North Brunswick, NJ 08902, US
About
My Story
PLEASE NOTE: I am currently only offering remote lessons for both voice and piano.
I love teaching piano and voice, and over these many years I have had the privilege of working with students young and old alike, from 5-yrs-old to 70-yrs-old, helping them to achieve their musical goals: for budding pianists in teaching them how to play or for seasoned professionals helping them to improve their playing/reading skills. The same goes for voice/singing lessons: learning or reinforcing all the skills it takes to be a singer and applying them to song to create our version of “magic!” I take what I've learned and experienced for these past 40 plus years and apply that to a fun and productive learning environment.
Most importantly, I love seeing the looks on my student's faces when they realize the improvements that they've made through our time together and their hard work. Their accomplishments, either finally mastering a piano piece that we've been slaving over, or breaking through a vocal brick wall that's been in our way from achieving that goal. There are very few things in life more beautiful than witnessing this kind of success; it's just a great feeling that we share and celebrate.
What you should know about me is that music has truly been the biggest and longest part of my life. I started playing piano at the age of 10(ish), started acting/singing on stage in school in 6th grade, and began working as a professional musician when I was about 13-yrs-old. As a pianist/keyboardist and singer, I worked every gig and venue possible: weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, Sweet 16's, proms, birthdays and anniversaries, dive bars, restaurants, high-end nite clubs like the Palladium NYC, concert venues including Lincoln Center and the Central Park Band Shell, street festivals . . . virtually anything you could imagine! I've been a Music Director/Accompanist for over thirty-five years for school, community and professional musical theater, as well as working working with many past and current Broadway stars as their MD and accompanist. It's all this combined experience that gives me a huge edge over many other teachers as I have put everything I teach into practice and then some. Most recently I've penned my own original jukebox musical that I am hoping to bring to a stage in the near future.
Additionally, I use professional recording equipment in my home studio for which to make demos and backing tracks for my students' auditions and performances, recordings that they can use as a learning tools, to play for friends and family, for karaoke, or maybe there’s another YouTube star in you?! Some of my students have even recorded albums that have been streamed on multiple platforms! Also, I have access to an enormous library of music using my studio computers that helps us to expand repertoires and to help my students to assemble their "books."
Why Study Music?
Every one - adult and child alike - needs something that makes them feel special. Sometimes it's excelling in a particular sport, or a subject in school, or a skill at their workplace that makes them feel special. For me, that has always been music, and for my students, learning to sing or play piano gives them not only a sense of accomplishment, but also a huge boost in confidence. That confidence spills over into so many different aspects of their life.
The other thing that makes studying music so critical, is that it is a creative process. Reading, interpreting and performing a music piece takes so many different skills to master, least of which is creativity. Music becomes an outlet for their emotions, a safe way to express his or her feelings in a non-violent, but highly passionate way.
There is no age limit to learning to play the piano, or learning to sing. It just requires three things:
- Desire - There are a lot of things you can do, so if learning to play the piano or learning to sing is something that is on your bucket list, or is something that your child is really interested in, then you've satisfied the first requirement.
- Parents please take note: I will not take on any student that does not want to learn piano or voice, so if this is your idea and not your child's, then I suggest you find something that your child does want to learn and pursue that so that it is an enjoyable experience for you both!
- Time - You need to have the time for your weekly lessons, for practicing what we've learned during the lessons, etc. Learning without practicing defeats the purpose, so make sure that you have the ability to commit the time each week for both before deciding to pursue piano or voice lessons.
- Money - as much as I'd like to do this for free, lessons are $40.00/30-minutes, $50.00/45-minutes, or $60.00/one-hour, so there is a weekly financial commitment to this endeavor as well.
If you have the ability to fulfill all three of the above, then you are good to go, whether you are the parent of a ten-year-old "Billy Joel", an eighteen-year-old future Broadway star, or a sixty-five-year-old retiree looking to start a new hobby. Let's talk and see how we can work together to make your dream a reality!
Sharing my Passion
What makes me different is that I have been on both sides of the fence, musically-speaking. I have been the student and I have been the teacher. I have worked with young and old alike, helping them to achieve their musical goals: for budding pianists in teaching them to play or for seasoned professionals helping them to improve their playing/reading skills. The same goes for voice. I take what I've learned and experienced for these past 45-years and apply that to a fun and productive learning environment.
I love seeing the looks on my student's faces when they realize the improvements that they've made through our time together and their hard work. Their accomplishments, either finally mastering a piano piece that we've been slaving over, or breaking through a vocal brick wall that's been in our way from achieving that goal. There are very few things in life more beautiful than witnessing this kind of success; it's just a great feeling that we share and celebrate.
Greetings and Salutations
Welcome to my website, www.martyangstreich.com
my homepage for musical services including private voice and piano lessons