Piano lessons in Manhattan – Our top picks in 2024

Meng is a very detail-oriented instructor who helped me build a solid foundation as an adult beginner. Her focus is not only on finger movements but also on musical expression, which made me appreciate music more even beyond piano. Additionally, Meng is very organized. She took notes during each lesson to keep track of my progress, so when I came back next time she knows exactly where to evaluate my improvements. We also practiced ear training and sight reading. Overall, Meng has been a great teacher who introduced me to the world of piano, and now playing the piano has become a hobby that I see myself doing for years to come.

I have been taking violin lessons with Deborah and piano lessons with Peter for almost two years now. Let alone the improvement of my skills, I oftentimes get inspired by Deborah’s attentive teaching style and Peter’s knowledge in the piano literature. During semesters when I wasn’t too busy, I had also taken voice lessons with Liz; their love for playing and teaching music is clearly shown through the weekly lessons as well! On top of the wonderful instructors, their admin team is always super responsive and helpful. Lessons at RMS have been a highlight of my weeks; I would recommend RMS to anyone who is looking for a well-run music studio!

My older son Henry started at the studio when he was 3 1/2 and now 6 months later is preparing to play in his first recital. He loves his teacher, is proud to play his new lessons each week and has a sister who is itching to turn 3 so she can start too! The studio seems to be full of great teachers and this has been a great experience for him so far. Natalia is also very reasonable working with parents on scheduling etc. She was especially kind to Henry and gave him a private lesson herself when we requested a make-up lesson for an absence he had.

I’ve been taking classes for fun for almost a year now and I had never learned how to play when I was younger. Maria is very good at getting me interested in not only how to play certain pieces (usually above my level) but also the musicality of them. She’s also very good at tailoring the sessions based on your own needs and goals in playing the piano. I’ve seen her teaching a wide range of students, from kids to adults who want to become music composers. Above all, she’s just brilliant at playing the piano. It’s a treat to listen to her playing as an example. I highly recommend taking lessons with Maria if you are interested in learning to play the piano either for fun or for more serious goals.

Awesome instructors specifically Melissa Manning. Our kids have been with Anselmo for over 10 yrs and all three of them love it. They all played in many recitals which they loved especially the yearly one at Lincoln Center in NYC. Our instruction was always top notch as we do the weekly private lessons. You won’t go wrong with Anselmo!

Josh is an absolutely wonderful piano teacher! I had the privilege to study under his guidance for a number of years, and I still find myself resorting back to the fundamentals he instilled in me from our very first lessons. As an intermediate piano student with a working knowledge of classical repertoire and basic triads, Josh was able to build upon my existing principles and instruct me in a variety of jazz styles, enabling me to study at further programs and universities, while also continuing to enrich my existing knowledge of classical and pop repertoire. Josh is always incredibly thorough and overwhelmingly positive, even when delivering constructive corrections or notes. He is one of the kindest teachers and mentors I have ever studied under, and his witty sense of humor always left me with a smile.

I highly recommend Brenda as a piano and voice teacher. She’s helped build my confidence to put myself out there and perform in front of others. I feel my voice improving, she’s super encouraging and we do lots of different creative things in lessons that are exciting as well as super helpful to my overall playing! So glad I found her, she always totally ‘GETS it’ too, any questions I bring to her it’s like she’s reading my mind and helps me figure it out immediately. She really is helping me express myself in this language and make sense of everything and feel at ease, hopeful and confident musically. Also, she is so expressive and open that it’s encouraged me to show up without worrying about being perfect and share my music more.

I recently had the pleasure of taking piano lessons with an exceptional teacher, Lucia LI, who I highly recommend. Not only is she kind and personable, but she also tailors her teaching to be the most efficient and effective for each individual student. From the very first lesson, it was evident that she genuinely cares about her students’ progress and success. She takes the time to understand each student’s goals and learning style, allowing her to create personalized lesson plans that cater to their specific needs. Her teaching methods are highly organized and structured, ensuring that no time is wasted during the lessons. She knows how to break down complex concepts into more manageable parts, making it easier for students to grasp and apply them. Her ability to create a warm and supportive learning environment fosters a sense of confidence and encouragement, which greatly enhances the learning experience. Her positive attitude and patience make even the most challenging pieces feel achievable.