Encourage your children’s musical talents this fall with free trial lessons at an all-day open house (by appointment only), hosted by The Smith School of Music (131 West 86th Street). The open house will be on Sunday, September 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and invites aspiring musicians of all ages and abilities to come and create great music together!
The Smith School of Music offers expert instruction in a diverse choice of instruments, including classical and rock guitar, flute, piano, violin, voice, and drums. This upcoming open house is the perfect way to get a feel for different instruments and uncover a new passion, or a secret skill!
Each free lesson is by appointment only, so students can have one-on-one time with instructors and get all their questions answered. Not sure where to start? No problem! You can try out a few different instruments to see what you vibe with.
The Smith School of Music is also excited to invite young guitarists to their thrilling “Riff Raff” group guitar program, designed with a tailored curriculum to make learning the guitar exciting and engaging for beginners. Students will be hands-on from the first lesson, and the sky’s the limit for how far they can go! Contact the Smith team to learn more about the “Riff Raff” program here.
Dedicated music lessons are both fun and helpful, making learning a new instrument or improving skills much easier. This open house will give all prospective students a unique opportunity to tour the facilities, discover the extensive curriculum, and meet the school’s excellent teachers. The Smith School of Music is proud to have a faculty of distinguished and talented instructors with a wealth of experience. Allow us to introduce some of them!
Damien Kelly
Damien Kelly is an Irish guitarist and Head of the Music Department at the Smith School. Damien instructs classical guitar, piano, rock band, and music production. He has performed solo at King’s College, Cambridge, the Irish Embassy in London, the American Irish Historical Society in NYC, and the National Concert Hall in Dublin. He has won multiple national competitions, including the Senior Guitar and Contemporary Music Centre contests at the Feis Ceoil.
Jenny Xu
Jenny Xu is a Canadian pianist and graduate of the Berklee College of Music and Manhattan School of Music. Jenny’s accolades include the MSM Outreach Award, Stingray Rising Star Award, and the Berklee Jazz Performance Award. Xu is a lifelong teacher, having taught piano since age thirteen. She has diverse experience working with young students, so she’s more than ready to work with any skill level.
Maryam Hajialigol
Maryam Hajialigol is an award-winning classical guitarist who serves on the faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, The Smith School of Music, and the Ezra Guitar School. Maryam earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and pursued her Master of Music degree at the Yale School of Music. Maryam is also a published arranger for guitar music.
Samantha Lucas
Samantha Lucas is an expert teacher with close to 10 years of experience. She specializes in voice and piano instruction, with a long career as a professional actor, vocalist, and vocal instructor. She received her Bachelor of Music in Theater Performance with honors from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory. Samantha has performed with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Orchestra, Front Porch Theatricals, and Tony Award-winning powerhouse Billy Porter.
Don’t miss this chance to make music with these superstars! Register today to receive a free trial lesson in the instrument of your choice.
