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My Music Garden is the natural outgrowth of my 15-year career of piano teaching. I have been giving private piano lessons to young children and adults since 1993, at The Caedmon School and United Nations International School in New York City, at Mustard Seed School in Hoboken, and privately in my home studios in Manhattan's Upper West Side and in Jersey City. I have guided many students, and some have continued their lessons all the way through high school. One student is completing his Master's degree in Film Scoring at UCLA (University of Southern California), another student continues her lessons during college breaks, yet another student is applying to colleges for Music Composition and English. I have written dozens of reference letters for students over the years. I still visit my first piano teacher in Canada, whenever I am there. Now, students visit me during their holiday breaks! It is clear to me that piano lessons have been an important part of my students' lives. Watching them grow up has been satisfying and rewarding for me in many ways.
Recently, I have focused on reaching more children by a) bringing my teaching to the classroom and b) training other piano teachers. My classroom teaching has landed me at Far Brook School in Short Hills, NJ. My work with younger music teachers has led to the formation of My Music Garden.
There has been a need in Jersey City for quality music instruction by trained and nurturing professionals. My Music Garden provides music enrichment to private schools: Primary Prep students may sign up for piano lessons right in the school after-school program, while all children at River School experience music classes during the day. In addition, any individual who wishes to learn to play the violin or the piano may learn at one of our three locations: at A Sound Start on Jersey Avenue, at Be Lingual on Wayne Street, and at our headquarters on Gifford Avenue. Our future includes plans for a children's choir, a youth orchestra, bringing after-school programs to more schools in more areas, and including instruction on other instruments, such as cello, guitar, trumpet, percussion.
I am delighted that my husband Ashley Horne, a professional violinist whose teaching talents I have admired since 1995, is joining me in this mission: to bring quality music education to young people. We love teaching, and we feel privileged to be working with our talented teachers and the committed families in Jersey City!
Yours,
Erasmia Voukelatos
Executive Director, My Music Garden
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