Lessons
An approach to teaching the piano
that is practical, enthusiastic and fun.
Andrew Westphal’s methods were developed from 30 years of piano experience and 6 years of piano performance study at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Andrew was mentored by master jazz pianist and 6 time grammy nominee Kenny Barron, as well as concert pianist Wanda Maximilien. In 1995, Andrew won first place in a young artists competition which led to his debut performing Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto with full orchestra.
Students can learn a variety of techniques and music including:
- Classical technique and repertoire
- Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Ragtime, Boogie-Woogie, Holiday Favorites
- How to improvise in any style
- Deliberate Practice Techniques: how to practice effectively
- Jazz repertoire: learn how to play the standards
- Ear training: play by ear, develop relative pitch
- How to play from a fake book
- New Age improvisation
- Music Production with Pro Tools, Garageband or Logic
- Composition & Music Theory
- Songwriting
All levels are welcome, from absolute beginner to advanced.
Call (845) 943-0782 for more information and availability or send Andrew a message.
Andrew teaches piano lessons in his piano studio which is located in Kingston, NY–Ulster County. This location is within 15-20 minutes of Woodstock, Hurley, West Hurley, Saugerties, New Paltz, Stone Ridge, Rosendale, Esopus, Ulster, Port Ewen and some areas of Dutchess County including Rhinebeck, Red Hook and Rhinecliff. In-home lessons are also available.
Free half hour intro lesson: meet & greet, assess goals and getting started.
Studio Policies:
Music and materials may be required or provided. Please bring your previous materials (if available) for review.
Lessons are 30/half hour, $60/hour
Lessons are weekly and payable monthly in advance via cash, check, paypal or any major credit card.
Cancellations require at least 24 hour notice or lesson will be forfeited. If sufficient notice is given,
a credit will be applied to the following month.
Just wanted to comment on Andrew’s teaching. At 48, I was a little worried about how easy I might take to learning piano, having never played any instrument before.
But Andrew has such an encouraging way about him. He never makes me lose hope of learning something, has infinite patience, and simply such a kind and enthusiastic demeanor,not to mention all of the incredibly cool music he is introducing me to.
I am starting to “hear” music with new ears.
I look forward to each week’s lesson and leave there so eager to go home and practice. He explains things simply, but not at all in a condescending way, and explains them in different ways when needed.
I could not have hoped to find a better match for a piano instructor, that is for sure.
Dear Andrew,
I was looking for a piano teacher in Ulster County, and your website really caught my attention.
I’d love to learn to play piano enough to read from charts and improvise. While I’ve had some theory, basically you can assume that I don’t know anything much about music theory, although I have a useful grasp of classical and Broadway repertory for singers, gained from years of listening and occasionally perfoming.
Through the Juilliard and Mannes evening schools, I’ve taken various “Teaching Little Fingers to Play” courses, some rudimentary theory, but once chords leave their root positions, I begin to wonder what finger to move next.
Do you think you could help me?
Best,
Susan
Hi Susan,
I’d be happy to help. Chord theory in conjunction with some ear training would probably be the quickest way to reading charts and improvising. Since you are already familiar with root position chords, the next step would be to start practicing inversions and learning the more advanced chords used in jazz charts. Voice leading takes some time but it is well worth the effort as it opens up many possibilities for creating your own arrangements. I have many exercises and techniques that can help–I’ll email you about setting up an intro lesson.
–Andrew
I am a 32 year old who has been playing amateur guitar and piano for about the past 15 years. Although guitar is my stronger instrument, I originally contacted Andrew because I was looking for some focused instruction in piano (blues based) to combat my habit of playing the same few things over and over. I really wanted to branch out. I can unequivocally say that Andrew’s instruction has allowed me to branch out and I know it will continue to do so. Almost immediately after the introductory lesson I felt as if I had learned something new and this feeling has not changed as I have continued to study with Andrew. He really is a perfect combination of approachable yet combined with a no nonsense work ethic. I never once have felt that he is mailing it in or teaching me simply as a “job”. He geniunely appears interested in helping me become a better piano player (and musician in general).
More than any specific lesson or riff he has taught me (although he has taught me some great riffs and specific ideas) I really am pleased with his teaching method in general. He has provided me with a framework to get better via targeted practice and repetition. In a few short months Andrew has changed the way I spent my life listening to, thinking about, and playing music. I now practice every day both for myself and because I don’t want to let Andrew down! I wholeheartedly recommend Andrew as a teacher to anybody of any age and any skill level.