazz Festivals (Vienna Jazz Festival, Espoo Jazz Festival etc.) Franz is co-leading a brass trio with the legends Dave Taylor (bass trombone ) and John Clark ( french horn). He also has duos with percussion super star Mino Cinelu and pianist Michael Wolff.

Franz also works quite often with leading classical artists like Dietmar Küblböck ( principal Trombone Vienna Philharmonic) and Gerhard Fluch ( principal trumpet Bruckner Orchester Linz) Franz taught at many workshops ( Jazzmarathon Mattighofen, Jazzworkshop Pulawy/Poland, SUNY Purchase, Friedberg Jazz Cocktail, etc) and is regularly hired for masterclasses ( University of Music and Theater Leipzig, Music University Tunis, Musikschule Wiener Neustadt, brass bands, masterclasses at music exhibitions etc.)

In partnership with his father Franz sen., who is a famous trumpet virtuoso in Austria and started his career in the mid 50's, Franz jun. is also hand crafting innovative horns & accessories (Hybrass, DeeflexxBrass). The family business was established in 1965.

challenging environment.

I started meditation to develop my own self awareness, but these tools can help anyone to find their center, build confidence and gain energy for facing life's hyper-stimulation. My goal is to guide everyone into all levels of meditation, for students who are curious and have never meditated, to advanced meditators looking to take their understanding to the next level.

I teach Vipassana or Insight meditation. I am an affiliate of several meditation centers around the city.

I love teaching all people the ways of violin and meditation. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.