study

Taught by recording/performing artist with BFA/MA degrees

Piano Instruction - Vocal Coaching - Theory

Located on Staten Island in New York City

Read and interpret lead sheets

Unlock the mystery of improvisation

Learn proper technique

Suggested Reading:

Sandor, Gyorgy. On Piano Playing. MacMillian Publishing/Schirmer Books 1981

Werner, Kenny. Effortless Mastery; Liberating the Musician Within. Jamey Abersold, 1996

Herbert-Caesari, E. The Voice of the Mind. Cresendo Pub. 1951, 1978

Herbert-Caesari, E. The Science and Sensations of Vocal Tone; A School of Natural Voice Mechanics. Crescendo Pub, 1977

Salmon, Paul G. and Meyer, Robert G. Notes from the Green Room; Coping with Stress and Anxiety in Musical Performance. Lexington Books, 1992

Hofmann, Josef. Piano Playing; with Piano Questions Answered. Dover, 1976 (orig. Doubleday, 1909)

Lhevinne, Josef. Basic Principles in Pianoforte Playing. Dover, 1972 (Orig. Presser 1924)

Gieseking, Walter. Piano Technique Dover, 1972 (Orig. Presser, 1938)

Schweitzer, Albert. J.S. Bach (Two Volumes).Dover, 1966 (Orig. German, Breitkopf and Hartel, 1911)

"an important mainstay of the Big Apple" - All music Guide

"one of the finest jazz pianists performing today" - JazzReview.com

"a class act"... "superb piano playing" - Show Business

"a polished musician with complex, thoughtful, yet accessible interpretations" - Cabaret Scenes

promusicstudy@yahoo.com

Hear the sound IN YOUR MIND

Educational background: While attending The City College of New York, Alex studied under musical greats John Lewis and Ron Carter. After graduating cum-laude from City College in Manhattan he received a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. His master's essay was entitled Bebop: A Musical and Social Exploration. This paper explored technical aspects of the music as well as the cultural challenge to mainstream hegemony. At graduation he received a MALS faculty award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement.

Other studies have included piano with Barry Harris at The Jazz Cultural Center in New York and privately with jazz composer/arranger Jim McNeely, classical piano technique with Boris Gerazimov, vocal technique with Carlo Menotti, James Carson and at the Eugen Grabscheid Voice Center at Mt. Sinai in Manhattan, drama and theatre at the Atlantic Acting School and improvisation at Chicago City Limits and Artistic New Directions in New York.

As well as teaching privately in his Staten Island studio, he has been on the Faculty of Arcadia University in PA and the continuing education program at The College of Staten Island. He has conducted many performance lecture/demonstrations in colleges and throughout the NYC public school system, private schools, libraries and other centers in and around the tri-state area.

All ages and levels welcome. Specializing in piano instruction and vocal coaching: Read and interpret popular lead sheets, unlock the mysteries of jazz improvisation, key transposition, proper (classical) technique and repertoire. Very reasonable rates, references available.

Professional credits include venues from Manhattan to Europe and Japan, Alex is a two time MAC award nominee and finalist in the Noel Coward Competition. He has often been a featured guest on radio and television including Bloomberg Radio’s The Business of Show Business.

As an arranger and conductor he has worked with groups appearing at Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Off Broadway and throughout New York's concert venues. His recordings have received national airplay and reviews from publications such as Jazz Now, Cabaret Scenes, Cadence and All About Jazz.