New York, NY Music Theory Lessons

is students for competitions, audition preparation and professional concerts. Each year his students have the opportunity to perform at the world-renowned Steinway Hall in New York City. This yearly student recital gives students the opportunity to perform in one of New York City’s most sought after recital Halls located in midtown Manhattan. In July of 2014 Paul became a Steinway Educational partner. In 2008, Paul received a Masters Degree in piano performance from New York University. In 2006, he received a Bachelor Degree of Music from Stony Brook University.
As a Pianist, In 2006 Paul was a prizewinner at the Music Club of Douglaston Piano Competition. For two consecutive years, Paul was awarded The Suffolk County Piano Forum Prize. XLNT Music recently wrote, “Paul is a fine pianist that performs with superb pianism and great sensitivity.”
 His recent public performances include Ecuador South America, Steinway Hall NYC, The United Nations, Faust Harrison Hall, Saint Peters NYC and The Staller Center. Paul has performed with The Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra and The New York University Symphony Orchestra. He has studied with well-known piano teachers including: Martin Canin, Morey Ritt, Tina Dahl, and Anita Gelber. In 2011 he released a record consisting of his performance of original compositions for solo piano that is available in bookstores and on iTunes.
As a composer Paul has composed music for the feature film Documentary Between the Shades, directed by Jill Salvino and premiered at the Soho International Film Festival in 2017. In 2014, Paul was the composer for the radio show Ackerman Associates Meets Dracula written and directed by Peter Stass. In 2014 he wrote the score for, Lies People Tell, a short film that premiered at the san pedro film festival. In 2011, he released his first solo record Succession of images, a song cycle for solo piano. In 2017, he released his second record Hope, a chamber music work recorded with clarinetist Thomas Piercy and Violinist Patrisa Tomassini. Recent public piano performances of his music include Ecuador in South America, Steinway Hall NYC, The United Nations, Spectrum NYC, Faust Harrison Hall, Saint Peters in NYC and The Staller Center in Stony Brook NY.

As an artist, Paul is known for creating large instillations, paintings and live performing art pieces. From 2014-2016, he was the artist in residence at Spectrum Gallery in NYC. In 2014, he completed the Elevator Time Machine, a large instillation made of elevator parts that responds to sound. He also wrote and produced a 20 minute live art piece called Static in Movement for piano and video. His acrylic on canvas works have also been presented at Spectrum NYC, The Art Bar, The Gallery at Logos and Ward-Nasse gallery.

Education New York University
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
Piano Performance. M.A. December 2008

Stony Brook University
Music. B.A. 2006

Professional Experience
Private Music Studio: 2004-present
Instructor for piano, voice and composition; working primarily with students K-12.
• Develop individualized music plans that encourages growth and self motivated study.
• Well equipped to prepare students for the New York State Music Association Exam.
• Expertise guiding students to reach their maximum potential by using assignments that are challenging but not impossible.
• Experience preparing students for music college applications and auditions.
• Successfully prepare student recitals on a yearly basis.
• Effectively communicate with parents and engage them in their child’s music education.

Performing Arts Center of New York: 2013
• Developed and delivered a curriculum connecting the major composers and artists of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary Periods.

Cultural House of Ecuador: 2009-2011
• Created and taught classes about the periods in music and art and how they coexist together.
• Created and taught group classes in beginner music theory and composition.

High School students in Quevedo Ecuador: 2012
• Created and taught workshops in music theory and composition.

Adjunct Instructor at New York University: 2007-2009
Instructor for New York University Keyboard Harmony and Improvisation courses.
• Created and taught a curriculum for beginner, intermediate and advanced keyboard classes.
• Created lesson plans to enhance musicality and keyboard skills for university music major and minor students.

Instructor for New York University private piano students
• Instructed music students in beginner, intermediate and advanced piano.

Our Lady of Angelus Catholic School: 2007
• Created and taught a curriculum in beginner piano to elementary school students.

Awards
• Prize Winner, TMMC Piano Competition, 2007
• Award of Honor, The Suffolk County Piano Teachers Forum Prize In recognition of outstanding achievement in piano performance, 2006
• Award of Honor, The Suffolk County Piano Teachers Forum Prize
In recognition of outstanding achievement in piano performance, 2005
Professional Affiliations
• Suffolk Piano Teacher’s Forum
• College Music Society
• Music Teacher’s National Association
• American Composers Forum
• Steinway and Sons
• American Society of Composers
• Tuesday Morning Music Club

Private Study
• Anita Gelber, 2002-2012
• Martin Canin, New York University, 2006-2008
• Justin Dello Joio, New York University, 2007-2008
• Morey Ritt, Queens College, 2006
• Tina Dahl, Stony Brook University, 2004-2006

Selected Recent Concert Performances
• Westport Library, Connecticut, NY, 2016
• Douglaston Community Church, Douglaston, NY, 2015
• All Saints Memorial Church, NJ, 2014
• Firehouse Space, Brooklyn, NY, 2014
• Spectrum NYC, New York, NY, 2014, 2013
• Steinway Hall, New York, NY, 2014, 2013, 2012
• University of Quevedo, Ecuador, 2013
• Saint Peters Church, New York, NY, 2011

Selected Film and Theater Composer Credits
• Between the Shades – Feature Film Documentary, 2016
• Lies People Tell – Short Film, 2014
• Ackerman and Associates Meet Dracula – Live Radio Show, 2013
• Magical Quark Particle – Science Art Film, 2012

Discography
• Hope, 2017
• Succession of Images, 2011

Recent Art Expositions
• Spectrum NYC, 2014-2016
• Gallery at Logos, 2012-2016
• Port Jefferson Village Center, 2012
• Ward Nasse Gallery, 2011

*** Lesson Details ***
My goal as a teacher is to make students successful in their goals. I work with a variety of people; some of them study music for personal enjoyment and others for their musical career. Everyone responds differently to music, that is why I prepare special lessons for each student. It is important that my students enjoy what they are playing and for that reason I have a variety of repertoire that they can choose from.
From a lot of experience with beginner piano students, both young and adults, I have been able to find a regimen of piano teaching that combines time efficiency with fun. As the lessons continue, I slowly add new tools to each weekly lesson that are exiting and interesting. While working with intermediate to advanced students, I have had coached them to apply and get accepted into some of the top Universities and Conservatories in the country. My students, beginner intermediate and advanced levels, have been awarded for their performances and activities in schools and competitions.
I am also a composition teacher. I work with composition students from beginner to advance. My composition students, over the years, range from all ages starting at 7. My students, after the first year, have been able to write string quartets and piano trios. My advanced students have entered competitions all over the country and are very successful in their composition practice. Some of their compositions have been performed in famous concert halls and schools.
As a vocal coach, I work with students of all ages. The repertoire that I recommend to beginner students includes Disney, Broadway and classical music. For intermediate and advanced vocal student, I have successfully prepared them for competitions, Broadway and University auditions as well as personal enjoyment.
Most recently I held a piano, composition and vocal recital for my students at the world famous Steinway Hall in New York City. I believe that some students work better when there is motivation for performance activities. For that reason I host these type of events. Students that decide they want to take place in these events perform among all levels. I offer these performance opportunities as an invitation. Each student has a choice as to whether they would like to perform.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Yamaha Grand Piano

*** Specialties ***
*Teachers classified as a Student Favorite have taught a minimum of 25
lessons and have received the highest feedback rating from students.Classical, Jazz, Blues, Broadway

ion is offered for all levels (1-6).

*** Studio Equipment
Piano, keyboard; den dedicated to music. Extensive musical library.

*** Specialties ***
Students with special needs

s were focused on education administration and management. This helped me manage class in most efficient and effective way , plan lessons and develop curricula.

I would eagerly take students from all age groups and backgrounds and involve them in the most exciting process of self accomplishment.

*** Lesson Details ***
I enjoy teaching all ages 5 and up with different abilities, needs and requirements and develop plans to fit each individual. I have very friendly atmosphere in the class. I design certain games for children to enable them to better understand music language, theory and develop practical skills. I spend much time on ear training, rhythm development, music structure, music theory and performance.

In a 3 month period students will be able to understand different scales, basics of music theory and performance and will be able to perform classical pieces e.g. Bach’s inventions, Mozart’s and Beethoven’s little sonatas for piano etc

*** Studio Equipment ***
piano is a digital yamaha...88 keys, weighted
one room...space for parent to sit and listen

*** Specialties ***
classical music, popular music

The Drifters, Del Shannon, The Shirelles, The Marvelettes, The Crystals, Chuck Berry, Leslie Gore and believe it or not Tiny Tim. I played guitar, harmonica, mandolin and banjo in productions of: Hair, Tommy, Big River, Fiddler On The Roof and Grease. I composed my own music and performed and co-wrote with others who also wrote their own music. I have always taught private guitar lessons as far back as I can remember. One notable student was Stevie Wonder's son Keita who I taught for 2 years at Stevie's home in northern New Jersey as well as CBS News Anchor Charles Osgood's daughter Annie. Currently I teach 20 private guitar students a week.. From 1994 to 2000, I was the guitarist for The Royal Scam (a Steely Dan Tribute) and during that period I was hired by Hal Leonard Music Corp. to write a guitar transcription book called "The Best of Steely Dan". I was also hired by Brother International Corp. to compose and record a national radio jingle called "P-Touch", with Corey Glover from the rock band Living Colour doing the vocal tracks.
In 1996 I went to William Paterson University to obtain my teacher certification in music education. After the 9/11 attacks, I co-wrote and arranged "America Home Of The Free". The song was used to raise thousands of dollars for the victims of The World Trade Center attacks. Presently I divide my time between teaching, which I enjoy as much as performing and playing guitar with a jazz quartet called ....and All That Jazz, whose 2005 CD "Reflections" was recorded, mixed and mastered in my home based 24 track recording studio in northern NJ. I am also involved in a mandolin / classical guitar project called Music Of The Ages and perform with a 10 piece band called Epic Soul.
As a teacher I am very patient with students and enjoy helping them reach their own musical goals. I emphasize knowing the basics and encourage students to study music theory and basic reading of standard notation. I always ask my students to bring in songs they want to learn as a way to motivate them to practice more.

*** Lesson Details ***
GUITAR: I expect my students to practice at least 5 days a week for at least a 1/2 hour per day. I use the Suzuki method for young students ages 8 to10. We continue learning basic folk songs by ear and then start reading standard notation and basic theory within 6 to 8 months along with classical guitar duets. For older students I use the Hal Leonard guitar method. After 3 months of lessons students can expect to know the basic open position chords and strum patterns to some basic songs as well as some famous guitar riffs and also be able to read some basic melodies in standard notation. After 6 months students will be able to play a 12 bar blues and improvise with the pentatonic and blues scales as well as learn moveable scales and chords and apply these to songs.

PIANO: I also start young piano students with the Suzuki method so they can play some five finger familiar melodies in a short time period. Then we progress to reading notation and eventually adding chord accompaniment to melodies. I use the Faber piano method for reading standard notation.

*** Studio Equipment ***
24 track recording studio, room for parents to sit 14' x 21'...completely furnished studio with guitars, amps, piano, drum machine, synthesizer, microphones...the works.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Students need a good quality and proper size guitar (for very young students) a music stand (for their home use) a foot stool, a metronome and books I assign along with an 8 1/2" X 11" blank manuscript book and a folder with side pockets to hold handout sheets. Piano students need their own instrument and the above materials minus the foot stool.

*** Specialties ***
Suzuki classical guitar, classic rock, blues, jazz , popular, funk, country, folk, finger picking and pick style and piano.

rk mostly with children, but have a handful of adult beginner students I work with as well.

Everyone is different - and I personally take the time and effort to develop and customize my lessons and materials for each student. I'll push you (a little!), to make you realize just how much you can do!

Music is an all-rounded experience. Not only can I offer you a chance to learn how to play different styles of piano, from jazz to pop to classical, but I can also teach you how to write your own songs, arrange them, and perhaps (if you like) record them!

rs, NJ All State Choir and the NJ Region II Chorus.

Justin has spent 14 years studying under some of the best vocal coaches in New York and New Jersey, including Sarah Bachman­ Krieger (Manhattan School of Music, The Juilliard School), Steven Schnurman (The Juilliard School) and; Katherine Wessinger (University of Michigan). He currently studies under Melissa Perry (Westminster Choir College, Temple, and post-graduate work included 750 hours with Maestro Vittorio Rosetta of La Scala) While doing studies at Westminster Choir College, he studied with Tenor Eric Rieger (Eastman School of Music).

Justin founded and directed The A Cappella Choir of Middlesex County. After a successful first year and a full-length album, The A Cappella Choir sang at Carnegie Hall for the premiere of Eric Whitacre's electronic opera "Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings"

Justin was the head of the choral department at the New Dover United Methodist Church in Edison, NJ. He directed and musically directed production's of The Rocky Horror Show at the Villagers Theater in Somerset, which subsequently moved to The Den Nightclub and ran for 2 consecutive years.

Justin has organized, directed and performed in fundraisers for the Edison high school Choral program, the program that first honed his raw talent and a place that to this day he still can call a home.

As a performer, Justin was seen as a back­up singer in the Bryan Hansen band. He has participated in theater all over NJ and is frequently hired for studio session work. He recently contributed backing vocals for Mike Wells' upcoming third studio album.

Justin has been teaching privately since 2007 (Justin Pollinger Vocal Studio). His Students have been accepted to some of the top music programs in the country including Westminster Choir College, Boston Conservatory, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Mason Gross School School of the Arts, The Hart School and AMDA.

"Justin is so much fun to work with and always makes me feel good about performing, even when I get discouraged. He has helped me to discover a side of my voice that I didn't even know I had."
- Debbie Lingel

"Justin has been a miracle worker with my vocal development. I have gone through several instructors for numerous years and no one could tell me how to actually find my own voice. Justin was able to do that immediately and I was sold! Since then it has been a gratifying experience with our weekly lessons. Knowing I have Justin's techniques in my arsenal of tools make me a much more confident artist on stage. I can't thank him enough!
- Raj Singh

Phone: (732) 887-6496
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s including the Hudson Arts Alliance in Hudson, MA, the Kittredge Elementary School in North Andover, MA, and the Performing Arts Center of Metro West in Framingham, MA. I have studied jazz performance with trumpet greats John McNeil and Walter White, improvisation with jazz gurus David Schumacher and Jerry Bergonzi, and George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization with master composer and theorist Ben Schwendener.

As an educator, my aim is to inspire in my students an enthusiasm for the artistic performance of music of any style. I strive to convey my own excitement for the art to young trumpeters and improvisers, and I have worked to encourage self-motivation and a longstanding interest in musical self-expression in elementary through high school students and adults. I have experience performing many styles of music from jazz and experimental improvised music to funk, reggae, and afro-beat, and I use my knowledge of divergent genres to encourage creative experimentation and convey the expressive artistic elements shared by all music. As an improviser I am particularly interested in teaching the theory and philosophy of spontaneous composition and musical communication.

ory, and piano. I'm very energetic and expect genuine effort from all my students. I try to make things fun, so I hope you try too!

festivals for middle school and high school students, as well as performing in them while still in the public school system.

I personally believe practicing should be fun, and have devised multiple strategies for success to kick-start one's drive for peak performance in music!