About NYCM
A family music school on East 69th Street since 1998
A friendly, family-run school where students of every age learn at their own pace.
The New York Conservatory of Music is a music school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1998 by renowned concert pianist Dr. Jerzy Stryjniak and his wife, musicologist Joanna Stryjniak.
The school is on a tree-lined block of East 69th Street between First and Second Avenues, close to public transportation, and teaches students of every age and level.
Our mission has stayed the same since our founders opened the doors in 1998: to give every student, whatever their age or goal, a real education in music and the culture around it. We help each student find their own taste, in classical, jazz, Broadway and beyond, and we give those who want to go further the teaching, the stage and the setting to grow as professional musicians.
Not everyone wants a music career. For many students, lessons bring a deeper love of music, new skills, and a break from work. Young children gain confidence along with their music.
We’re especially proud of our adult program: many adults play comfortably, and perform, within a few months, and meet people along the way.
The Conservatory offers private lessons in piano, strings, guitar, brass, voice, and composition, plus a PreK Division for ages 2 to 5. Students perform throughout the year in our recitals at well-known venues, and our teachers are concert artists and experienced educators.
321 East 69th Street
Behind the brass plaque
Dr. Jerzy Stryjniak was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in 1983, but Communist Poland would not let him take it up. He first came to the United States in January 1990, and six months later he made his Carnegie Hall debut. In 1998 he and Joanna opened the Conservatory here on East 69th Street.
Down a flight of blue-tiled stairs, the studios sit behind soundproofed walls, each fitted with a fine piano. Around a thousand students have learned here, and roughly a third of them are adults, some of them professionals from outside music.
Dr. Stryjniak likes to say that some students go from their very first middle C to playing Chopin in a famous concert hall in about six months.
As featured in Manhattan Sideways
Our pianos
Grand pianos in our studios
Our studios are home to some of the highest quality grand pianos: two Steinways and a Yamaha.
- Yamaha C3XStudio 1
- Steinway Model BStudio 2
- Steinway Model LStudio 3
Spring 2026
A Letter from Our President
For nearly three decades, the New York Conservatory of Music has been built upon a simple but deeply important belief: that music has the power to shape lives, strengthen communities, and inspire generations.
What began as a small conservatory on the Upper East Side has grown into a vibrant musical home for students of all ages, from young beginners discovering their very first notes to advanced pianists preparing for major performances and competitions. Along the way, NYCM has proudly collaborated with institutions such as Marymount Manhattan College and Northeastern University while continuing to nurture a close-knit and deeply personal artistic community.
As we now look ahead toward our 30th Anniversary Season, we also look toward the future: toward expanding scholarships for talented students, creating more performance opportunities in prestigious venues, strengthening our ensemble and competition programs, and continuing to provide meaningful musical education to the next generation.
Thank you for believing in the importance of music and for being part of the NYCM family.
With gratitude and optimism,
Dr. Jerzy Stryjniak, President & Co-Founder
Our partners
Partners and venues
Over the years NYCM has worked with concert halls, schools, and music organizations in New York and abroad.
Partnerships include
- Carnegie Hall
- Lincoln Center
- CAMI Hall (Columbia Artists Management Inc.)
- Steinway & Sons
- Yamaha
- The Liederkranz Foundation
- Marymount College
- Mannes College of Music
- Boston University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Kansas State University
- Sichuan Conservatory of Music
- Music Academy in Poznań
- Chopin Associatie Vlaanderen vzw.
- The Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth Foundation
Concert halls around the world
- Cracow Philharmonic
- Janáček Philharmonic
- Lutosławski Studio S1
Support NYCM
The New York Conservatory of Music is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every donation is tax-deductible and makes a difference.
Learn About GivingTry a lesson first
Every new student starts with a free 30-minute trial lesson ($50 refundable deposit). Meet the teacher, talk about your goals, and see if it’s a good fit.