Student stories, in their own words

“The New York Conservatory of Music is a gem of a music school! The learning process is conducted in an environment that is welcoming, encouraging and inspiring.”

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The New York Conservatory of Music is a gem of a music school! Its staff is a repository of supremely talented musicians with a deep understanding and vast knowledge of music, not limited to the piano repertoire alone. Voice, violin, various wind instruments and guitar lessons are offered as well. Everyone in the faculty possesses an inherent passion to generously impart their knowledge and maintain a standard of commitment to teaching music, set by the founders of the NYCM, Professor Jerzy Stryjniak and his wife, musicologist Joanna Stryjniak.

The learning process is conducted in an environment that is welcoming, encouraging and inspiring. As a passionate hobbyist who has been taking piano lessons on and off for many years, I was convinced that I have long since reached the peak of my abilities on the piano until I began to take lessons under the tutelage of Professor Jerzy Stryjniak. His genuine desire for his students to develop has taught me numerous techniques on the keyboard such as proper hand position, finger placement, wrist flexibility, body posture and breathing, to name a few, and how all these influence sound production. I learned valuable memorization strategies essential to a secure and well prepared performance. Lessons are made more interesting by sharing historical facts, listening and analyzing the recordings and interpretations of great artists, informal student performances that provide opportunities to practice playing in front of an audience in preparation for the formal recitals held in larger prestigious halls.

I strongly encourage anyone who wants to pursue their musical dreams of playing an instrument. And the best place to fulfill this dream is at the NYCM.

“By the end of my first piano lesson I was hooked. Studying the piano at the New York Conservatory of Music has been a source of stimulation and beauty for me.”

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My name is Ellen Kane and I am a retired Elementary School teacher. When I took the step and retired eight years ago, I knew that I wanted to take lessons, though I wasn't sure which ones, for the "mental exercise". While strolling down First Avenue one day I walked past a young man standing on the corner of 69th Street handing out flyers for the New York Conservatory of Music. That's it, That's it, I thought, piano lessons.

I had always "tinkered" around the piano in my classroom and would now become a serious piano student. By the end of my first piano lesson I was hooked.

I loved being part of the school and the excitement of hearing other students, each in his or her own studio, singing, or playing the violin or piano. I loved studying music technique and theory with Joanna and Dr. Stryjniak and I loved playing the music of Masters such as Bach and Chopin and Beethoven. Studying the piano at the New York Conservatory of Music has been a source of stimulation and beauty for me. It is a source that I hope to always have in my life.

“It was such a blessing for me to find NYCM! Not only learning the techniques to play the instrument, I am learning how to understand music, how to express, and how to appreciate it.”

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I have been playing the violin since my childhood. I love music and love to play my violin. I am trying very hard to keep it as my life long professional hobby. When I came to NYC in 2008, I searched the place where I can have violin lessons and hopefully to have a space to practice. It was such a blessing for me to find NYCM in 2009!

I love my lessons, professors and the place here. Not only learning the techniques to play the instrument, I am learning how to understand music, how to express, and how to appreciate it.

One of the best things about NYCM is that the school is always helping to provide the space to practice as long as the studios are free during the office time. I think I made the most of this kind offer and I practice as much as possible. After about 5 years of kind support, advices, lessons, and activities from NYCM, I started to have a deeper level of love towards my violin, music in general, and love for this school, where I could get this opportunity!

“Not only do I expect to enhance my pianistic skills at the Conservatory, but I also expect to take piano as a more serious subject.”

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I have been practicing piano for about 10 years. I enrolled in the "Song of Songs" Music Association at one point in my life. Though, most of my piano history has been with private instructors. When I came to NYCM I played pieces such as Mozart's Sonatas, Chopin's Nocturnes, many classical Sonatinas, few Baroque pieces, many romantic pieces and I had touched upon the Modern era pieces.

Currently I'm working on a couple of Chopin's Etudes, a 3-part Mozart Sonata, a Nocturne by Chopin, and the Liebestraum by Liszt. Not only do I expect to enhance my pianistic skills at the Conservatory, but I also expect to take piano as a more serious, one of my major, subjects.

“At the Conservatory I continued to develop techniques but I also learned about the emotional and lyrical aspects and the fine intricate details of every piece.”

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I have been playing piano for 9 years and have spent the last 4 years at The New York Conservatory of Music. My education at the Conservatory has been extremely rewarding.

My previous teachers had taught me the technical aspects of piano; at the Conservatory I continued to develop techniques but I also learned about the emotional and lyrical aspects and the fine intricate details of every piece.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my first lesson. That very day I decided to sign up for the new semester.”

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I had never played the piano before attending the NYCM. I had my first lesson with Joanna Stryjniak 4 years ago starting from such basics as sitting at the piano, proper hand position, the notes on the staves and their position on the keyboard.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first lesson with Mrs. Stryjniak. That very day I decided to sign up for the new semester.

“The NYCM has an atmosphere infused with warmth and congeniality where students can learn and develop their art form to the fullest of their individual potential.”

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Playing the piano had always been a dream of mine and after I finally was able to put aside some time, I bought a piano. The next step was to find a teacher and it was sheer good fortune that brought me to the New York Conservatory of Music.

I began lessons first with Joanna Stryjniak, and then a year later with Jerzy Stryjniak. They taught me of course about the notes and rhythm, but also importantly, they painstakingly and carefully supervised the placement, relationship and use of my hands and fingers on the piano. Through my own experiences as a physician and teacher, there is no doubt that learning an instrument, as in learning anything else, strong foundations are of prime importance. It is the basis on which we build and develop our skills ever after. With the piano, it is what allows us to make music.

The founders of the school, the Professors Jerzy and Joanna Stryjniak, are both descendants of the much respected Polish school of musical training. It is a tradition well known for incredible musicality and strong technique. Through their own passion and understanding of music, they are a tremendous inspiration as teachers. Sometimes a lesson can be a journey, opening the mind and the ear, stretching the imagination, and introducing lines of sound and harmony that were before not accessible.

The last few years have not only given me requisite skills to making music, but have also changed the way I listen and appreciate music. The NYCM has an atmosphere infused with warmth and congeniality where students can learn and develop their art form to the fullest of their individual potential. In addition to individual lessons, the school also holds master classes and there are many opportunities for performance. Especially wonderful are the monthly informal adult student recitals, where adult students can meet and share music. My association with the NYCM has been a tremendous experience. I would recommend this school without any reservation for anyone with a love for music.

“NYCM has the advantage of the friendly atmosphere of a small school along with top notch instruction.”

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I had never played the piano before coming to NYCM except for a group class at a local school. Right now, after 4 years of studying at the NYCM I play several Bach 2-part inventions and the Chopin E-flat nocturne. I have also started the Beethoven G major piano sonata (Op. 49 No. 2).

I decided to become a student of the NYCM after I was impressed by what I heard at a student recital in Steinway Hall. As I thought about it, I realized no other people better understood and represented the music of Chopin, which I like so much, as the people of Poland. NYCM has the advantage of the friendly atmosphere of a small school along with top notch instruction and their extracurricular activities are very enjoyable opportunities to meet with other students I do not usually have a chance to meet.