McQuaig Music

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Introduction: Hello! My name is John McQuaig. I'm a pianist, screen composer, and teacher located in Astoria, NY. I have a Master's degree and an Advanced Certificate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from New York University. As adjunct faculty at NYU I taught over 120 undergraduate music and non-music majors. I recently earned an additional Master's degree in Screen Scoring from NYU as well. I now teach students of all ages and skill levels in NYC that are serious and enthusiastic about learning music. Whether you have never touched a piano or have been playing all your life, I hope to give you the motivation and skills you need to reach your goals!

Overview

Hired 13 times

Background checked

1 employee

7 years in business

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

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Featured Projects

6 photos

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Exceptional 5.0

11 reviews

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Read reviews that mention:

Molly G.

Jan 21, 2020

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Hired on Thumbtack

John is a super patient and caring teacher with lots of knowledge which he accurately tailors for me and my lessons. Very easy to get along with and incredibly helpful. I went in having never touched a piano before and he made me feel super comfortable and gives me both the positive feedback and direction on what I need to work on most. Highly recommend!

Details: 26 - 44 years old • No, the student cannot read music • No formal training • What the teacher recommends • Yes, the student has a keyboard • 45 minutes • At the pro’s location

Piano Lessons

Jane K.

May 15, 2019

John has been so patient and understanding throughout all of my piano lessons. I had played piano when I was younger but took a long hiatus and had to learn music theory and practice playing again. He explains ideas very thoroughly and gives the best corrections to help play musical scores accurately. John really valued and supported what I, as a student, wanted to learn which made our lessons fun and engaging. I think the hardest part of learning piano for me was making myself practice over and over to improve, however I found myself wanting to do so after his lessons. Thank you so much, John!! You will be sorely missed.

Brianna B.

Dec 24, 2019

John is amazing! Such a nice person and has a great deal of knowledge about music. Fantastic pianist and teacher. Would recommend for anyone!

Rupesh B.

May 15, 2019

I took private lessons with John for a year at NYU, and he is easily the best piano instructor I’ve had. His classes were structured and taught not only proper technique, but intelligent play. He was responsive to my specific struggles and did his best to catch poor technique early on. Aside from his skill as a teacher, John is a great person. He genuinely cares about you and will always ask how your week is going, or if there is any exciting news in your life. Over the course of my lessons, he started to become not only a teacher, but also a friend. And finally, he is immensely talented. If he has a recital, do yourself a favor and go. Overall, I would highly recommend John as a teacher for all skill levels.

Rachel A.

May 15, 2019

John tailors the piano experience to every student to make sure they learn what is most appropriate for them. He is warm, supportive and cares a lot about his students as well as the music that he teaches. Piano is not something that should be learned lazily or apathetically, and John truly emphasizes passion and technique.

Credentials

Background Check

John Mcquaig

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My pricing is based on the current market for NYC music lessons along with with my professional training and extensive experience teaching and performing.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
My first goal is to get to know my student. What are their interests, hobbies, and most importantly musical experience. From beginner to advanced, I want to gauge their abilities and limits. From there, I can make the most of every lesson to help the student reach their potential.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Master's degree in Classical Piano Performance and an Advanced Certificate in Performance and Pedagogy from New York University. I have a Bachelor's degree in the same field from Ithaca College. I also have a Master's degree in Screen Scoring from NYU.