Dr. McKay Piano Studio - online lessons

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About

Hello! I teach internationally on Zoom and currently have students across the United States and in Europe. With 20+ years of teaching experience and a PhD in my field, I bring a wealth of experience to help you achieve new levels of virtuosic technique and musical mastery. My home studio is equipped with top-notch lighting, sound, and video equipment, so your lessons will always be a high quality experience. •• My Methods •• My work with every student begins with a conversation about goals, needs, challenges, and learning styles. Upon joining my studio, we will develop a personalized curriculum that charts the most direct course from where you are today to where you want to be. And the best part is, that curriculum will adapt and change as you gain experience and reach new levels. Mastering the piano is a lifelong endeavor, which is why I take pride in teaching dedicated students of all ages. My studio includes kids, teens, college students, adults with work-from-home careers, stay-at-home parents, retired folks, and more. I also enjoy working with students of all experience levels, from the total beginner on up to professional pianists and music educators who are looking to expand and refine their skillsets. •• Studio Community •• My students are driven, curious, creative, and passionate about music. Alongside learning classical repertoire, I encourage students to explore their personal interests in composition, theory and analysis, and more through independent projects. Students are invited to perform in a number of online recitals throughout the year, as well as at our annual Studio Showcase Recital at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. These events are wonderful opportunities to showcase your hard work and growth with the instrument to family and friends around the country and beyond.

Overview

Background checked

1 employee

21 years in business

Business hours

SunClosedMon12:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Credit card.

Social media

Instagram

Services offered

Subjects of interest

Fundamentals (pitch, rhythm, chords, etc.)

Harmonization

Counterpoint

Music subjects (notation, analysis, ear training)

Level of experience

No experience

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Instrument student plays

Piano

Projects and media

Reviews

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

Exceptional 5.0

10 reviews

100%

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Laura B.

Jan 11, 2021

...and I sincerely mean every one of those 5 stars: Taking lessons with Tristan over the past year has been one of the most rewarding hobbies I've revisited as an adult. All through elementary, middle, and high school I studied piano with weekly lessons and then played occasionally in college. For the past ten years, though, I really didn't touch it at all. I found it hard to stay in the habit of playing because the kind of music I wanted to study was a little too difficult to attack on my own, and I had no discipline without a teacher. With Tristan, not only am I motivated to practice throughout the week, but he's also coached me on techniques of play -- ways to work out fingerings, chunking the minutes I practice to focus on a few measures at a time, studying a piece to bring out its musicality -- that have brought me to new levels of skill & maturity with the instrument. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do much in a strictly virtual lesson that we conduct via FaceTime at our respective keyboards, boroughs apart, but after our first lesson it was clear that this would work out just fine. And it has! When we started, Tristan asked what pieces I was interested in. From that basis, he has given me recommendations to build my repertoire along the way. When I've suggested a composer I'm interested in playing, but don't have a piece in mind, he offers ideas from his extensive knowledge of piano music. Usually he emails me a few suggestions to get me thinking. That exact approach landed me on Scott Joplin's "Bethena," recently, which I loved playing. I'm a high school teacher, and I find myself observing the way Tristan teaches and actually thinking something along the lines of, "I hope I strike the same balance he communicates of great rapport, high expectations, and helpful strategies to my own students." I know good teaching when I see it. Pieces I previously thought were just too hard for me to ever play well, because I could never execute the runs or play both hands together through certain tough measures or just "get," musically, I was thrilled to finally be able to play after following Tristan's advice on how to attack what challenged me. It meant I had to put in hard work, of course, but I got there. Tristan has always maintained a "yes, that's hard...AND you can do it" teaching philosophy with me. It's encouraged me through "The Sunken Cathedral" by Debussy and Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1. In the uncertainty of events in 2020, it's also been helpful to have a teacher who can be flexible about a few of times I've needed to change our lesson time. He was always able to reschedule. In fact, as my own work situation has evolved this year, we have seamlessly transitioned from hour-long weekend lessons to biweekly half-hour weekday lessons, and now to weekly half-hour lessons. It's meant a lot that Tristan's worked with me to make piano fit into my schedule.

William E.

Jan 19, 2021

As an adult, I was intimidated by the prospect of learning piano from scratch - over Zoom even! - especially since I wanted to cover some Music Theory as well. However, I lucked out by finding Tristan, who has been nothing but helpful, encouraging and effective from the beginning. He suggested a well-paced manual to start, and we have been working through the book's lessons since. Tristan is friendly but professional; he isn't traditionally "strict" but works with me until he knows I'm ready to proceed to the next topic. Since he has taught music theory as a graduate student, Tristan has been quite helpful in tying in theory subjects with each lesson without overcomplicating things. Outside of lessons, Tristan is responsive and reliable. He has also provided me with extracurricular practice elements to accompany the week's lesson topic. I would highly suggest Tristan, especially as an adult beginner looking for no-judgment lessons.

John G.

Jan 17, 2021

We started lessons with Tristan a little over a year and half ago and it's been a great experience for us! Our son was ten yrs old at the time and he had just finished up about six months worth of guitar lessons with a very accomplished teacher, but unfortunately very little patience with kids. Sadly the experience really turned him off to the guitar. But our son was also interested in the piano and a friend of ours, a music professor at NYU recommended we call Tristan. Best call ever! We started with just half-hour sessions, once a week and then moved to 45 min sessions when it was obvious our son was enjoying it. Aside from being a super-nice guy, Tristan is very patient. (Our son has some attention issues, with an IEP at school, so we really needed that patience). And it doesn't hurt that Tristan's credentials are pretty impeccable, too. Our son has made so much progress in such a short time! Tristan has been using the: Piano Adventures lesson book series, by Nancy and Randall Faber. But he's also been letting our son choose a Pop song to learn each week... It's pretty cool to hear an Ed Sheeran or an Adele tune coming from your child's bedroom when he's practicing. He's even started experimenting with creating his own compositions lately. (Mind you, not anything too sophisticated, but Tristan is obviously doing something right, when he's motivated and enjoys it enough to try and make up his own music). When the pandemic hit, we were really worried that it was going to make it impossible to continue with Tristan and our son would lose momentum. But Tristan has made the Face Time sessions work wonderfully. (Much, much better than his 7th grade Zoom classes are going right now... my wife and i joke that we wish Tristan was the one teaching him his math). Our son has had two recitals so far. The first at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music and the second with all of Tristan's students and their parents over Zoom. Surprisingly we really enjoyed the Zoom recital, he was able to make it work even though everyone was remote on different pianos and keyboards. Like everyone, with the pandemic and Zoom classes going on for both of our kids, our apartment is a little chaotic, so scheduling it all is sometimes a challenge. Tristan has been flexible with our schedule and able to work with us when we occasionally can't get it together for the lesson. At the same time, he's been very reliable and punctual himself, with I believe only one session over the last year and a half that he's had to reschedule. Above, there is a button to check off for Value: To be honest, he's not charging enough. (But Tristan don't raise your prices if you read this). I don't know how far our son goes with the piano, but we think this is an invaluable part of his education and Tristan is everything we hoped for in a music teacher for our son. We can't recommend him enough. Gigi & John

Marlon F.

Jan 11, 2021

I'm an adult piano student and composer, working on my own project but also learning medium-to-advanced 20th-century repertoire including Prokofiev, Poulenc, and Shostakovich. Tristan was initially recommended to me because he is a superb performer of new piano music, a range of experience that most piano teachers don't have. Working with him, I discovered that he was just as insightful about older music. Tristan's approach to the piano is based on identifying and working through challenges, both technical and expressive: how to play a passage to bring out the musical intent I wanted. He was always ready to offer alternative approaches for different musical goals, and he never shied away from trying out a passage himself to find the most effective way to play it--which was especially valuable when I had written the passage myself! With Tristan, the focus is on repertoire, not on endless exercises. And it's on solutions that are both technical (hand and body position and technique) and musical/expressive, not just on one or the other. I count myself extremely lucky to have worked with him, and I'm unambiguously a better pianist for it.

Farid M.

Jan 10, 2021

Since 2012, Tristan has been the piano teacher to all three of our children starting at the age of 5. His instruction has progressed them from beginner to intermediate/advanced classical piano repertoire (music by Debussy, Beethoven, Clementi, Chopin). Tristan is also a very versatile teacher in that he adapts to the varied aptitudes of his students as well as adjusts to their musical tastes over time. Throughout the years, we have been hearing not just the classics, but also contemporary (Queen, Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, Coldplay, and Don McLean). He also prepares the children for their recitals a few times a year both in-person and on-line. Furthermore, Tristan's command of music theory coupled with his academic background has been instrumental to our children's music education. His instruction is adaptive and yet still structured and thorough. He encourages them to explore different pieces and makes sure that they are properly challenged and motivated along the way. As a result, they are all very active in a broad spectrum of performing arts - in the choir, jazz band, theater, etc. In addition, the focus and discipline that they have developed over the years playing the piano have clearly helped them in other subjects and they have all academically thrived throughout elementary, middle, and high school. Tristan's professionalism is also first-rate. He has always been very responsive and adaptive to our schedules both throughout the academic year as well as over vacation time and the summers. Above all, Tristan's temperament and personality round out the experience. The children truly look forward to their Monday afternoon lessons and we have been very lucky to have him with us all these years.

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Tristan Mckay

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I teach year-round and prioritize my private students over all other professional engagements. Lessons are billed in 5-lesson packages. Regular weekly attendance is required, but I am flexible with rescheduling (with 24 hours notice). It's one of the benefits of online lessons!
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I always begin by scheduling a consultation (on Zoom) with my potential students to discuss their interests, goals, and aspirations with the piano. These short meetings are complimentary and a great way to get to know each other before committing to regular lessons.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have over 20 years of private teaching experience, and have taught courses in music theory and history at institutions including New York University and the State University of New York at New Paltz. I have a PhD, Master's degree, and Bachelor's degree in music. I studied at New York University and the Manhattan School of Music, and have performed at iconic venues including Carnegie Hall and others across the United States!

Dr. McKay Piano Studio - online lessons

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