Hollis Music Lessons

06/08 Rockaway-Five Towns Symphony, Lynbrook, NY
• Music Director, Conductor
• Conducted weekly rehearsals (night) and 3-4 concerts during the concert season

10/03-06/08 Globe Institute of Technology, New York, NY
• Adjunct Professor of Music

06/07-08/07 JCC of Cherry Hill, NJ
• Musical Theater Director
• Taught acting, improvisation, singing. Produced musical shows.

10/06-06/07 JCH of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY
• Musical Theater Director
• Produced musical theater shows
• Taught students of ages 5-12 various vocal selections

09/00-06/07 NYC Board of Education, District 20, P.S.200; P.S.179
• Band / Orchestra Director
• Taught all woodwind, brass and percussion, violin, piano

05/99-06/06 School for Musical Performance, Brooklyn, NY
• Instructed students on Piano, Guitar, All string and wind instruments and vocals.
• Prepared students for the auditions to the prestigious schools and other music organizations.

1993-1997 St. Petersburg Radio Orchestra, Russia
• Principal Bassoonist
Other work experience:
• Performed as a bassoonist with The Kirov Opera & Ballet Theatre, the Mussorgsky Opera & Ballet Theatre, The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, The Chamber Opera Orchestra of St. Petersburg and other Symphony and Chamber orchestras of St. Petersburg, Russia
• Performed Solo Recitals in Russia, Poland, Norway and United States

Education:
06/98 The St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music, St. Petersburg, Russia
M.A. in Music: Major – Bassoon Performance; Minor – Conducting
06/91 The St. Petersburg College of Music named after Rimsky-Korsakov, Russia
B.A. with a Double Major in Orchestral Performance (Bassoon) and Music Education

*** Lesson Details ***
Hi there!
Would you just like to learn a few songs on the piano, violin or guitar? Or you'd like your child be become next Joshua Bell or Evgenij Kissin? My lessons are designed with each individual student in mind. I will start my lesson with introduction and proceed with warm-up routine. I always make sure that the student is comfortable with the pace that I am offering. I am mixing elements of music theory, history and performance techniques in order to help my student to embrace the beauty of music making experience. All my students are ready to perform at the recital after just 3-4 months of lessons.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I teach using Fisher Baby Grand Piano. Fender guitars. Major brands band instruments; yamaha, selmer, gemeingardt, etc.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Fender Guitar, Yamaha Flute/Saxophone, Casio Digital Piano, Custom Violin made in England.

*** Specialties ***
suzuki violin, classical, jazz

studio. I expect a student to have their own instrument, although I can supply one of my instruments for lessons at my studio.

*** Specialties ***
I can teach from beginner to very advanced on guitar, bass guitar and upright bass in the styles of Rock, Jazz, Blues, Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop etc. I also have experience in other subjects such as Logic Pro, Composition, Music Theory, Djembe. My focus is usually on performance for guitar/bass and composition/production for the other fields.

orking with students of all ages, to see them grow musically and become able to learn the skills necessary for them to play whatever they wish.

makes music colorful and beautiful. I believe that the goal of musicians should be to attune our inner ears to the music behind the notes that sit on a page before us and then let that music flow through us. We all hear different qualities in the notes, but as long as we honestly try to get inside the notes before we touch our instrument, we can all make beautiful music.

TECHNIQUE
Once we have an idea of the way we want the music to sound, we need technique to produce those sounds. Early in my training, I experienced discomfort from the poor way in which I was playing. As a result, I had to retrain myself completely. I was fortunate enough to find three teachers of the Taubman Approach who helped me to understand the connections between playing in a coordinated way and playing beautifully. As a result of having made many mistakes myself and then overcoming them, I have developed the ability to see what is holding back my students and to help them find better ways of approaching the piano.

MATERIALS
The best music for students is the music that motivates them to practice. That said, at certain times, I think some pieces will help a student get to the next level, and others will only tie the student in knots. I have taught a lot of repertoire in a variety of styles. I can give students at any level music that is appropriate for them. I am also always eager to work on music that my students bring me.

To give students skills that directly apply to their playing, I also incorporate theory, ear training, sight reading, and scales into lessons.

INSTRUMENT
Although I have no qualms about teaching students who have electric keyboards, acoustic instruments give better aural feedback to pianists about the health of their technique. At least once a week I make sure my students get to play on an instrument that responds to their efforts with a beautiful sound: either my own 1913 Steinway B, or one of a variety of good grand pianos at the midtown studio where I teach.

PRACTICE METHODS
Students can expect to learn a lot in their lessons, but lessons usually only happen once a week. The quality and quantity of the student’s practice the rest of the week is critical. At each point in the process of learning a piece, there are different practice methods that help a pianist get to the next step. I think I can see where students are in the learning process and can guide their practice so that their time spent at home is optimized.

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Many students enjoy playing music for themselves, but when they are asked to play for others, the joy of the experience turns into fear of embarrassment. There is no quick and easy solution to performance anxiety, but having worked through it in hundreds of performances, I can say there are certainly ways to reduce it and even make performing joyful. Understanding that playing for others is an experience of sharing, not “impressing,” and practicing in a way that helps one to see, hear, and feel the music the instant before one plays it are at the core of my method.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
I teach children and adult students. I do not force anyone to perform, though I encourage it. I am a member of two associations of independent piano teachers that sponsor recitals and competitions for my young students. My adult students and I usually get together at my apartment twice a year for a piano-food-fest.

FLEXIBILITY
Ultimately, there is no single way to teach all students. Students come to me with different degrees of musical training, physical awareness and dexterity, musical tastes, discipline, and patience. It is my job to figure out what will light each student’s fire and help them to practice through their challenges so that they can enjoy the beautiful and all-consuming experience of making music.

I invite you to try some lessons.