I’m Andrea. I have over 10 years of teaching experience in Piano and Voice. I have a BA in Music from Kean University. I am a versatile musician and live performer and have studied many genres of music ranging from classical, to contemporary genres such as Blues, Jazz, Rock, Pop, and more. I am experienced in teaching both child and adult music lessons of all different levels from beginning to advanced, including preparing my students for state music exams and preparing my students for college music auditions.

I believe in finding the students’ individual strengths and weaknesses, and building an individualized lesson plan that suits the students’ specific needs and goals. I am a passionate and dedicated life long learner, and I aim to inspire my students with this passion. I teach a well rounded approach that includes music theory, note reading, ear training, and more. I also help my students build confidence to perform in live settings such as music recitals and open mics. I believe that by teaching a diverse set of skills to my students, I am paving the path for them to become versatile musicians and to be able to take on any musical opportunities that they want in their future.

When did you begin playing Piano, and why?

I began playing piano at age 6 after I saw the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and fell in love with the music.

What other instruments do you play, and what is your experience with them?

I am also a vocalist. I began by singing in a blues band as a lead singer, and then expanded my vocal skills by singing in bands of multiple genres including Rock, r&b, and Jazz. I now currently am the lead singer of my own band where I sing in the style of r&b and rock fusion, and I also sing in a jazz acoustic duo.

What are your personal goals as a musician?

My goals are to continue writing original music and to record my originals, to perform live, and to continue to improve my piano and vocal skills to the best of my ability. I am a passionate life long learner, and am always aiming to grow.

Do you have a memory of a time when a musical concept or technique really clicked?  Something you’ll remember forever?

I remember when I began learning Music Theory in College, when I started to notice all the mathermatical patterns that exist within the structore of chords and scales, I began to realize how special and mysterious music really is.

What is your favorite piece of advice from one of your past (or current) teachers?

I went to college for music later than many of my peers ( I was 24 years old when I began music college ) I overheard some of my peers talking and saying ” No one should bother starting a career in music later in life, only a crazy person would do that. “I felt discouraged and told my piano teacher what I heard. My Piano teacher responded ” Well, Maybe you’re crazy then ! ” With just this simple response, my teacher instilled and encouraged in me a will to pursue my dreams, despite any odds. I still carry this attiitude with me today and aim to inspire my students with this same attitude.

What was your most challenging moment learning an instrument

When I first began my music studies in college, I suffered a wrist injury because I was taking on challenging piano music that I was not yet prepared for. At first I felt fearful and discouraged; however, in hindsight, this injury was an amazing gift because as a result of the injury, I had to correct my piano technique that led to the injury and by correcting the technique, I was able to take my skills from amateur to professional much faster then I had anticipated. Within every challenge, there is an opportunity for immense growth if you are willing to look for it.

What is your biggest musical achievement?

A few years ago, I had a regular music gig in NYC at a comedy show where I would play entrance piano music on stage for some of my favorite stand up comedians that I had been watching on TV for years. This comedy show featured names such as Mark Normand, Ari Shaffir, Josh Adam Meyers, and more. I never imagined that being a musician would lead me to an opportunity like this. 

Favorite thing about teaching?

I love building connections with people and watching my students grow and achieve their goals.

What is a piece of advice you would like to share with anyone learning music?

We live in a busy world and a lot of people are concerned they won’t have time to practice their instrument. However, you don’t need to practice several hours a day to see improvement. Even just making an effort to do 20 minutes of focused practice 3 days a week will yield amazing results, especially when just starting out.

Personal music projects:

I am currently the lead singer, keyboard player and songwriter in my own original band called Pranzata (previously known as Arcane Jane ) Pranzata plays live in the Philly Area. Pranzata is a 4 piece band and the musical style is best classified as r&b / jazz fusion. I also perform live in a jazz acoustic duo called Pranzata and Harrison and we perform live in the Philly Area.